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Open ↗eli-container"> COMMISSION DECISION of 21 September 2026 amending Commission Decision C(2021) 7991 setting up the group of experts on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (C/2026/4900) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Whereas: (1) Article 39 of the Treaty assigned the Union and the Member States the task of assuring the availability of supplies of agri-food, fisheries and aquaculture products and ensuring that they reach consumers at reasonable prices. (2) The group of experts on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (the ‘group’) was set up on 12 November 2021 by Commission Decision C(2021) 7991 ( 1 ) , in accordance with Commission Decision C(2016) 3301 ( 2 ) establishing horizontal rules on Commission expert groups. (3) Article 5 of Decision C(2021) 7991 provides that one competent authority per Member State or non-EU country [ sic ] is to act as single contact point. Depending on the way in which Member States and third countries are organised for ensuring food security at national level, it may be necessary to designate more than one contact point. It is therefore appropriate to clarify that Member States may designate one or more competent authorities to act as contact points. (4) Decision C(2021) 7991 applies until 11 November 2026. The group has demonstrated its added value in assisting the Commission in improving coordination at Union level across all relevant policy areas, and in facilitating a concerted response to crises affecting, or liable to affect, food supply and food security in the Union, in synergy with existing Union structures and mechanisms. (5) As underlined in the Joint Communication on the European Preparedness Union Strategy ( 3 ) , the Union should strengthen its preparedness in response to growing risks and deep uncertainty, with the objective of establishing a secure and resilient Union equipped with the capacities to anticipate, respond to and manage threats and hazards, regardless of their nature or origin. Preparedness considerations should be integrated into all Union policies. The Commission Communication EU stockpiling strategy: Boosting the EU’s material preparedness for crises ( 4 ) stressed that in severe, long-term, complex and cross-border crises, it is crucial to coordinate national measures to ensure a steady supply of essential goods and the continuation of vital societal functions. (6) The Commission intends therefore to extend the applicability of Decision C(2021) 7991 by five years. Such an extension would enable the group to continue providing a crisis preparedness and response platform and would further enhance the Union’s level of preparedness and response capacity. The Commission will in due time consider whether a further extension of that period is appropriate. The extension of the applicability of Decision C(2021) 7991 has no bearing on the ongoing legislative procedure concerning the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 (COM(2025) 553 final) ( 5 ) . (7) The term of office of the group’s members and observers will end on 11 November 2026. The Commission intends to extend the term of office of the group’s current members and observers by five years or until a new expert group is set up as a result of the ongoing legislative procedure related to proposal COM(2025) 553 final, whichever date is earlier. (8) Decision C(2021) 7991 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Sole Article Decision C(2021) 7991 is amended as follows: (1) Article 5 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 5 Contact points One or more competent authorities per Member State or third country among those referred to in Article 4(1), points (a) and (b), shall act as contact points for issues related to the tasks referred to in Article 2. Member States and third countries shall notify the Commission of any change in the competent authorities. The Commission shall publish and regularly update the list of contact points on a dedicated website.’ ; (2) Article 16 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 16 Applicability This Decision shall apply until 11 November 2031 or until a new expert group is set up as a result of the ongoing legislative procedure related to the proposal COM(2025) 553 final, whichever date is earlier.’ . Done at Brussels, 21 September 2026. For the Commission Christophe HANSEN Member of the Commission ( 1 ) Commission Decision C(2021) 7991 final of 12 November 2021 setting up the group of experts on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism. ( 2 ) Commission Decision C(2016) 3301 final of 30 May 2016 establishing horizontal rules on the creation and operation of Commission expert groups. ( 3 ) Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Preparedness Strategy, 26.3.2025, JOIN(2025) 130 final . ( 4 ) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, EU stockpiling strategy: Boosting the EU’s material preparedness for crises, COM(2025) 528 final. ( 5 ) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme (‘EU school scheme’), sectoral interventions, the creation of a protein sector, requirements for hemp, the possibility for marketing standards for cheese, protein crops and meat, application of additional import duties, rules on the availability of supplies in time of emergencies and severe crisis and securities, COM(2025) 553 final. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/4900/oj ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)