# C_2008005EN.01001301.xml

| 10.1.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 5/13 |
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10.1.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 5/13

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Call for expressions of interest for membership of the Scientific Panels of the European Food Safety Authority (Parma, Italy) (1)

1

(2008/C 5/09)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks.

The Authority has set up a selection procedure that aims to draw up a reserve list of:

SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF TWO SCIENTIFIC PANELS:

Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food

(Scientific Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food)

(Scientific Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food)

and

Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids

(Scientific Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids)

(Scientific Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids)

Ref.: EFSA/E/2008/001

This call is addressed to scientists wishing to be considered for membership of either the Scientific Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food or the Scientific Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids of the European Food Safety Authority in order to identify Europe's best scientists for this task.

The European Food Safety Authority

EFSA is the cornerstone of the EU system of risk assessment for food and feed safety; its scientific advice on existing and emerging risks underpins the policies and decisions of risk managers in the European Institutions and EU Member States. The Authority's most critical commitment is to provide objective, transparent and independent scientific advice and clear communication grounded in the most up-to-date scientific methodologies, information and data available.

EFSA brings together Europe's best available experts in risk assessment in the field of food and feed safety, who act in an independent capacity for an autonomous, self-governed organisation to provide the European Community, Member States and the European Parliament with scientific advice of the highest standard.

The Authority is committed to the core standards of scientific excellence, openness, transparency, independence and responsiveness. By working independently, openly and transparently EFSA delivers the best possible scientific advice and therefore contributes to strengthening the European food and feed safety system.

EFSA is a responsive and reliable source of support for decision makers. Through its Scientific Committee, Scientific Panels and Working Groups, the Authority undertakes to respond quickly and proactively to urgent issues and emerging risks.

The role of EFSA's Scientific Panels

The Scientific Panels are composed of independent scientific experts.

The Chairs of each Scientific Panel are also members of the Scientific Committee of EFSA. The Scientific Panels are responsible for providing the scientific opinions of the Authority and other advice as appropriate, each within their own spheres of competence. In order to boost EFSA's pool of expertise, the current Scientific Panel of food additives, flavourings processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC Panel) is being replaced by two separate Panels which competence and the respective expertise sought through this call are as follows:

The Panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food deals with questions of safety in the use of food additives and nutrient sources with associated subjects concerning the safety of other deliberately added substances to food.

The Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids deals with questions of safety in the use of flavourings, processing aids, food enzymes and materials in contact with food; and with questions related to the safety of processes.

Required expertise: Toxicology and Risk assessment, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food consumption and exposure assessment, Safety and bioavailability of nutrient sources, Food technology and Microbiology within the area of the Panels as described above.

Required expertise: Toxicology and Risk assessment, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food consumption and exposure assessment, Safety and bioavailability of nutrient sources, Food technology and Microbiology within the area of the Panels as described above.

For more information on Scientific Panels:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753816_ScientificPanels.htm

The role of the members of EFSA's Scientific Panels

Members are expected to be prepared to attend and contribute actively to all meetings of the Panel where opinions, scientific reports or guidance documents are adopted. It is estimated that the Scientific Committee and the Scientific Panels meet depending on the workload between five and ten times per year in two-day meetings usually in Parma, Italy. Panel members are also expected to participate, as appropriate, in working groups. Meetings and most documents are in English. Applicants should take into account that meetings in general involve preparatory work.

The members of the Scientific Panels are not remunerated but will be entitled to a compensation decided by EFSA Management Board for each full day meeting (for 2007, this amount was stated at EUR 300). In addition, the scientific experts receive subsistence allowance and incurred travelling expenses in accordance with EFSA's compensation guide for experts meetings.

Selection Procedure

Candidates are asked in the application form to make a choice between the two Scientific Panels in order of preference.

The requirements

Qualifications and experience

A.   Eligibility criteria

| (i) | a university degree in areas including Toxicology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Food technology preferably at post-graduate level; |
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(i)

a university degree in areas including Toxicology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Food technology preferably at post-graduate level;

| (ii) | at least ten (10) years of professional experience relevant to the remit of the Panel(s) chosen at a level to which above required qualifications give admission; |
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(ii)

at least ten (10) years of professional experience relevant to the remit of the Panel(s) chosen at a level to which above required qualifications give admission;

| (iii) | good knowledge of the English language; |
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(iii)

good knowledge of the English language;

| (iv) | candidates must complete the declaration of interests included in the application in a true and complete manner. Please note that failure to fill in this part of the form in a true and complete manner will result in the rejection of the application; |
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(iv)

candidates must complete the declaration of interests included in the application in a true and complete manner. Please note that failure to fill in this part of the form in a true and complete manner will result in the rejection of the application;

| (v) | candidates must be nationals of a Member State of the European Communities, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and EU accession countries. Experts from non-European countries may also apply but will be considered only when the required level of expertise cannot be found among European experts. |
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(v)

candidates must be nationals of a Member State of the European Communities, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and EU accession countries. Experts from non-European countries may also apply but will be considered only when the required level of expertise cannot be found among European experts.

