European Food Safety Authority becomes a reality

In December 2001, Eurosurveillance Weekly reported on the approval by the European Parliament of the creation of an independent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (1). On 21 January 2002, the EFSA became a reality when the Council of Ministers adopted the key legislation that provides the legal basis for establishing the EFSA and general principles and requirements for European Union (EU) food law (2).