The main objective of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on Risk assessment in biotechnology is:

  • to disseminate best practices for the implementation of principles and methods of food chain risk assessment, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the European Union.

The extended objectives of this training activity are:

  • To promote exchange of experience in order to increase the level of expertise and harmonisation of approaches.
  • To contribute to increasing transparency and building trust amongst Member States’ authorities in each other’s risk assessments.
  • To contribute to the harmonisation of risk assessment approaches.
  • To disseminate best practices for risk management and communication.
  • To promoting reduction of discrepancies in procedural aspects of risk assessment.

The course addresses the following topics:

  • Structured four steps approach in risk assessment for genetically modified organisms: Hazard Identification, Hazard characterization, Exposure assessment, Risk characterization
  • Principles and methods of hazard identification and characterization when applied to whole food/feed
  • Uncertainty and variability
  • Weight-of-evidence approach
  • Risk mitigation
  • Post-market monitoring
  • Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of GMOs
  • New molecular breeding techniques (RNAi, CRISPR/Cas) and their challenges for risk assessments
  • GM plants, microorganisms, animals (vertebrates) and insects
  • Synthetic biology
  • Omics as a new toolbox in risk assessment
  • Risk communication

This training programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.

  • Professional experience in national authorities and public institutions (including so called "Art. 36 of Reg. 178/2002" organisations) involved in food chain risk assessment
  • Experience in the specific field of risk assessment in biotechnologies
  • Experience in crisis investigation and management
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 07/03/2022 11/03/2022 online --
2 12/09/2022 16/09/2022 Rome Italy
3 22/01/2024 26/01/2024 Rome Italy
4 04/11/2024 08/11/2024 Riga Latvia
Risk assessment in biotechnology