title: Attitudes and beliefs on the establishment of a national food safety authority in Cyprus. A population-based survey.
abstract: Cyprus does not have a National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), but a multi-level, fragmented system with responsibilities divided among different ministries and governmental agencies, frequently impeding efforts to effectively manage food risks by duplication and overlapping of responsibilities. A population-based survey was carried out to determine the beliefs and attitudes of interested parties concerning the establishment of a NFSA in Cyprus. Information was collected using a random stratified sampling design and a structured questionnaire. A total of 868 questionnaires were collected (704 from regular consumers, 154 from food businesses' representatives, and 10 from public services' directors or acting head officers). About 11% of food businesses' representatives and 45% of consumers reported that they did not know which public authorities are responsible for food control. Moreover, 2 out of 10 (17%) of responders from public agencies, 70% from food businesses and 91% from consumers, although not aware of ongoing efforts to establish a food safety authority in Cyprus (currently under consideration), were supportive of the idea [8 out of 10 (83%) of responders from public services, 93% from food businesses, and 89% of consumers]. Finally, 7 out of 10 (67%) from the public agencies and 84% of representatives from food businesses agreed with the separation of risk assessment from risk management activities. Public opinion in Cyprus as well as public agencies and food businesses' representatives support the establishment of a single independent national food safety authority in Cyprus based on the European paradigm including the division of risk activities.
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health & Health Care, Management, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Ministry of Health, Public Health Services, 1449 Nicosia, Cyprus. Electronic address: ahadjigeorgiou@mphs.moh.gov.cy.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: Open University of Cyprus, Health Care Management Program, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Talias
authors.affiliation: Cyprus Institute of Biomedical Sciences (CIBS), Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus; Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology (EOME), Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Elpidoforos S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Soteriades
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health & Health Care, Management, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philalithis
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Regional Laboratory of Public Health/Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Geographical Medicine (WHO Collaborating Center), Medical School, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psaroulaki
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, Regional Laboratory of Public Health/Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Geographical Medicine (WHO Collaborating Center), Medical School, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tselentis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003535:Cyprus; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D059022:Food Safety; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes and beliefs; Cyprus; Food control authorities; Food legislation; National food safety authority; Population survey