food safety
Together for safe food: The Benelux Countries, a European driving force
16 May. 2025
Since October 2024, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg have been joining forces to enhance food safety in Europe. With the Benelux Secretariat as a platform, they are coordinating the meetings of the ‘Heads of Food Safety Agencies’ at the European level until June 2026. The goal? To ensure everyone can enjoy healthy and reliable food with peace of mind.
During a recent meeting in Iceland (May 14–16), senior representatives from food safety agencies of around twenty European and neighboring countries (including Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) identified their most pressing shared challenges for the near future. Here are the six main points:
- International tensions: Ensuring stable food supply and national food resilience.
- Climate change: Transitioning to more sustainable food systems.
- New technologies: Managing digitalization and AI smartly.
- Fake news: Providing consumers with reliable information.
- Availability of skilled personnel for agencies responsible for food safety control.
- Limited budgets: Working more efficiently with fewer resources.
Twice a year, these senior officials share their knowledge during these meetings and advise European policymakers. For instance, they advocate for clear regulations regarding CBD (cannabidiol), a substance found in health products, to better protect consumers.
