2008/721/EC: Commission Decision of 5 August 2008 setting up an advisory structure of Scientific Committees and experts in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment and repealing Decision 2004/210/EC (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2008-08-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consumer protection, environmental protection, operation of the Institutions, public health, scientific committee (EU), scientific report

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Official Journal of the European Union

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(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)

II

DECISIONS

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 5 August 2008

setting up an advisory structure of Scientific Committees and experts in the field of consumer
safety, public health and the environment and repealing Decision 2004/210/EC

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/721/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty
establishing the European
Community, and in particular Articles 152 and 153 thereof,

Whereas:

established

The terms of office of the members of three Scientific
by Commission Decision
Committees
2004/210/EC was prolonged by Commission Decision
2007/708/EC (4) and come to an end on 31 December
2008. Members of those committees remain in office
until
their appointments are
renewed.

replaced or

they are

(5)

Therefore, and for the sake of clarity, it is necessary to
replace Decision 2004/210/EC with a new Decision.

(1)

(2)

(3)

established

Scientific Committees were

Three
by
Commission Decision 2004/210/EC (1), as amended by
Commission Decision 2007/263/EC (2):
the Scientific
Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), the Scientific
Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER),
the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Iden­
tified Health Risks (SCENIHR).

Certain tasks of the SCHER have been transferred to the
European Chemical Agency (ECHA) established by Regu­
lation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament
the Council (3), and therefore the fields of
and of
competence of that Committee should be revised.

(6)

(7)

experience with the

The
three
Scientific Committees shows the need to introduce modi­
fications and improvements in the structure and working
procedures of the Committees.

functioning of

the

is an essential
Sound and timely scientific advice
requirement
for Commission proposals, decisions and
policy relating to consumer safety, public health and
is
the
structure
necessary in that
to ensure easier
access to highly qualified scientific expertise in a wide
range of fields.

environment. A flexible

in order

advisory

respect,

The scientific advice on matters relating to consumer
safety, public health and the environment must be
based on the principles of excellence, independence and
impartiality, and transparency, as developed in the
Commission Communication on ‘The collection and
use of expertise by the Commission: principles and
better
the
guidelines.
policies’ (5), and it must be organised in conformity
with best practice principles of risk assessment.

knowledge

Improving

for

(1) OJ L 66, 4.3.2004, p. 45.
(2) OJ L 114, 1.5.2007, p. 14.
(3) OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1. Corrected by OJ L 136, 29.5.2007,

p. 3.

(4) OJ L 287, 1.11.2007, p. 25.
(5) COM(2002) 713 final of 11 December 2002.

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(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

It is essential that the Scientific Committees make best
use of scientific expertise in the EU and beyond as may
be necessary for a specific question. To that aim a pool
of Scientific Advisors should be established adequately
covering the fields of competence of the Committees.

The reorganisation of the advisory structure must provide
increased flexibility to allow it to advise the Commission
on matters falling under established areas of competence
as well as on emerging and newly identified health risks
and matters not within the
competence of other
Community risk assessment bodies, and must be able
to provide rapid advice when needed, ensure full trans­
parency and a high level of consistency and collaboration
with other Community bodies and relevant scientific
organisations.

The need for independent scientific advice both in estab­
lished and new areas of Community responsibilities
the
falling within
Scientific
competence
Committees
likely to continue to increase. The
is
scientific advice structure on risk assessment needs
therefore to be reinforced, in its composition as well as
by more effective working practices.

the

of

It

Various Community bodies have been established which
have among their tasks the assessment of risks in various
domains.
is necessary to ensure consistency and
promote coordination between the Scientific Committees
and such bodies. The Scientific Committees need to
appropriate
reinforce
also
exchanges of
information and expertise and through
collaboration with other scientific bodies and organisa­
tion at national and international level.

effectiveness

their

by

(12)

The working practices of
should be improved by including,
internal work,
and workshops and the establishment of networks.

the Scientific Committees
in addition to the
the organisation of scientific meetings

(13) While preserving full

independence,

it is important to
ensure openness and transparency of the work of the
Scientific Committees by establishing appropriate stake­
holder dialogue procedures.

(14)

the

The openness and transparency sought in the implemen­
tation of this Decision should be ensured while fully
respecting
the
Community legislation with regard to the protection of
personal data and to the access of
the public to
documents,
including the protection of commercial
confidentiality,

requirements

down

laid

in

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

The advisory structure and its fields of competence

1.
An advisory structure on scientific risk assessment in the
areas of consumer safety, public health and the environment is
hereby established. This structure includes:

(a)

the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (hereinafter
SCCS);

(b) the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental

Risks (hereinafter SCHER);

(c)

the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified
Health Risks (hereinafter SCENIHR);

(d) a Pool of Scientific Advisors on Risk Assessment (hereinafter
the Pool), which will support the activities of the Scientific
Committees in accordance with the relevant provisions of
this Decision.

