The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched the project “Monitoring and surveillance data for future chemical risk assessment needs in EFSA: Exploring new opportunities” to anticipate emerging challenges in chemical risk assessment. The study identifies and prioritizes the data needs for monitoring and surveillance across human, animal, and environmental health domains, and provides strategic recommendations to improve access to and generation of data.
Why This EFSA Study Was Needed
As exposure to chemical substances becomes increasingly complex and the One Health concept gains prominence — emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health — EFSA aimed to:
- Identify critical data needs for chemical risk assessment;
- Match these needs with existing data sources;
- Develop recommendations for addressing gaps and improving data accessibility.
This effort supports the development of risk assessments that are scientifically robust, proportionate, and aligned with an integrated health approach.
Eight Chemical Groups Were Analyzed
The study examined eight major groups of chemicals relevant to food safety, environment, and health:
- Pesticides
- Environmental pollutants
- Biogenic substances
- Food additives and flavourings
- Food enzymes
- Food contact materials
- Feed additives
- Processing contaminants
The analysis combined:
- A review of EFSA outputs and reports
- Scientific literature
- An online survey of EFSA scientific units
44 Data Gaps Identified — 21 Prioritized as Critical
The study uncovered 44 major data gaps, of which 21 were deemed highly relevant for future risk assessment needs.
Key gaps included:
- Lack of data on the occurrence of chemicals in processed foods
- Insufficient information on metabolites and degradation products
- Limited human biomonitoring data
- Absence of data on combined exposure scenarios
- Poor coverage of data for sensitive or under-represented populations
These gaps limit EFSA’s ability to produce comprehensive and balanced chemical risk assessments.
Mapping Data Sources: Thousands Reviewed, Few Eligible
To map relevant data sources, the project team:
- Analyzed 66,958 scientific literature entries
- Conducted extensive web searches
- Consulted stakeholders across sectors
This process identified 230 unique data sources, but only 114 (49.6%) met eligibility criteria (such as relevance, quality, and alignment with FAIR data principles).
Representation varied widely among chemical groups:
- Pesticides and environmental pollutants were relatively well-covered
- Food enzymes and feed additives showed significant data shortages
Fragmented datasets, limited interoperability, restricted access to private data, and uneven geographic representation remain major challenges.
Persistent Challenges for One Health Implementation
The lack of harmonized and interoperable data systems makes it difficult for EFSA to integrate information across human, animal, and environmental health — a core requirement of the One Health approach.
EFSA’s Recommendations: Better Data, Better Access
The report outlines several recommendations to improve chemical monitoring and risk assessment:
1. Generate new data where critical gaps exist, particularly for:
- Food enzymes
- Feed additives
- Human biomonitoring
- Combined exposures
2. Harmonize data standards using:
- FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
- FoodEx2, EFSA’s food classification and description system
3. Improve data sharing and accessibility through open or controlled-access platforms.
4. Support the development of the EU Common Data Platform for Chemicals, which would centralize and integrate data across sectors and countries.
Conclusion: Strengthening Chemical Risk Assessment in the EU
Implementing these recommendations will:
- Enhance data accessibility and interoperability
- Strengthen EFSA’s scientific assessments
- Support proportionate, One Health-aligned risk evaluations
- Better prepare the EU for emerging chemical challenges
By addressing critical data gaps and improving monitoring systems, EFSA aims to reinforce its role in protecting human, animal, and environmental health across Europe.
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