About
19
Publications
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276
Citations
Citations since 2017
Introduction
Anthony Smith currently works in the Department of Communication and Partnership at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Anthony is a communications professional who is involved in content production and research at EFSA on Risk Communication and Uncertainty Communication in the areas of Science, Technology and Environmental Politics, Public Policy and Health Politics and Policy.
Additional affiliations
November 2010 - present
Position
- Communications Officer
Description
- EU agency responsible for assessing and communicating potential risks in the food chain.
Education
October 2002 - July 2003
September 1995 - June 1996
September 1990 - June 1994
Publications
Publications (19)
Food safety regulation in the European Union (EU) is based on a risk analysis framework, with the separation of scientific risk assessment and policy-based risk management. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was created In 2002 as the EU risk assessor for food safety, providing independent scientific advice and communication on risks related...
EFSA undertook consumer research on nutrition and dietary sugars awareness, knowledge and risk perception, preferred information sources and trust in different actors, plus additional research on stakeholder perspectives. The research results informed EFSA’s communications and engagement for a public consultation on its draft scientific assessment...
The present paper describes the methodology used during a game-based social learning physical workshop and provides insights into whether this approach could contribute to developmental challenges related to uncertainty among stakeholders involved in risk analysis.The workshop was attended by 22 participants. It lasted three and a half hours. Games...
In 2018, EFSA received a request for a scientific opinion from the European Parliament on the science
behind the development of an integrated holistic approach for the risk assessment of multiple stressors
in managed honey bees (MUST-B). The inclusion of the need to take into account bee management
practices in the Terms of Reference of the request...
This report assesses peer-reviewed and grey literature on risk communication concepts and practices, as requested by the European Commission to support the implementation of a 'General Plan for Risk Communication', i.e. an integrated framework for EU food safety risk assessors and risk managers at Union and national level, as required by the revise...
The scientific report on Technical assistance in the field of risk communication assesses peer-reviewed and grey literature on risk communication concepts and practices, as requested by the European Commission to support the implementation of a ‘General Plan for Risk Communication’, i.e. an integrated framework for EU food safety risk assessors and...
This editorial proposes directions for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to meet its current and future obligations as a source of public information and communication on food‐related risks in the EU. These directions are intended to guide EFSA's communications through changes driven by new legal obligations, a new organisational strategy c...
This (draft) report assesses peer-reviewed and grey literature on risk communication concepts and practices, as requested by the European Commission to support the implementation of a 'General Plan for Risk Communication', i.e. an integrated framework for EU food safety risk assessors and risk managers at Union and national level, as required by th...
This paper presents selected highlights from the ‘Engaging with society’ session of EFSA's third Scientific Conference ‘Science, Food and Society’ (Parma, Italy, 18–21 September 2018). The social dimension for scientific advisory bodies largely concerns science communication and public engagement. The political, economic and technological transform...
This document provides guidance for communicators on how to communicate the various expressions of uncertainty described in EFSA's document: ‘Guidance on uncertainty analysis in scientific assessments’. It also contains specific guidance for assessors on how best to report the various expressions of uncertainty. The document provides a template for...
The first strategic objective of EFSA's strategy 2020 ‘Trusted science for safe food’ is the prioritisation of public and stakeholder engagement in the development of scientific assessment. To achieve this, objective public consultations are a key step for such a strategic framework. The draft Guidance document on communication of uncertainty under...
During the development of the EFSA guidance on uncertainty analysis, the literature was found to be equivocal about the best methods for communicating scientific uncertainties and there was a lack of empirical evidence on the best approaches for reaching non-technical audiences. EFSA therefore commissioned a focus group study in 2016 on clear commu...
Abstract To meet the general requirement for transparency in EFSA's work, all its scientific assessments must consider uncertainty. Assessments must say clearly and unambiguously what sources of uncertainty have been identified and what is their impact on the assessment conclusion. This applies to all EFSA's areas, all types of scientific assessmen...
Risk analysis and risk governance face a decline in social trust at both the scientific and policy levels. The involvement of society in the process has been proposed as an approach to increasing trust and engagement by making better use of available data and knowledge. In this session, EFSA explored the challenges in building trust and engagement...
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an independent European agency funded by the EU budget that operates separately from the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States. EFSA provides scientific advice on risks associated with the food chain such as contaminants in food, biological hazards, genetically modified organisms...
The aim behind the 1994 Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was the creation of an Energy Community (EnCom) embracing both halves of a previously divided Europe and, by stimulating East-West energy trade and investment, aiding the processes of transition within the formerly centrally-planned political economies of East-Central Europe (ECE) and the former-S...
Questions
Questions (2)
We need feedback from experts in risk communication, risk analysis, risk perceptions, audience analysis, risk decision-making! In return you will be helping to shape the future of EU risk communication on food safety.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched an open consultation on a draft scientific report on Technical assistance in the field of risk communication. It is a draft assessment of risk communication theory and best practice intended to support the European Commission implement a new legal requirement (Regulation (EU) 2019/1381): a General Plan on Risk Communication for EU food safety. The General plan should promote an integrated risk communication framework followed both by the risk assessors and the risk managers in a coherent and systematic manner both at Union and national level.
EFSA is calling on risk communication and science communication experts and specialists – including practitioners at national, EU and international risk assessment and risk management public authorities – to review and comment on the draft scientific report.
It examines evidence from peer-reviewed and grey literature covering critical issues in EU food safety risk communication, including:
- increasing awareness and understanding of the roles of risk assessors and risk managers to enhance confidence in risk analysis
- reducing ambiguity of the difference in meaning between ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’
- tackling false information and its sources
- taking into account the risk perceptions of different audiences
- segmenting audiences and tailoring information to their needs
- developing mechanisms for structured risk communication planning and operations
To see the draft report and instructions for giving feedback: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/public-consultation-draft-scientific-report-technical-assistance
EFSA is a European Union agency. The Authority provides scientific advice on potential risks in the food chain to decision-makers in the EU. EFSA is holding a public consultation on its proposals for increasing openness and transparency in its processes. EFSA welcomes comments and suggestions from other scientific advisory bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as well as open government and open science experts and practitioners. The deadline for input is 15 October 2014.
Projects
Project (1)
Developing a practical approach to uncertainty communication and related tools for use by communicators working in the food safety/public health field.
