EFSA: e-route for feed additive application

The initiative, which requires applicants to use electronic mediums such as CD ROMs or USB keys to submit technical dossiers, will cut bureaucracy and streamline the risk assessment process, said EFSA.

Under the new rule, applicants can also send updates to their applications and respond to requests for additional information from EFSA using electronic submissions. While it is still possible to also send paper copies of technical dossiers to EFSA, the electronic copy is now considered as the formal submission.

Technical dossiers must be submitted on a standard electronic medium such as a CD ROM, DVD or USB key. All applications submitted to EFSA, either by an applicant, Member State or the European Commission, should include the original of a signed cover letter listing annexes, their tables of content and the mandate.

Karine Lheureux, head of EFSA’s Applications Helpdesk, said: “The introduction of E-submissions is the first step in developing a complete IT tool for the electronic management of applications. This is part of EFSA’s ongoing customer-oriented approach to strengthen the support it provides to applicants. It will reduce the administrative burden for applicants and deliver efficiency gains by streamlining the risk assessment process.”