The Rapid Alert for Food & Feed (RASFF) Process has been compiled using the RASFF system and process of the European Commission and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a base, with contributions of the Dutch Food Safety Authority and other relevant organisations. The generic design is offering Control Authorities in the domain of Health and Food Safety and other authorities (such as Customs)the opportunity to contextualize the information by using the UN/CEFACT Core Component Business Document Assembly (CCBDA) methodology.
The RASFF Standard package includes the following elements:
The RASFF process is to provide information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed from control authorities to a central Rapid Alert System. Whenever a member of the RASFF network has any information relating to the existence of a serious direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food or feed, this information is immediately notified. The electronic swift exchange of information ensures the highest possible level of consumer protection among public health authorities on food and harmonization is one of the pillars of the UN/CEFACT standards. With harmonization often comes simplicity. The RASFF process is to provide information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed. A distinction is made between notifications requiring rapid action (alert notifications) and other notifications (information notifications and border rejection notifications).