Aims & Objectives
Main aim is to combine and strengthen European-wide research efforts on modern meat safety control systems. Furthermore, the aim is to create a platform for training of relevant participants in the new meat safety system and thus help its operability, as well as to inform relevant stakeholders about the requirements, benefits and consequences of the new system.
Research coordination objectives
− To create a network to coordinate research on the risk-based meat inspection and the whole meat safety assurance system in Europe.
− To establish strong, dynamic and effective links between science, official authorities and meat industry (including primary meat production) in this field.
− To develop a crude roadmap that will identify current status, multiple objectives and desired goals of meat inspection and meat safety assurance, including all in between steps, resources and responsibilities needed to achieve these goals.
− To identify knowledge gaps and establish a consensus roadmap to foster excellence and innovative scientific research.
− To consolidate and extend the results from national research programmes and other international networking activities.
− To harmonise and integrate research outputs and develop new methods and tools for cost- effective meat safety assurance.
− To assess impacts of the new meat safety assurance system on public health, animal health and welfare, socio-economics, and trade.
− To provide scientific advice/information/recommendations and engage with policy-makers at national and European levels and meat industry to receive their feedback on possible challenges and opportunities related to meat safety assurance system.
− To develop a platform for training of all participants in the new meat safety assurance system.
− To promote European risk-based meat inspection and meat safety assurance system to other world regions, especially to overseas countries with the most intensive meat trade with Europe.
Capacity building objectives
− To create a collaborative network of experts who will drive scientific progress in veterinary public health focused on meat safety.
− To foster connection and collaboration of different actors involved in the new meat safety systems.
− To promote collaborative interdisciplinary approaches to achieve breakthroughs in meat safety (i.e. between food microbiologists, parasitologists, veterinary and public health epidemiologists, food technologists and engineers, etc.).
− To identify the competency profile of food risk managers and suggest suitable training.
− To train young researchers (PhD students and other Early Career Investigators), representatives of national food safety and veterinary public health authorities and representatives of meat industry in the new meat safety assurance system.
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