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Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

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EFSA's framework for evidence-based scientific assessments: A case study on uncertainty analysis.

Elisa Aiassa¹, Caroline Merten¹, Laura Martino¹

¹European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Assessment and Methodological Support Unit, Parma, Italy.

|June 29, 2021

Summary

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) enhances scientific assessments through a 4-step protocol and uncertainty analysis. This improves evidence-based decision-making in food and feed safety.

Keywords:

food and feed safety methodological rigour protocols scientific assessments transparency

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Area of Science:

Food safety
Risk assessment
Regulatory science

Background:

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) principles for evidence-based scientific assessments: impartiality, methodological rigor, transparency, and engagement.
Developed cross-cutting methodological approaches to meet these principles.
Focus on a 4-step scientific assessment approach with a priori protocol development and uncertainty analysis.

Discussion:

Implementation of protocols and uncertainty analysis significantly improves the scientific value of assessment outputs.
Experience and capacity-building are necessary for effective integration of uncertainty analysis into the protocol planning phase.
Case study illustrates uncertainty analysis framework applicable to human exposure and other evidence types, including new approach methodologies.

Key Insights:

A 4-step scientific assessment framework with a priori protocol development and uncertainty analysis enhances scientific rigor.
Uncertainty analysis, when integrated early, improves the reliability of scientific advice for decision-making.
The proposed framework supports the integration of diverse evidence, including alternative methods, into regulatory assessments.

Outlook:

Further capacity-building is needed to fully integrate uncertainty analysis into the planning stages of scientific assessments.
The framework is adaptable for various evidence types, promoting broader application in regulatory science.
Expected to foster the integration of multiple evidence sources, including new approach methodologies, in regulatory scientific assessments.