1. IPA Conference Community Agencies: partners in accession PARALLEL SESSION A – Workshop 3: Health LESSONS LEARNED Zorica Jurković, Croatian Food Agency, Director HRVATSKA AGENCIJA ZA HRANU (HAH) 25-27 November 2009 Sintra, Portugal

2. Introduction 18 June 2004 - Croatia become the candidate country 3 October 2005 - negotiations opened, 33(+2) chapters 02 October 2009 - 28 out of 35 negotiation chapters have been opened so far. Out of these chapters, twelve have been provisionally closed Chapter 12. – Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy (opened on 02 Oct 2009) Different model of accession process (new elements) 2

3. Historical overview of the cooperation with EFSA started in 2006 and 2007 - Progress towards accession: Strengthening the food safety systems in Turkey and Croatia continuing the cooperation in 2008 and 2009 HAH is contact point and the coordinating institution of all activities in Croatia National coordinator of the Programme (HAH staff) Assistant coordinator – paid by the Programme Seconded National Expert – working in EFSA Legal and Policy Affairs Unit since July 2007 Experience of technical assistance so far 3

4. Being informed on recent developments in the EU food safety area, Participation in EFSA networks (Advisory Forum, BSE Network), Taking active part in EFSA initiatives on data collection (Task Force on Zoonoses Data Collection), Taking part in training seminars on topics of relevance for competent authorities in Croatia in the context of accession negotiations, Further development of cooperation with MS institutions, Development of networks and collaboration with neighbouring countries – Candidates and Potential Candidates Key elements of success 4

5. Key Results – Training Seminars 5 2006 2007 2008 2009 Jan Feb Mar Seminar on Crisis Handling Split Seminar on BSE Zagreb Seminar on EFSA in the EU Food Safety, Brussels Apr May Jun Jul Seminar on Stakeholders Relations, Dubrovnik Aug Sep Seminar on Advisoy Forum Opatija Study Visit to FSA and DEFRA London Seminar on Risk Assessment, Dubrovnik Oct Seminar on GMO Istanbul Study Visit to AFSSA, Paris Nov Data Collection Workshop Parma Seminar on Microbial RA Zagreb Dec Seminar on Risk Communic. Osijek Seminar on EFSA and work of Panels, Parma

6. Key Results – Participation in EFSA meetings 6 2006 2007 2008 2009 Jan PRAPeR meeting Parma Feb AF Comm WG, Brussels Pesticide Steering Committee, Parma Mar AF IT WG Sofia Conference on Feed Additives, London Chem. Occurrence Data, Parma Apr Advisory Forum, Berlin AF Comm WG, Dublin May Scientific Colloquium on Acrylamide, Tabiano Jun Scientific Colloquium on GMO, Tabiano Chem. Occurrence Data, Parma Advisory Forum, Prague Jul PRAPeR meeting Parma Aug Advisory Forum, Stockholm Sep Management Board meeting, Parma Task Force on Zoonoses, Parma Advisory Forum, Paris EFSA Focal Points, Parma Oct AF Comm WG HagueConference with Stakeholders, Toulouse Task Force on Zoonoses, Brussels BSE Contact Points meeting, Parma Nov Symposium on Nutrition and Health, Bologna PRAPeR meeting Parma AF Comm WG, Parma Food Consumption Data Collection, Parma Dec Management Board meeting, Helsinki Advisory Forum, Hague Scientific Colloquium on Campylobacter, Rome Zoonoses Reporting Training, Parma

7. CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE Risk Assessment CROATIAN FOOD AGENCY (HAH) CROATIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH CROATIAN VETERINARY INSTITUTE (HVI) Croatian food safety organisation scheme: Beneficiaries/Stakeholders of the EFSA Programme HVI RIJEKA, SPLIT, VINKOVCI, KRIŽEVCI, POULTRY CENTER COUNTY OFFICES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRIVATE LABS FOOD CONTROL CENTER Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology VETERINARY INSPECTION SANITARY INSPECTION 7 Risk Management

8. Main Challenges Challenge: Networking between different institutions working in the area of food safety on the national level Solution: Assistant coordinator paid by the EFSA Programme facilitated communication and information exchange, Challenge: Staying on track with the latest developments in the EU food safety arena Solution: Taking part in EFSAs communication and data collection networks. Challenge: Limited financial resources within the Programme many good ideas for cooperation remained unfulfilled 8

9. Needs and Expectations for Future Continue the cooperation with EFSA through further technical assistance in area of risk assessment and risk communication Further develop cooperation with the Member States, Develop working relations with similar institutions in other Candidate countries and neighbouring Potential Candidate countries 9

10. Croatian Food Agency (HAH) Ivana Gundulića 36 b 31 000 Osijek Croatia (Hrvatska) Tel: +385 31/ 214-900 +385 31/ 227-600 Fax: +385 31/ 214-901 Free Consumers Phone: 0800 0025 info@hah.hr www.hah.hr 10 OSIJEK