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Brussels, |
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The EU Agri-Food Fraud Network
The EU Agri-Food Fraud Network (FFN) is the EU cooperation framework dedicated to tackling cross-border fraud in the agri-food chain. It connects the European Commission with the liaison bodies designated by all EU Member States, as well as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, allowing authorities to exchange information and coordinate responses when fraud-related breaches of EU agri-food law involve more than one country.
The page explains that the FFN has operated since 2013 and works under the rules of the Official Controls Regulation. Its core function is to support communication and mutual assistance between competent authorities, especially by transmitting and receiving requests for assistance and by enabling the exchange of information needed to verify compliance with agri-food chain legislation. This makes the network a practical enforcement tool rather than simply an information-sharing forum.
A distinctive feature of the FFN is its multi-agency cooperation model. Alongside the national liaison bodies and the Commission, the EC Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality within the Joint Research Centre provides scientific expertise, while OLAF and Europol contribute investigative support where necessary. The page stresses that effective enforcement depends on cooperation not only between food-chain officials, but also with police, customs authorities, judges and prosecutors, both nationally and at EU level.
The page also highlights the network’s operational and investigative dimension through examples of EU coordinated actions, including work on honey, herbs and spices, fish substitution, horse meat, online food offers, and illegal trade in cats and dogs. These examples illustrate how the FFN is used in practice to address authenticity fraud, misleading practices and illicit trade affecting the agri-food market.
Overall, the FFN can be understood as the EU’s specialised anti-fraud arm within the broader agri-food enforcement architecture. It strengthens cross-border enforcement, improves cooperation between national authorities and EU bodies, and helps protect both consumers and the integrity of the internal market against fraudulent practices in food and feed.
The page explains that the FFN has operated since 2013 and works under the rules of the Official Controls Regulation. Its core function is to support communication and mutual assistance between competent authorities, especially by transmitting and receiving requests for assistance and by enabling the exchange of information needed to verify compliance with agri-food chain legislation. This makes the network a practical enforcement tool rather than simply an information-sharing forum.
A distinctive feature of the FFN is its multi-agency cooperation model. Alongside the national liaison bodies and the Commission, the EC Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality within the Joint Research Centre provides scientific expertise, while OLAF and Europol contribute investigative support where necessary. The page stresses that effective enforcement depends on cooperation not only between food-chain officials, but also with police, customs authorities, judges and prosecutors, both nationally and at EU level.
The page also highlights the network’s operational and investigative dimension through examples of EU coordinated actions, including work on honey, herbs and spices, fish substitution, horse meat, online food offers, and illegal trade in cats and dogs. These examples illustrate how the FFN is used in practice to address authenticity fraud, misleading practices and illicit trade affecting the agri-food market.
Overall, the FFN can be understood as the EU’s specialised anti-fraud arm within the broader agri-food enforcement architecture. It strengthens cross-border enforcement, improves cooperation between national authorities and EU bodies, and helps protect both consumers and the integrity of the internal market against fraudulent practices in food and feed.
