Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/300 establishing a general plan for crisis management in the field of the safety of food and feed.

This Decision is adopted pursuant to article 55 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, which provides that the Commission is to draw up, in close collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority and the Member States, a general plan for crisis management in the field of safety of food and feed. The objectives are to minimize the extent and impact of food- or feed-borne incidents on public health, by ensuring enhanced preparedness and effective management.
The plan covers the following two types of situations: (a) situations requiring enhanced European Union coordination; and (b) situations requiring the setting up of a crisis unit bringing together the Commission as well as relevant Member States and European Union agencies. The plan also sets out the practical procedures necessary for enhanced preparedness and for the management of incidents at European Union level, including a communication strategy in accordance with the principle of transparency. More specifically, the general plan shall apply to situations involving direct or indirect risks to public health deriving from food and feed, in particular in relation to any hazard in food and feed of biological, chemical and physical nature, which are not likely to be prevented, eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by provisions in place or cannot adequately be managed solely by way of application of emergency measures in accordance with article 53 or 54 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002.