B.   Selection criteria

| (i) | experience in carrying out scientific risk assessment and/or providing scientific advice in fields related to food and feed safety in general and, in particular in the areas of competence and expertise of the preferred Panel; |
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(i)

experience in carrying out scientific risk assessment and/or providing scientific advice in fields related to food and feed safety in general and, in particular in the areas of competence and expertise of the preferred Panel;

| (ii) | proven scientific excellence in one, or preferably several fields linked to the area covered by the preferred Panel; |
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(ii)

proven scientific excellence in one, or preferably several fields linked to the area covered by the preferred Panel;

| (iii) | experience in acting in advisory committees; |
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(iii)

experience in acting in advisory committees;

| (iv) | experience in chairing committees; |
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(iv)

experience in chairing committees;

| (v) | proven experience in peer-reviewing scientific work, editorship, reports, editor boards, industry reports, articles and publications, preferably in fields related to the area covered by the Scientific Panel preferred; |
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(v)

proven experience in peer-reviewing scientific work, editorship, reports, editor boards, industry reports, articles and publications, preferably in fields related to the area covered by the Scientific Panel preferred;

| (vi) | experience in dealing with complex information and dossiers often from a wide range of scientific disciplines and sources; |
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(vi)

experience in dealing with complex information and dossiers often from a wide range of scientific disciplines and sources;

| (vii) | professional experience in a multidisciplinary environment; |
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(vii)

professional experience in a multidisciplinary environment;

| (viii) | professional experience gained in international context; |
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(viii)

professional experience gained in international context;

| (ix) | proven experience in project management related to scientific matters; |
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(ix)

proven experience in project management related to scientific matters;

| (x) | proven experience as a rapporteur; |
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(x)

proven experience as a rapporteur;

| (xi) | proven communication skills to be able to communicate effectively with the scientific community, media and other stakeholders; |
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(xi)

proven communication skills to be able to communicate effectively with the scientific community, media and other stakeholders;

| (xii) | an ability to use modern, electronic means of document exchange and communications would be an advantage, given the Authority makes best use of these techniques. |
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(xii)

an ability to use modern, electronic means of document exchange and communications would be an advantage, given the Authority makes best use of these techniques.

Applications meeting the eligibility requirements will be admitted to a comparative evaluation carried out by EFSA on the basis of the selection criteria given above. EFSA reserves the right to consult third parties on the professional experience of applicants in the context of their application. Members of the Scientific Panels will be appointed by the Management Board acting upon a proposal from the Executive Director.

Applicants may apply to the two (2) Scientific Panels but can only be appointed to one of them. Applicants may, with their prior consent, be assigned to a Scientific Panel even if they did not specifically apply for that Panel. Applicants meeting the requirement for membership but who are not appointed may be invited to remain on the reserve list in case vacancies occur or may be invited to contribute to the activities of a Scientific Panel as ad hoc expert of a Panel's Working Group.

ad hoc

Independence and declarations of commitment and interest

The members of the Scientific Panels are appointed on a personal basis. Applicants are required to include a declaration that they will undertake to act independently of any outside influence and a declaration of interests which may be deemed to be prejudicial to their independence.

Equal opportunities

EFSA takes great care to avoid any form of discrimination in its selection procedures.

Submission of applications

Candidates are requested to submit their application together with Declaration of Interests electronically through the EFSA's website: www.efsa.europa.eu or download the forms from the EFSA website and send their application by registered mail to the following address:

Ref.: EFSA/E/2008/001

| EFSA — European Food Safety Authority |
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| Human Resources Unit |
| Largo N. Palli, 5/A |
| I-43100 Parma |

EFSA — European Food Safety Authority

Human Resources Unit

Largo N. Palli, 5/A

I-43100 Parma

Applications delivered via email will not be accepted. An application will be deemed admissible only if it includes a duly completed application form. Candidates are kindly invited to fill in their application form in English in order to facilitate the selection procedure.

Please note that EFSA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information EFSA requests from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data. The purpose of processing of the personal data candidates submit is to manage applications in view of a possible pre-selection and selection at EFSA.

Closing date for sending applications

Applications must be submitted no later than 15 February 2008 at midnight (Local time, GMT +1). For those sent by registered mail, the postmark date will serve as a proof.

15 February 2008 at midnight

Please note that, due to the extremely large number of applications we receive, when reaching the deadline for submission of applications, the system may have problems to process the large amounts of data. We therefore advise the applicants to send in their application well ahead of the closing date.

Please note that, due to the extremely large number of applications we receive, when reaching the deadline for submission of applications, the system may have problems to process the large amounts of data. We therefore advise the applicants to send in their application well ahead of the closing date.

Please note that this call is subject to the approval of a new legislation expected during the first semester of 2008.

Please note that this call is subject to the approval of a new legislation expected during the first semester of 2008.

Note:

In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the English version and any of the other linguistic versions of this publication, the English language version shall prevail.

In the event of inconsistency or discrepancy between the English version and any of the other linguistic versions of this publication, the English language version shall prevail.

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(1)  EFSA is launching this call in anticipation of the formal establishment of the 2 Panels which is subject to an ongoing Comitology procedure due to be completed early in 2008.

1

The attention of candidates is drawn to the fact that the selection of experts arising from this call will only become effective after the entry into force of the relevant legal act amending Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Hence, the present call cannot give rise to claims or recourse pending positive outcome of the above procedure.

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