The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) allows the European Commission, EU member states and other associated countries to share information and take immediate action when dangerous food or feed is detected on the market or at the border.

The RASFF has been in use in the European Union since 1979. The system received a legal basis in 1983. Its current legal basis is the Regulation (EC) 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 28 January 2002, laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.

Established as a network that involves the European Commission (Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection), the Member States' food and feed control authorities and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the RASFF is aimed at exchanging information relating to a direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food or feed

The functioning principle of the RASFF is simple: if a member of the network has any information relating to the existence of a direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food or feed, this information shall be immediately notified to the Commission under the rapid alert system. The Commission shall transmit this information immediately to the members of the network.

Member States notify the Commission through the rapid alert system of any measure they adopt which is aimed at restricting the placing on the market or forcing the withdrawal from the market or the recall of food or feed as well as any rejection of a batch, container or cargo of food or feed at a border post within the European Union. The notification shall be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the reasons for the action taken and it shall be followed, in good time, by supplementary information. The Commission immediately transmits to the members of the network the notification and supplementary information received.

A relevant number of cases notified through the RASFF system concern products imported from or exported to third countries; in these cases, the Commission provides the concerned countries with the appropriate information.

REGULATION (EC) Nº 178/2002 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
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For more information on the RASFF please visit the Web site of The European Commission - Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection