HR4RS stamp
Irene Vega
The Rey Juan Carlos University, as the competent organization of the EU Member States that are part of the network, will carry out various tasks in support of the work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), such as preparatory work for scientific opinions, scientific and technical assistance, data collection and identification of emerging risks.
“The application and processing process for the inclusion of our university in this network has been long,” explains Dr. Sonia Morante, a reference person at the URJC as contact with EFSA and who has coordinated the entire process in collaboration with the Office of European Projects. “The URJC, as a competent organization, can now opt for the funding that EFSA promotes to carry out some of these activities within the theme of research and risk assessment on chemical contaminants and emerging risks,” she adds.
To achieve this recognition, the university has demonstrated that it meets a set of admissibility criteria that guarantee the independence of the institution. In addition, it has accredited the level of scientific knowledge in relation to the field for which it is requested and under the advice of the EFSA National Focal Point in Spain, which advises on the organizations that can be designated to the European Commission from a Member State for inclusion in the network.
This process began based on the research carried out in the Consolidated Research Group in Analytical Chemistry applied to the Environment, Food and Drugs (GQAA-MAF), coordinated by Dr. Isabel Sierra and of which Dr. Sonia Morante is also a member. Specifically, the collaboration is framed in the objectives of the EVALKALIM-II project, of which Dr. Isabel Sierra is the principal investigator. “Our project is related to the development of green analytical methods that improve the control of food contamination with natural toxins, following the recommendations issued by the EFSA in recent years,” says Dr. Sierra.
“As a result of the research carried out recently, the importance of chiral or asymmetric analysis of certain toxic alkaloids has been revealed so that a correct evaluation of the risk generated after the consumption of a contaminated food can be carried out. This type of analysis is especially important in children's foods such as infusions, given the vulnerability of this age group and will allow progress in legislation,” says Dr. Morante. These results have been recently published in the journal Microchemical Journal.
About EFSA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has more than 300 universities, institutes, governmental, public and other scientific bodies from the 27 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway.
EFSA encourages the creation of links between these organizations by coordinating joint activities, exchanging information and developing and implementing joint scientific projects. This network strengthens the exchange of expertise and good practice in scientific fields related to EFSA's mission to achieve “Safe food and sustainable food systems through transparent, independent and reliable scientific advice”.