The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was established in 2002 with the aim to unite the efforts of all institutions of the EU member states to manage the issues related to food safety. In this aspect EFSA organized a number of structures to support the realization of the tasks and the more effective coordination with the respective structures in the Member States. The Advisory Forum (AF) is such a structure, incorporating representatives of the competent authorities in the Member States implementing tasks similar to those of the authority. Each Member State has one representative. Assoc. Prof. Stefka Petrova, MD, DSc from the National Center of Public Health Protection is the Bulgarian representative. The Advisory Forum is a mechanism for exchange of information about potential risk and accumulation of knowledge. It provides close cooperation between the authority and the competent bodies in the Member States. Through the AF, Member States advise EFSA on scientific matters as well as on EFSA’s work programme and priorities. The AF also helps address emerging risk issues as early as possible. EFSA is associated with the national food safety agencies through its Advisory Forum.

EFSA has initiated Focal Points (FP) in the Member States to act as an interface between EFSA and the different national food safety authorities, research institutes, consumers and other EFSA-related stakeholders. The Focal Points have to ensure the exchange of food safety information between EFSA and national stakeholders through a national network.

The Focal Points support their AF members in building networks, raising EFSA’s visibility and ensuring the exchange of scientific information between EFSA and the Member States. The nomination of each Focal Point is decided at the national level. The Focal Points meet regularly to exchange experiences and further develop their networks. Agendas and minutes from Focal Point meetings are available in the EFSA Focal Points web area.

A Resolution of the National Food Safety Council set the Center for coordination and support of training on food safety control, a functional structure to the National Center of Public Health Protection as Bulgarian EFSA Focal Point on risk assessment. The leader of the Bulgarian FP is Assoc. Prof. Teri Vrabcheva, MD, PhD. After an order of the Minister of Health, as a representative of the Ministry of Health Dr. Vrabcheva signed the agreement between EFSA and Bulgaria in November 2007 at a meeting in Brussels.