# European Food Safety Authority

> agency of the European Union

**Wikidata**: [Q516521](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q516521)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Food_Safety_Authority)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/european-food-safety-authority

## Summary
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is a decentralized agency of the European Union established in 2002. Headquartered in Parma, Italy, it serves as a food safety organization and research institute responsible for providing independent scientific advice. EFSA operates as an open-access publisher, issuing the "EFSA Journal" to communicate its findings.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
- **Inception:** February 21, 2002
- **Instance of:** Decentralised agency of the European Union; Food safety organization; Research institute
- **Headquarters:** Parma, Italy (Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126)
- **Leadership:** Bernhard Url (Executive Director)
- **Employees:** 435 (as of 2019)
- **Primary Publication:** EFSA Journal
- **Website:** https://efsa.europa.eu/
- **Contact:** +39-0521-036-111

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the European Food Safety Authority located?
The EFSA headquarters are located in Parma, Italy, specifically at Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126.

### Q: When was the EFSA founded?
The agency was founded on February 21, 2002.

### Q: What is the primary role of the EFSA?
The EFSA acts as a research institute and food safety organization that operates as an open-access publisher, releasing scientific outputs through the "EFSA Journal."

### Q: Who is the current leader of the EFSA?
As per the provided records, Bernhard Url serves as the Executive Director.

## Why It Matters
The European Food Safety Authority plays a critical role in the European Union's regulatory framework by bridging the gap between scientific research and public policy regarding food safety. As a designated research institute and open-access publisher, it ensures that scientific knowledge regarding food risks is accessible and transparent. By maintaining the "EFSA Journal," the organization disseminates vital research findings that inform risk assessments and safety standards. Its status as a decentralized agency allows it to operate with a degree of independence while supporting the broader safety objectives of the European Union.

## Notable For
- Operating as a decentralized agency of the European Union with a specific focus on food safety research.
- Functioning as an open-access publisher via the "EFSA Journal."
- Maintaining a headquarters in Parma, Italy, a city historically associated with food culture.
- Membership in ORCID, Inc., integrating with global research identification standards.
- A significant digital footprint, including verified social media presence and a "One Health" initiative handle on Instagram.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Governance
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is classified as a decentralized agency of the European Union. It was legally established on February 21, 2002. The organization is headquartered in Italy, specifically in the city of Parma. The operational leadership is managed by an Executive Director, a position held by Bernhard Url according to current records. As of 2019, the agency employed 435 staff members.

### Research and Publishing
EFSA functions as a research institute and is recognized as an open-access publisher. Its primary output is the "EFSA Journal," which serves as a repository for its scientific work. The agency is listed under the Research Organization Registry (ROR) with the ID `056nc1c48` and holds a GRID ID of `grid.483440.f`. It is also a member of ORCID, Inc., an organization that supports research identification standards.

### Location and Contact
The physical headquarters of the agency is situated at **Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy**. The precise coordinates are Latitude 44.8097 and Longitude 10.3216. The main contact phone number is +39-0521-036-111. The official website is accessible at `https://efsa.europa.eu/` and offers content in multiple languages.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
EFSA maintains a comprehensive digital footprint across various platforms.
*   **Social Media:** The agency operates verified accounts on Twitter (handle: `@EFSA_EU`) and Bluesky (handle: `efsa.europa.eu`). It also maintains a YouTube channel (ID: `UCTURPCB375YunOtddm-JB6A`) and an Instagram account (`onehealth_eu`).
*   **Academic Identifiers:** The organization holds several standard identifiers including an ISNI (`0000000122185278`), a VIAF ID (`131181843`), and a Ringgold ID (`57032`). Its Library of Congress Authority Number is `n2007185268`.

## References

1. [Directory of Open Access Journals](https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/18314732/aims-and-scope/read-full-aims-and-scope)
2. [Source](https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/agencies/efsa_en)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. [Source](http://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/people/ed)
8. [Contact us | EFSA. 2023](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/aboutefsa/contact)
9. [Source](https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/social-media-channels_en)
10. GRID Release 2017-07-12
11. Quora
12. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
13. [Source](https://www.govdirectory.org/european-union/)
14. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
15. [Source](https://connect.efsa.europa.eu/RM/s/contactus)
16. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
17. YouTube API
18. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)