ABOUT BTSF
Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) is a Commission training initiative covering food and feed law, animal health and welfare, and plant health rules.
BTSF is managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) which works closely with the Health and Consumers Directorate-General.
While the Commission sets policy and general strategy for Better Training for Safer Food, the Executive Agency puts into practice this initiative by managing all phases of projects, from the launch of calls for tender to evaluations of offers, award of contracts, and supervision of implementation.
BTSF training activities are carried out by several companies who organise sessions and all practical arrangements for participants on behalf of HaDEA.
This aims the aim of the BTSF initiative to keep participants up-to-date with EU law in these areas and should help to ensure more harmonised and efficient controls. It trains Member State and candidate country national authority staff involved in official controls in these areas. Efficient controls are an essential factor in maintaining high levels of consumer protection, animal health, animal welfare, food safety and plant health. Harmonisation of controls should help to create a level playing field for food businesses.
Training is also organised specifically for third, particularly developing country participants to familiarise them with EU requirements. This should help to ease access to the EU market for products from developing countries.
ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE AGENCY
The Executive Agency was originally founded in 2005 as the ‘Public Health Executive Agency’, with a mandate extending to 31 December 2010. It was entrusted to manage the commission’s 2003-2008 public health programme.
In 2008, the Commission delegated its public health programme for the duration of 2008–2013 to the agency, and additionally widened its mandate to cover the oversight of the commission’s consumer policy programme. It was renamed the ‘Executive Agency for Health and Consumers’ to reflect this change, and its mandate extended to 31 December 2015.
In January 2014, the ‘Consumers, Health and Food Executive Agency’ (CHAFEA) legally succeeded the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, reflecting the decision of the commission to delegate its food safety training programme to the agency following a cost-benefit analysis.
In 2013, the Agency’s mandate was prolonged till 2024 and expanded to include actions in the field of health, consumer protection and food safety. In 2016 the mandate was enlarged to manage the reformed EU agricultural products information and promotion.
CHAFEA delegated Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) and the Health Programme to the newly formed European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) on 1st April 2021.
Link to official website of HaDEA
The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) manages European programmes and initiatives on behalf of the European Commission.
It works closely together with five Directorate-Generals (DG CNECT, DEFIS, GROW, RTD and SANTE which is the lead DG for the HaDEA) and with the Commission’s European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), which are focused on legislative and strategic tasks in policymaking.
The HaDEA addresses the European Commission’s ambition to help rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe at its heart, which will be greener, more digital, more resilient and better fit for the current and forthcoming challenges.
HaDEA is based in Brussels, Belgium.