Glossary

This multilingual glossary provides easy-to-understand definitions for the main scientific terms used on this website in the risk assessment domain. Terms and their definitions are referenced in our communication products as pop-up notes to explain concepts to the public with no specialist knowledge.
Standard English spelling is used throughout. Acronyms are capitalised. Terms are presented in lower case. Entries are translated into all 24 EU official languages.
The glossary is a living document subject to regular updates. Relevant missing terms may be suggested by using the Ask A Question online form.

Disclaimer: Definitions in the glossary are intended solely to help this website's users understand scientific terminology. Definitions may differ from those given in European Union legislation and in the EFSA Journal.

Q

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) is a safety assessment procedure for microbes used in the food chain. QPS uses existing knowledge about the safety of specific microbes to differentiate those which are not of concern (and can be given QPS status) from those which may represent a risk and should be subject to a full safety assessment.

QPS status of new TU is adopted by the BIOHAZ Panel.

Examples of QPS status related qualifications:     • Absence of acquired genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials (generic qualification for all bacterial TUs)     • Absence of antimycotic resistance should (for yeasts to be used as viable organisms in the food or feed chains)      • for production purposes only, which implies the absence of viable cells of the production organism in the final product and can also be applied to food and feed products based on microbial biomass     • Absence of toxigenic potential (for all Bacillus spp. with QPS status)

The quantitative/qualitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) are a set of methods by which the effects of different compounds are related to their molecular structures. It allows the likely adverse or beneficial effects of a particular chemical to be predicted by comparing it with others which have similar structures.

A safety assessment procedure for microbes used in the food chain. QPS uses existing knowledge about the safety of specific microbes to differentiate those which are not of concern (and can be given QPS status) from those which may represent a risk and should be subject to a full safety assessment.

A set of methods by which the effects of different compounds are related to their molecular structures. It allows the likely adverse or beneficial effects of a particular chemical to be predicted by comparing it with others which have similar structures.

According to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, a pest is a ‘quarantine pest’, with respect to a defined territory, if it fulfils all of the following conditions:

  • (a) its identity is established;
  • (b) it is not present in the territory or, if present, is not widely distributed within that territory;
  • (c) it is capable of entering into, becoming established in and spreading within the territory, or, if present in the territory, but not widely distributed, is capable of entering into, becoming established in and spreading within those parts of that territory where it is absent;
  • (d) its entry, establishment and spread would have an unacceptable economic, environmental or social impact on that territory, or, if present but not widely distributed, for those parts of the territory where it is absent; and
  • (e) feasible and effective measures are available to prevent the entry into, establishment in or spread of that pest within, that territory and to mitigate the risks and impact thereof.