Risk-based approaches and tools

Risk analysis is a structured, internationally accepted framework that provides national food safety authorities with a systematic, disciplined approach for making evidence based food safety decisions. It consists of three interactive components risk assessment, risk management and risk communication – which serve to develop an estimate of the risks to human health and safety, to identify and implement appropriate measures of risk control , and to communicate with stakeholders about the risks and the measures applied.

Supporting national food safety authorities to apply risk‑based approaches

FAO helps develop the capacity of national food safety authorities and regulators in:

• understanding internationally accepted approaches applied in chemical and microbiological risk assessments as a basis for evaluation of domestic food safety risks;
• ensuring the risk analysis approach is used appropriately to address the specific food safety challenges and agreed priorities in order to ensure consumer protection and foster the development of the agroprocessing and food trade sectors;
• strengthening national efforts to generate the data required to support sound risk assessments appropriate to the specific context;
• applying risk analysis to support national level decision making in food safety management;
• promoting transparency, stakeholder involvement and better coordination among government agencies involved in food safety issues at the national level, and coordination with other relevant stakeholders (private sector, civil society and trading partners);
• facilitating harmonization of regulatory measures and standards among countries and across regions.