2.
The fields of competence of the advisory structure shall be
as set out in Annex I, without prejudice to the competencies
conferred by Community legislation to other Community
bodies undertaking risk assessment, such as, in particular, the
European Food Safety Authority,
the European Medicines
Agency,
the European Chemical Agency and the European
Centre for Disease Control.

Article 2

Mission

The Commission shall request a scientific opinion from
1.
the Scientific Committees in the cases laid down by Community
law.

The Commission may also request an opinion from the

2.
Committees on questions:

(a) of particular relevance to consumer safety, public health and

the environment; and

(b) not falling within the mandate of other Community bodies.

The Commission may

3.
Scientific
Committees to provide rapid advice on the state of scientific
knowledge concerning specific risks in case of urgent needs.

also request

the

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The Commission may invite a Scientific Committee to
4.
identify research needs and assess research results in relation
to the subject areas covered by its fields of competence.

the diversity of scientific problems and approaches, notably in
Europe. The Commission shall determine the number of
members of each Committee in accordance with the requisite
needs.

5.
At the request of the Commission, or acting on their own
initiative and in agreement with the Commission, the Scientific
Committees may decide to set up thematic workshops in order
to review data and scientific knowledge on particular risks or on
broad risk assessment issues. At the request of the Commission,
they shall produce reports, position papers or conclusions
resulting from these workshops.

These workshops may involve, in addition to members of the
Committees, scientific advisors from the Pool and external
experts, including experts from Community, national or inter­
national bodies carrying out similar tasks, as appropriate.

These workshops shall be organised by the Secretariat of the
Scientific Committees. The Secretariat shall define and ensure,
where appropriate, the dissemination of the reports, position
papers or conclusions resulting from the workshops.

6.
The Commission may invite the Scientific Committees to
be part of thematic networks with other Community bodies or
scientific organisations, in order to monitor and contribute to
the development of scientific knowledge on risks in the fields of
competence defined in Annex I.

The Scientific Committees shall draw the Commission’s
7.
attention to a specific or emerging problem falling within
their
remit, which they consider may pose an actual or
potential risk to consumer safety, public health or the environ­
ment, by
adopting and addressing to the Commission
memoranda or position statements. The Commission may
decide to publish such memoranda and statements and shall
determine the action to be taken including,
if appropriate, a
request for a scientific opinion on the matter.

CHAPTER 2

CONSTITUTION OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES AND OF
THE POOL

Article 3

Appointment of the members of the Scientific Committees

1.
The SCCS, the SCHER and the SCENIHR shall each consist
of a maximum of 17 members and may associate, at their own
initiative, up to 5 scientific advisors from the Pool to contribute
to the Committee work on specific issues or disciplines.

The members of

2.
shall be
appointed by the Commission on the basis of their expertise
and consistent with this a geographical distribution that reflects

the Scientific Committees

The members of each Scientific Committee shall be experts in
one or more of the fields of competence of that Committee and
shall collectively cover the widest possible range of disciplines.

The Commission shall appoint

3.
the
Scientific Committees from a list of suitable candidates estab­
lished following publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union and on the Commission website of a call for expressions
of interest.

the members of

4.
No member of a Scientific Committee may be appointed
to more than one of the Committees set out in Article 1(1).

Article 4

Establishment of the Pool

The Pool shall consist of scientific advisors who are
1.
experts in one or more of the fields of competence defined in
Annex I or on related subjects, covering collectively the widest
possible range of disciplines.

The Commission shall appoint scientific advisors to the
2.
Pool
from a list of suitable candidates established following
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and on
the Commission website of a call for expressions of interest.

3.
The number of scientific advisors in the Pool at any time
shall be decided by the Commission based on its needs for
scientific advice.

Article 5

Terms of office

1. Members of the Scientific Committees shall be appointed
for a term of three years, and may not serve for more than
three consecutive terms in the same Committee. They shall
remain in office until they are replaced or their appointments
are renewed.

to safeguard the continuity of

the
In order
Commission may,
in exceptional circumstances, prolong the
terms of office of the members of a Scientific Committee for
a period not exceeding 18 months.

the expertise,

Members who have just completed three consecutive terms of
office in a Scientific Committee shall be eligible for membership
of another Scientific Committee.

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2. When a member does not comply with the participation
criteria which shall be laid down in the rules of procedures
referred to in Article 12, or wishes to resign, the Commission
may terminate the member’s membership and appoint a repla­
cement from the Pool.

3.
Scientific advisors shall be appointed to the Pool for a
period of five years and their appointment may be renewed.

the

have
contribute to their work.

relevant

scientific knowledge

and expertise,

to

The working groups shall be chaired by a member of the
3.
Scientific Committee that convenes them and shall report to it,
and may appoint a Rapporteur from among their participants.
For particularly complex questions of a multidisciplinary nature,
more than one Rapporteur may be appointed.

CHAPTER 3

FUNCTIONING OF THE ADVISORY STRUCTURE

Article 6

Resort to the support of the Pool

4. When a question is common to more than one Scientific
Committee, a joint working group including members from the
Committees concerned, as well as associated members, scientific
advisors from the Pool and external experts as necessary, shall
be set up.

