Zagreb - Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković held a bilateral meeting with the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority, Nikolaus Kriz, on the sidelines of the FOODCOOLTOUR2 conference on food safety and sustainable production in Osijek.
Jandroković said food safety was no longer solely a public health issue, but also one of economic stability, resilience and public trust in institutions, adding that the role of the European Food Safety Authority was therefore of exceptional importance.
He stressed that in the context of emerging risks, it was crucial to strengthen strategic preparedness rather than rely solely on reactive measures in dealing with crises affecting the agri-food sector.
The talks also covered the need to strike a balance between food safety and the competitiveness of European farmers amid growing economic and regulatory challenges. Both sides agreed that the future objective should be a balanced approach ensuring a high level of consumer protection while reducing the administrative burden on producers.
Jandroković said Croatia sees the European Food Safety Authority as a key stakeholder in maintaining the EU’s leading role in food quality and safety. He also expressed support for deepening cooperation between the agency and national competent authorities of member states to strengthen expertise and capacities in food safety.