The wish is expressed to set up the European Food Safety Agency and get it operational.

We responded with the integrated ‘farm-to-fork’ strategy, alongside measures such as the European Food Safety Agency.

Commissioner, throughout the crisis of the last few days, the Commission has, on several occasions, adopted a position in favour of a European food safety agency.

As always, we take into consideration the proposals and suggestions of the independent agency, the Parma-based European Food Safety Agency.

Moreover, I have serious doubts about the very influential part to be played by the European Food Safety Agency, the independence of which is regularly called into question.

In 2007, the European Food Safety Agency confirmed the animals are put to death faster and more humanely in the Norwegian sealing than in large game hunting on land.

In February 2012, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published a scientific opinion on isolated soy proteins and reduction of blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations.

We still think there is a need to set up a European food safety agency, and to coordinate and stimulate the great potential of the Member States as regards scientific ability and, of course, inspection.

There are agencies for everything, from the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen to the European Food Safety Agency in Parma, via the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Agency) has found the results of the Southampton study to be ambiguous and inconclusive and recommends no changes to current EU regulations pending results of further well designed testing of colourants.

As the Commissioner said, there are three principal new developments: the new administration, and thus transparency, resulting from the setting up of a European Food Safety Agency; the new principles incorporated into food legislation; and, finally, the opportunity to approve active, intelligent packaging.

How will the results of the European Food Safety Agency opinion on bisphenol A due at the end of May 2010 - I think it has been presented now - be taken into account for future actions on bisphenol A under REACH?

Would he agree with me that the situation as regards beef has now tended, in the public eye, to throw into chaos the question of the acceptability of judgments delivered at the European level on food safety and that this bodes rather ill for Mr Prodi' s plan for a European food safety agency?