New European Guidance to Help Small Food Businesses Assess and Reduce Food Fraud Risks
EFF-CoP is launching a new collaborative initiative to develop European Good Practice Recommendations for food fraud vulnerability self-assessment, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Interested stakeholders are invited to participate in the process, which will officially begin with a kick-off meeting in Amsterdam on 5 November 2026.
Supporting SMEs in Tackling Food Fraud
Food fraud remains a significant challenge for the food sector, affecting supply chain integrity, consumer trust and fair competition. For small and medium-sized food businesses, identifying potential vulnerabilities and implementing appropriate preventive measures can be particularly challenging.
To address these needs, EFF-CoP is initiating the development of a European Good Practice Recommendation for SME food fraud vulnerability self-assessment, which will be published as a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA).
The initiative aims to provide practical, accessible guidance to help food businesses better understand and manage their exposure to food fraud.
Specifically, the recommendations will address:
Risk identification: How to determine whether, and under which circumstances, a business may be vulnerable to food fraud.
Vulnerability assessment: How SMEs can systematically evaluate potential risks within their operations and supply chains.
Prevention and mitigation: What practical measures businesses can implement to reduce their vulnerability.
Detection: How to recognise potential indicators of fraudulent activities.
Knowledge and resources: Where businesses can access relevant expertise, tools and external support.
By focusing on the practical needs of SMEs, the initiative seeks to contribute to stronger food fraud prevention and detection capabilities across the European food sector.
An Open and Collaborative European Process
The CEN Workshop Agreement development process is based on consensus and is open to all interested stakeholders, including food businesses, researchers, industry representatives, food fraud specialists and other organisations involved in food integrity.
The initiative offers an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experiences, contribute their expertise and help shape recommendations that reflect real-world challenges.
Following approval from the CEN Secretariat, the process will officially begin with a kick-off meeting in Amsterdam.
Kick-off Meeting - 5 November 2026
📅 Date: 5 November 2026
🕐 Time: 13:00–17:00
📍 Venue: Meet Berlage - Amsterdam Center, Netherlands
The meeting will coincide with the Fraud Film Festival and its associated workshops, taking place in Amsterdam on 5-6 November 2026, providing an opportunity to engage with stakeholders already participating in discussions related to food fraud.
What Happens After the Kick-off Meeting?
The development of the CWA will continue through a structured and collaborative process. Following the initial workshop, a first draft of the agreement will be prepared and subsequently opened for stakeholder feedback through two public hearings.
Online meetings will also be organised in connection with these consultations, allowing interested stakeholders to contribute even if they cannot attend the kick-off meeting in person.
The process is expected to conclude with a final in-person meeting in autumn 2027, leading towards publication of the agreed recommendations.
This inclusive approach aims to ensure that the resulting guidance reflects the knowledge, experiences and practical needs of the wider food fraud prevention and detection community.
How Can You Participate?
EFF-CoP warmly invites SMEs, food industry professionals, researchers and all interested stakeholders to take part in this collaborative European initiative.
To register your interest in participating in the CWA development process, please contact the organisers:
Petter Olsen (Nofima) 📧 petter.olsen@nofima.no
Marianne Svorken (Nofima) 📧 marianne.svorken@nofima.no
When contacting the organisers, please indicate whether you intend to attend the kick-off meeting in Amsterdam on 5 November 2026.
Participation is not limited to those attending the initial meeting, as further opportunities for engagement will be available throughout the development process.
Strengthening Food Integrity Through Collaboration
The development of these Good Practice Recommendations represents an important step in EFF-CoP's efforts to support knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and the practical application of food fraud prevention strategies.
By bringing together expertise from across the food sector, the initiative aims to provide SMEs with accessible recommendations that can help them identify vulnerabilities, strengthen preventive measures and improve their capacity to respond to potential food fraud risks.
Join EFF-CoP in shaping practical European guidance and contributing to a more transparent, resilient and trustworthy food system.