European Ombudsman launches inquiry into EU food safety alert system with participation of national Ombudsmen

European Ombudsman launches inquiry into EU food safety alert system with participation of national Ombudsmen

Published May 20, 2026

The European Ombudswoman, Teresa Anjinho, has launched an own initiative inquiry into the functioning of the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), while also inviting national Ombudsman institutions across Europe to conduct parallel inquiries with their respective national authorities.

The inquiry focuses on how the European Commission ensures the reliability, efficiency, and transparency of the system used to identify and communicate food related risks across the European Union and associated states. The initiative follows concerns raised by stakeholders regarding possible delays in the transmission of alerts concerning unsafe food products and the accessibility and quality of information available to the public.

In opening the inquiry, the European Ombudsman referred to recent incidents involving contaminated infant milk and stressed that an effective food safety alert system is essential to safeguard rights protected under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the right to health and consumer protection.

The European Ombudsman has asked the European Commission a series of questions concerning the functioning of the system, including the time required for alerts to be circulated once risks are identified, the role of national authorities in submitting notifications, and the challenges linked to e commerce and digitalisation.

At the same time, Ombudsman institutions forming part of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO), including the Office of the Ombudsman in Malta, were invited to examine how national authorities in their respective countries handle obligations connected to the RASFF system. The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation between the European Ombudsman and national Ombudsman institutions in areas where EU law and national administrative action are closely interconnected.

In a letter addressed to members of the ENO, the European Ombudsman underlined that food safety remains a matter of significant public concern and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the system functions in a fast, reliable, and transparent manner. She noted that the free circulation of products within the European Union makes cooperation between national authorities essential, since failures or delays in one country may have consequences for consumers across Europe.

The European Ombudsman also identified three areas of particular importance in the assessment of the system: efficiency, consistency, and transparency. These concerns relate to the timely communication of risks, the consistent approach adopted by national authorities when issuing notifications, and the accessibility of information enabling citizens to verify whether products are safe.

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed was established in 1979 and includes all European Union member states, together with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. The European Commission coordinates the system.