The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) convened its eighth annual Stakeholder Forum on November 24, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together more than 100 agri-food regulators and stakeholders to explore how risk assessment can be accelerated without compromising food safety. The event, themed, “Advancing Risk Assessment Together: Faster Delivery, Uncompromised Safety,” also provided an opportunity for newly appointed Executive Director Nikolaus Kriz, D.V.M. to describe his vision for EFSA’s future direction.

“Being Slow Does not Automatically Mean Being Safe”

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kriz outlined a vision built on three pillars: speed, innovation, and collaboration. He stressed that “being slow does not automatically mean being safe,” calling for upstream engagement with regulated product applicants, as well as collaboration with Member States and across EU agencies, to reduce delays and deliver outcomes. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) were highlighted as essential tools for improving efficiency and maintaining scientific rigor.

Keynote speakers Ricard Ramon, Head of Unit Policy Perspectives, EU Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and Astrid Sofie Vestergaard Nielsen, Food Attaché, representing the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, framed the discussion around balancing innovation with safety. Both emphasized that Europe’s agrifood system must integrate competitiveness, sustainability, and consumer protection, with EFSA playing a central role in enabling progress.

Mr. Ramon highlighted emerging challenges including climate change, environmental degradation, and complex regulatory frameworks, and outlined priorities of the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food 2040, such as attracting younger professionals to the agri-food sector, reducing regulatory burdens, driving innovation, and improving trade.

Ms. Nielsen stressed that technological and biotechnological advances must be balanced with traditional food practices to deliver value and increase sustainability without compromising safety.

Discussions About Proposed Reforms to Simplify Food and Feed Safety Regulations

In panel discussions, stakeholders agreed that high consumer protection standards must not be compromised, even as the EU moves to simplify regulatory processes related to the agri-food sector. Klaus Berend, Ph.D., Director for Food Safety, Sustainability, and Innovation, EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) highlighted the proposed Food and Feed Safety Simplification legislation, which aims to cut regulatory and administrative red tape without lowering safety or environmental standards.

Regarding the omnibus, Agustín Reyna, J.D., Director General, BEUC, the European Consumer Organization warned against sacrificing scientific rigor for speed. He argued that most delays stem from poor-quality applications and improving dossier quality is primarily the applicants’ responsibility.

Angeliki Lysimachou, Ph.D., Head of Science and Policy, Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) advocated for maintaining strong pesticides legislation, calling for greater transparency, more risk assessments, better mixture toxicity evaluations, and unwavering enforcement.

Industry voices, including Max Schulman, farmer and COPA-COGECA lobbyist, and Claire Skentelbery, Ph.D., Director General, EuropaBio, stressed the need for farmers to have reliable access to plant protection products, which requires predictable, science-based assessments, and highlighted biotechnology’s potential to support sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

Moving Forward: Better Guidance, Stakeholder Collaboration are Key

During afternoon sessions, Dr. Kriz described the limitations of EFSA’s operational landscape, explaining that EFSA’s role is not to prepare applications but to provide clearer guidance and better tools so applicants can submit quality dossiers—which, admittedly, is an area that requires progress—although EFSA is investing in digital technologies and AI to speed assessments. He also underlined the need to overcome confidentiality challenges under the EU Transparency Regulation.

Dr. Kriz confirmed that preparations for new responsibilities under the Food and Feed Safety Simplification omnibus package are underway, which should reduce backlogs and accelerate evaluations.

Barbara Gallani, Head of Communication and Partnerships, EFSA encouraged stakeholders to actively collaborate with EFSA to reach the shared goals of food safety and agri-food systems resilience. “The challenge is not agreeing on the objectives, where consensus already exists, but determining how to achieve them effectively,” she said. EFSA Management Board Chair Aivars Bērziņš echoed this sentiment, stressing that stakeholder engagement is a top priority for EFSA, and that that maintaining continuous dialogue is essential to uphold the shared responsibility of all actors across the food chain.

The insights gathered at the Stakeholder Forum will inform EFSA’s multi-annual work program and next strategic cycle. The next forum is scheduled for fall 2026.