ELSA Network In Food Quality And Safety Research

Definition

ELSA stands for ‘Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects’ in EU research activities.

Brief background

ELSA emerged when the European Parliament asked questions about a small pilot programme on the human genome ("predictive medicine") at the start of the 2nd Framework Programme (1987-91)¹. As a result, the first ‘ad hoc’² ethics committee was created to consider the "Ethical Legal and Social Aspects" of research³.

In the Framework Programmes that followed, ELSA were given increasing attention.

• The 3rd Framework Programme (1990-1994) required specific research on medical ethics and studies to assess the impacts of biotechnology.
• The 4th Framework Programme (1994-1998) marked the beginning of bioethical research in the Life Sciences⁴ and ethical review of project proposals raising sensitive issues
• The 5th Framework Programme (1998-2002) was the first Framework Programme to place a special emphasis on the ethical dimensions of the Community research and to extend the ethical requirements to all specific programmes⁵.

The 6th Framework Programme (2002-2006)⁶ is going much further. The European Commission has undertaken to ensure that:

• The ethical, legal, social, and wider cultural aspects are taken into account at the earliest possible stage of Community-funded research in the life sciences and biotechnology.
• Research on products that will fulfil the needs of the society (if possible before the technologies are ready for use by society) is promoted to prevent products from being rejected when brought into the market.
• The integration and participation of social scientists, experts in ethics and stakeholders into research projects is promoted;
• The ethical and social debate becomes an active part of the research and development process, involving the general public to the greatest extent possible.

State of Art

In that context a series of actions have been undertaken by the EC ranging from a specific ELSA questionnaire in project proposals⁷ to be taken in account during proposals evaluation to research on bioethics and the establishment of the ELSA network⁸in food quality and safety research. This network includes representatives from all funded research projects on food quality and safety and it meets once a year. So far, two meetings have been held:

In the first one, on 10 February 2004, representatives from all the 12 selected projects (1st call for proposals) were invited. During it, the EC representative outlined the general role-mission of the network and the following objectives for the Network on ELSA in food quality and safety research were proposed:

• Exchange of information and “best practice” regarding integration of ELSA in research projects,
• Development of joint activities e.g. workshops, training, guidelines, building on the experience from FP5,
• Development of actions to promote the debate in the EU 25 member states,
• Linking with or promoting local, regional, national and other international /global initiatives.

Five topics of interest for several of the funded projects were identified as priorities for future actions:

1. Human experimentation in food research
2. Consumer science and the cultural meaning of food
3. Communication of scientific information /results
4. Establishment of bio banks, gene banks, use of genetic information
5. Animal experimentation

In the second meeting, on 30 June 2005, there were representatives from all the 10 selected projects (2 nd call) and 8 (1 st call) present.

During it, after a briefing on the role of this network and on the previous meeting and its outcome, participants presented their projects. In the discussion that followed:

• ELSA participants in general, expressed their support of activities aiming at addressing ethics through this network.
• They found the meeting and the issues raised for further discussion very useful crucial and interesting and suggested they meet twice a year instead of once. However, a more targeted theme with specific topics was desired for example in the area of animal and human experimentation
• There was general consensus on the view that it should be assured that the results of research reach the public
• Also the areas of communication and the wider involvement of stakeholders (who are not formal partners of the projects) in the debate were brought up as a possible focus, even for a separate workshop.
• An open meeting with the public, perhaps once a year, was also brought up as a possibility

ELSA and TRACE project

One partner represented the project in the 2 nd meeting of the ELSA network. There are no major sensitive ethical issues raised by this research project, which does not involve any clinical trials or experimentation with genetically-engineered plants or animals.

The topic of “ELSA” will be on the agenda of each meeting of the Management Board and Scientific Committee to ensure that any questions can be dealt with as they arise during the project’s lifetime.

The involvement of social scientists, SMEs and NGO’s in TRACE is significant as all are formal partners of the project. Social scientists, representing several EU universities, are responsible for research on consumer behaviour. SMEs will be the demonstration ‘vehicle’ of the project’s demonstration activities. Consumer NGO’s are represented at EU level and their designated representative informs them officially twice a year about project developments and asks their opinion on key consumer issues as they arise.

Regarding Social-Economic issues, TRACE is in line with Regulation 2081/92/EC of July 14 1992 as it:

• Proposes a comprehensive authenticity and traceability system, particularly suited to Designated Origin products, which will ensure that the foodstuff has been made according to the claims it makes on its label.
• Will help the promotion of regional products
• Will help farmers to maintain and improve their activity

Also, TRACE

• Will provide consumers with added confidence in confidence in the authenticity of European food
• Will increase consumer confidence in healthy products and facilitate them to do ‘healthy eating’ contributing thus to the fight against obesity epidemic
• Will help honest food producers
• Will help authorities to easily monitor and when necessary recall individual food items

In general TRACE results are expected to have a considerable socio-economic impact in terms of facilitating the work of competent authorities-food producers, and of increased consumer confidence, which according to the modern economic theory is crucial for the market function and Gross Domestic product growth.

1. The Framework Programmes (FP) are the Union’s main instrument for the funding of research in Europe ; each of them includes certain sectors of science-technology (key areas or specific projects ) the selection of which reflects the EU research priorities
2. informal, unofficial
3. http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/ethics/research-history_en.html How they will be achieved?
4. Biotechnology (BIOTECH), Biomedicine and Health (BIOMED), Agriculture and Fisheries (FAIR)
5. http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/home.html
6. http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/activities.htm
7. http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/ethics/review_en.html
8. There are not established similar networks in other research sectors