efsa EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY,newsletter

 

Highlights Newsletter 11 FEBRUARY 2026

EFSA provides rapid risk assessment on cereulide in infant formula In their rapid risk assessment, EFSA’s scientists established an acute reference dose (ARfD) for cereulide in infants and established cereulide concentrations in infant formula of potential safety concern. This advice is intended to help EU risk managers determine when products should be withdrawn from the market as a precautionary public health measure. Read more Latest news Veterinary drug residues in food: what’s the latest in the EU? EFSA’s yearly report on residues of veterinary medicinal products in live animals and animal products shows continued high compliance with official limits in 2024. Explore the results in greater detail using our interactive dashboard! Provisional safe level for cannabidiol as a novel food EFSA’s scientists have established a provisional safe intake level for adults for cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel food but highlighted persistent data gaps. To support applicants in providing the missing information, EFSA is planning an information webinar to take place in April. EFSA to host 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa EFSA is holding the 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa in Bari, Italy from 23 to 25 June 2026.  Abstract submission and registration are open until 13 March 2026 (12:00 CET/CEST). Lectins in food: undercooked beans pose health risk, says EFSA EFSA’s assessment concludes that consumer exposure to lectins in undercooked beans indicates a health concern. Consuming properly processed and prepared pulses does not pose any risk related to lectins. Check out the plain language summary. Meat intended for freezing: EFSA assesses bacterial growth in meat before it reaches consumers EFSA’s experts looked at how storage conditions – such as temperature, vacuum-packaging and time – affect microbial growth between slaughter and freezing as well as during subsequent defrosting and storage. Based on these findings, the EC may propose changes to EU legislation. Episode 36 - Nice to m-eat you: what are alternative proteins? Legumes, mealworm powder and duck cell biomass produced in a lab may seem worlds apart but they all feature in conversations about how our food system is evolving. Let's bust some common myths with Ermolaos Ververis, Scientific officer in the Nutrition & Food Innovation Unit at EFSA  Check out our latest podcast! See all news Don't miss EFSA's WhatsApp channel Stay informed with the latest food safety updates, scientific assessments and more - delivered straight to your phone. Join us with just one click and be part of the conversation on safe and sustainable food. LinkedIn group for applicants Need to file an application for a regulated product? Join our community to find information and support materials, updates on the developments of IT tools, alerts on new training material and events, frequently asked questions, etc. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with some 900 peer applicants, laboratories, and research representatives.

Social media MRL review EFSA reviews on an ongoing basis the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for active substances used in plant protection products. To enable stakeholders to better prepare for and support the MRL review, EFSA maintains a regularly updated progress report on the review programme. Next update is scheduled for March . New data collection will be launched in February for the active substance lenacil. Instructions on the review of existing MRLs are available on our dedicated pesticides topic page along with supporting tools and templates. In January, EFSA received an ad-hoc mandate from the European Commission: to provide a scientific statement concerning confirmatory data that were not submitted by the set deadline by the applicant following the Article 12 reviews under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on pesticide residues in food and feed for the active substances dicloran, fenazaquin and tebufenozide; All information related to EFSA’s scientific work is available on the OpenEFSA Portal, where it is possible to follow all the steps of the risk assessment process for all mandates received. Publications Safety evaluation of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Trichoderma reseei strain AR‐822 The Panel considered that a risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure to the food enzyme cannot be excluded, but that the likelihood is low. Published 5 February 2026 Updated peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance dichlorprop-P and variant dichlorprop-P-2-ethylhexyl The purpose of this application was to extend the existing approval to include the ester variant dichlorprop-P-2-ethylhexyl under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. Published 4 February 2026 See all publications #EFSAGLOSSARY Plain language summary (PLS) clear, brief summary of the research, written for members of the public rather than researchers or professionals, without jargon and including an explanation of any technical terms See EFSA glossary Events 161st Plenary meeting of the Contam Panel - Open for Observers 16-17-18 June 2026 Parma, Italy Registrations available soon See all events Engage with us Call for data on the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol in ruminants Deadline: 31 March 2026 - Call for data Selection of hosting sites and fellows for EFSA's European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship (EU-FORA) Programme Deadline: 26 February 2026 – Art. 36 See all calls Application for authorisation of Bacillus subtilis M5 as zootechnical additive for all aquatic species Deadline: 19 February 2026 – Public consultation Assessment Report on the active substance bifenox Deadline: 8 March 2026 – Public consultation See all consultations Vacancies EFSA Seconded National Experts Call 2025-2027 As an SNE you will serve a dual role: you will bring your expertise to EFSA and take back to your home administration the knowledge acquired during your period of secondment, fostering mutual exchange and strengthening cooperation between EFSA and its partners. No deadline – Job opportunity See all vacancies "Science, safe food, sustainability" EFSA is an agency of the European Union European Food Safety Authority Via Carlo Magno 1A 43126 Parma - Italy Tel. +39 0521 036 111