The European Commission highlighted the importance of food safety standards and how the European Union helps make food safer during a webinar on 26 February via Zoom platform.  

During the webinar, Mehmet Demirpençe from the Veterinary Department presented the progress made so far on food safety and provide recommendations for the way forward. Donald Aquilina, the team leader of the EU funded Farm Advisory Services project, outlined the EU funded activities contributing to food safety, within the scope of their project. Kemal Öztürk from the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry talked about the challenges for food businesses in establishing food safety standards. Ankica Labrovic from the EU Program Support Office introduced the new EU funded project to support the implementation of EU standards along the food chain.                 

The EU is standing by to support the Turkish Cypriot community and improve the food safety chain. As part of the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, since 2007, the EU has spent over €16 million on more than 200 projects supporting agriculture and food safety in the Turkish Cypriot community.  This year the EU will sign a new three-year, €3m project on food safety and crisis-preparedness in the Turkish Cypriot community.  Food safety is about safeguarding the food production and supply chain from hazardous organisms, chemical agents, non-approved food additives or food-contact materials, or physical items.  The new EU funded Food Safety project will develop and implement core components of the food safety system and support the effective implementation of EU standards all along the food chain. The EU is committed to continue to work tirelessly with its partners to ensure food safety and sustainable agriculture which are essential for protecting human health and ecosystems.