The EU integrated approach to food safety aims to assure a high level of food safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health within the European Union through coherent farm-to-table measures and adequate monitoring, while ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market.

The implementation of this approach involves the development of legislative and other actions:

To assure effective control systems and evaluate compliance with EU standards in the food safety and quality, animal health, animal welfare, animal nutrition and plant health sectors within the EU and in third countries in relation to their exports to the EU;

To manage international relations with third countries and international organisations concerning food safety, animal health, animal welfare, animal nutrition and plant health;

To manage relations with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and ensure science-based risk management.