NEA Mandates and Structures

Expert Group on a Post-accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF)

Mandate (Document reference):

• CRPPH-79 Meeting - Draft Summary Record, Agreements and Decisions, held virtually on 21-23 April 2021 [NEA/CRPPH(2021)9]
• Summary Record and Agreements and Commitments of the CRPPH Bureau Meeting – 13 Dec 2021 [NEA/CRPPH(2022)1]
• Summary Record and Agreements of the CRPPH Special Bureau Meeting held remotely on 7 September 2021 [NEA/CRPPH(2021)13]
• Mandate of the Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF) [NEA/CRPPH(2022)8]
• Strategic outline of the Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF) [NEA/CRPPH(2024)1]
• CRPPH-82 Meeting – Summary Record, Agreements and Decisions, held on 28-29 March 2024 [forthcoming]
• EGFSF 8^th Meeting – Summary Record held on 23 April 2024 [forthcoming]
• Mandate of the of the Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF) [ NEA/CRPPH/EGFSF(2024)5/PROV]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract of document  NEA/CRPPH/EGFSF(2024)5/PROV 

Background

The experience derived from past nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl or Fukushima, has shown that the management of contaminated food after such events can lead to a number of health and socioeconomic impacts that have to be addressed under the national sovereignty of all affected countries. At the same time, experience has clearly shown that a lack of international harmonisation and independent scientific evaluation of the situation cannot only lead to increased confusion around food safety in affected and non-affected populations, but can also hamper international trade and lead to disagreement(s) between countries.

In 2014, the NEA presented the first argument for the need of a framework for the post-accident management of contaminated food and outlined a path towards an independent scientific review of measures taken in this regard. The aim of this framework was to reinforce public and international confidence in the implementation of food safety decisions. Since then, there have been a number of (updates of) international guidelines and recommendations issued by different international bodies such as the IAEA, the ICRP, and the FAO joint work with WHO (see more details below under “Additional References”).

The Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) during its 79^th meeting decided to revitalise the NEA Food Safety Framework project by creating the Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF).

Scope

The EGFSF supports the CRPPH in promoting “international collaboration on specific radiological protection and radiation-related human and ecosystem health topics of interest to member countries in the framework of the NEA Strategic Plan (2023-2028)” [cf. NEA/NE(2022)20].

The EGFSF also supports the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) to “identify and investigate as appropriate further advancements in all aspects of emergency preparedness and response (EPR) for nuclear or radiological emergencies (including accidents and consequence management of other types of events e.g. malicious acts, emergency situation during or after armed conflicts), for example […] management of large scale contamination of food and agriculture;” [cf. NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2023)7/FINAL].

Objectives

The objectives of the Expert Group are to:

• Develop a process or methodology, based on independent scientific review, to (re‑)gain consumer trust in the food supply chain and to facilitate trade over the long term. This process or methodology should be fitted carefully into the existing and emerging international system of guidelines/recommendations in this field.
• Analyse and take into account feedback from the relevant module of the 6^th NEA International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX-6).
• Promote consent and formulate a proposal for a suitable OECD policy instrument to support the implementation of the process or methodology.

Working methods

• The EGFSF will report periodically to the CRPPH as appropriate and will assist the Committee with its work;
• Based on its work undertaken over the first two years of its mandate, the EGFSF will:

1. Draft a report to operationalise the science-based peer-review process or methodology to enhance international harmonisation and trust in the field, taking into account feedback from the food safety module of the INEX-6;
2. Identify and formulate a proposal for a suitable OECD policy instrument to support the implementation of the peer-review process or methodology.
3. Promote consent on the approach taken among NEA member countries and other adhering countries.

• As part of activity 2 and 3, the suggested process or methodology should be presented to the NEA Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy.

Interactions

Next to the European Union as participant and the IAEA as observer, the EGFSF may invite experts from the following international organisations to participate in specific meetings: the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as their sub-ordinated bodies. The EGFSF may also invite experts from other OECD directorates and other relevant organisations.

Deliverables

• Periodical presentations and updates of the EGFSF’s work to the CRPPH and its Bureau as appropriate.
• A report developing the overall science-based peer-review process or methodology in support of the post-accident management of contaminated food, including a proposal for the formulation of a policy, political, and/or legal basis for its implementation.