RASFF
Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
The EU's shared early-warning system for unsafe food and animal feed. 27 national agencies + Norway/Switzerland push notifications into a single feed managed by DG SANTE.
❓ Frequently asked questions
▸ What does RASFF stand for?
Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed — the EU-wide notification network for food, feed, and food-contact-material risks since 1979.
▸ Who can submit a RASFF notification?
Only the 30 national food-safety authorities (27 EU + Norway, Iceland, Switzerland) and the European Commission. Consumers cannot submit directly.
▸ What's the difference between an alert and a border rejection?
Alert = a serious risk discovered AFTER product reached the market (recall typically needed). Border rejection = unsafe product caught BEFORE entering the EU, sent back at the border.
▸ How fast are RASFF notifications?
When a member state identifies a serious risk, they must notify within 48 hours. Most appear publicly the same week.