WRITTEN QUESTION P-2412/97 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (7 July 1997)

Subject: Disclosure of interests of members of the Scientific Committee for Food

Is it the case that all members of the Scientific Committee for Food are required to declare all their interests to the public? If so, is the Commission aware that one prominent member of the committee, who has for many years had close links with the baby food industry, has only so far declared publicly an interest in mineral water? Does the Commission agree that the discussion of a number of important subjects by the committee - including the scientific aspects relating to baby food legislation - have therefore involved a conflict of interest on the part of this member?

More generally, does the Commission not agree that establishing a comprehensive, retrospective and up-to-date list of the interests of all members would produce a more transparent procedure, better able to avoid conflicts of interest in the work of this committee? Does it not therefore also agree that such a system should be established as soon as possible? In contrast, does the Commission accept that the current practice of allowing declarations of interest to be made on an ad hoc basis is prone to abuse by members of the committee and should be abolished? Pending reform in this area, will the Commission commit itself to releasing all information relating to members' interests which it currently holds?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997)

Currently, members of the scientific committee for food (SCF) are required by Article 11 of Commission Decision 95/273/EC relating to the establishment of a scientific committee for food ((OJ L 167, 18.7.1995. )), to notify the Commission annually, and as they occur during the work of the committee and its working groups, of interests which could prejudice their independence.

Prior to June 1996, such declarations were made to the Commission in confidence. However SCF members subsequently agreed voluntarily that their future declarations should be made available to the public on request. This arrangement was however overtaken by the reorganisation of the Commission's scientific committees from 1 April 1997 which brought the need to establish a common policy for such matters and was not therefore implemented. However, any declarations made by members relating to specific matters arising during the plenary meetings of the committee have, since December 1996, been recorded in the minutes which are publicly available.

On the basis of the declarations of interest submitted to it, the Commission has no reason to doubt the independence of the advice given by any member of the SCF on questions relating in particular to baby food or to any other matter on which the Committee has expressed an opinion.

The Commission confirms its commitment to a policy of maximum transparency in the work of its scientific committees but regrets that it is not able to make publicly available declarations of interest which were made to it in confidence under the previous rules of procedure.

Following the reorganisation of the Commission's services responsible for various aspects of consumer health protection, all of the Commission's scientific committees were transferred to DG XXIV (Consumer policy and consumer health protection) with effect from 1 April 1997. In accordance with the Commission's communication ((COM(97) 183 final. )) which placed emphasis on the fundamental requirements for excellence, independence and transparency in the operation of these committees, common rules governing the selection of the members and conduct of the committees, including declarations of interest, have been decided by the Commission in the decision of 23 July 1997 setting up scientific committees in the field of consumer health and food safety.