The Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) carries out audits of the controls implemented by competent authorities on a broad number of topics. These include the implementation of residues monitoring plans (for pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants) in food of animal origin and the implementation of EU legislation in the area of animal welfare.
To increase or supplement the expertise of the audit teams, they in most cases include a Member State expert in the topic at hand. Having Member State representatives ("national experts") included, also serves the purpose of increasing the knowledge and confidence amongst Member States of and in each other's control systems, the controls of the products imported into the EU and the auditing work of the Commission. Finally, it is also hoped that it will further the sharing of good practices across Member States. The event aims to provide training to National Experts in the above fields.