Advisory Forum inauguration
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), but newly installed
executive director of the EFSA, Geoffrey Podger, reports that the
first meeting of its Advisory Forum took place last Thursday.
Last week we reported on the distinctly sloth-like installation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), but newly installed executive director of the EFSA, Geoffrey Podger, reports that the first meeting of its Advisory Forum took place last Thursday.
The forum - composed of representatives of the Member States - will have direct links to food authorities and decision makers and will advise the EFSA on issues relating to food safety. This initiative is coupled with the creation of a Scientific Committee and panels - for whom the EFSA is currently looking for candidates. These will continue the work of existing European Commission operated scientific committees, and will progressively take on new risk assessment tasks.
According to a recent statement from the EFSA, the system is being adjusted in order to enhance scientific consistency in relation to the food supply chain, and to allow the best available scientists to work as effectively as possible.
The intention is to ensure independence and openness, while improving the focus and efficiency of scientific work, within an approach which is tailored uniquely to food safety assessment. The open call for the scientists is due to close in a few days - on 14 March 2003.
According to the EFSA, it is intended that the intertwining of these two approaches will improve the way that food safety is assessed in Europe, thereby providing enhanced input to the decision making which results from the work of the experts.
"The expectation is that the combination of independence, openness and focus, as well as a more integrated approach and more extensive networking of scientists and decision makers, will lead to quicker and better decision making over time," the EFSA commented this week.
