Dr Roberto Andrea Balbo was recently elected to the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe's food hygiene working group.

The group originated from the meat inspection working group and its primary aim is to provide a critical and independent analysis of the food safety policy of the European Union, as well as evaluate general food-safety issues of European-wide concern.

Dr Balbo is the outgoing Malta Veterinary Association (MVA) president and former MVA secretary. He currently works as advisor on food safety matters for the Fish and Farming Regulation and Control Division within the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs, and is responsible for the Food Health and Veterinary Enforcement Department, which regulates the operations of all the establishments manufacturing food of animal origin.

Dr Balbo is also the ministry expert attending the working group on implementing measures of the hygiene regulations at the Commission and has represented MRRA in various forums of the European Food Safety Authority.

He holds a Master of Science in European Food Regulatory Affairs, obtained from Ulster University, and is a senior visiting lecturer at the University of Malta, where he lectures anatomy, physiology and food technology.