1.
Each Scientific Committee may decide to associate up to
five scientific advisors from the Pool to the preparation of a
scientific opinion. These associated members shall participate in
the
subject
considered with the same functions, responsibilities and rights
as the members of the Committee concerned.

deliberations

concerning

activities

and

the

In addition, each Scientific Committee may decide to
2.
invite other scientific advisors from the Pool to the preparation
of a scientific opinion. Those advisors shall participate in the
activities concerning the subject considered, but their functions
and responsibility are restricted to the preparation of
the
opinion.

Scientific advisors from the Pool may also be invited by
3.
the Scientific Committees to assist them in the provision of a
rapid advice requested by the Commission in accordance with
Article 2(3), or to participate in thematic workshops referred to
in Article 2(5).

4.
Scientific advisors from the Pool may be invited by the
Commission to participate in scientific meetings or to provide
the Commission services with ad hoc information on specific
issues.

Article 7

Working groups

The Scientific Committees may create specific working
1.
the task of which shall consist of preparing and
groups
drafting their scientific opinions. These working groups shall
be established in particular when there is a need for external
expertise on a particular subject.

In agreement with the Commission,

2.
the Scientific
Committees may invite associated members, other scientific
advisors from the Pool, specialised external experts, as well as
experts from other Community bodies that they consider to

Article 8

Participation of trainees

In agreement with the Commission and in accordance with the
rules of procedure referred to in Article 12,
the Scientific
Committees may admit trainees to attend their meetings, with
a view to contribute to capacity building in the area of risk
assessment.

Article 9

Special requirements

1.
The Commission may require the adoption of a scientific
opinion from a Scientific Committee within a specified period.

2.
The Commission may require the adoption of a joint
opinion on questions which do not fall within the fields of
competence of a single Scientific Committee or which need to
be considered by more than one Committee. A joint opinion,
following a request for an opinion from the Commission, may
also be adopted by Scientific Committees at the initiative of the
Inter-Committee Coordination Group referred to in Article 11.

3.
The Commission may define in the request for a scientific
opinion the consultations, hearings or collaboration with other
scientific bodies it deems necessary for the preparation of this
opinion. Consultations and hearings may also be decided by a
Committee, in agreement with the Commission, if considered
necessary for completing an opinion.

4.
infor­
A Scientific Committee may require additional
mation from stakeholders for the completion of a scientific
opinion. A Scientific Committee may give a deadline for
submitting the required information to it. In such a case, the
Scientific Committee may decide to suspend its work on the
scientific opinion in question. If the required information has
not been submitted within that deadline, the Committee may
adopt its opinion on the basis of the available information.

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Article 10

Article 14

Election of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs

1.
Each Scientific Committee shall elect a Chair and two
Vice-Chairs from among their members. The election shall
take place by simple majority of
the
Committee. The term of office of the Chair and Vice-Chair
shall be three years, renewable.

the members of

2.
The procedure for the election of the Chair and Vice-
Chairs of the Scientific Committees shall be laid down in the
rules of procedures referred to in Article 12.

Article 11

Coordination of the Scientific Committees

An Inter-Committee Coordination Group (ICCG) composed of
the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Committees shall
ensure the coordination of the three Scientific Committees in
accordance with the
referred to in
Article 12.

rules of procedures

Article 12

Rules of procedures

On proposal by and in agreement with the Commission,
common rules of

1.
the Scientific Committees
procedures.

adopt

shall

2.
The rules of procedures shall ensure that the Scientific
Committees perform their tasks in compliance with the prin­
independence and transparency, whilst
ciples of excellence,
having regard to legitimate requests for commercial confiden­
tiality as well as to the risk assessment principles which may be
established by the Commission in light of the experience and in
view of its policy in this area.

The rules of procedures shall cover in particular the

3.
subjects listed in Annex II.

Article 13

Voting rules

1.
The Scientific Committees shall adopt their opinions, rapid
advice, memoranda and/or position statements by a majority of
the total number of members of the Committee concerned
combined with the number of associated members.

Each Scientific Committee shall act by a majority of its

2.
members on all other issues.

Diverging opinions, coordination and collaboration with
other Community, national or international bodies

The Scientific Committees shall assist the Commission and

1.
contribute to identifying at an early stage:

(a) needs and possibilities for coordination of work and colla­

boration;

(b) potential or actual divergences in scientific opinions with
international
other
bodies carrying out similar tasks, on general or specific
risk assessment issues.

relevant Community, national or

They shall assist the Commission in avoiding, resolving or clar­
ifying divergent opinions and in establishing and maintaining
collaboration relationships with such bodies.

The Commission may take the initiative to request and
2.
the Scientific Committees with
organise
joint work of
international bodies carrying out
Community, national or
similar
the Scientific
Committees to produce joint opinions with other Community
bodies, upon agreement with such bodies.

It may in particular

request

tasks.

3. Where a substantive divergence over scientific issues has
been identified and the body in question is a Community body,
the Scientific Committee concerned shall, on the request of the
Commission, cooperate with the body concerned with a view to
either resolving the divergence or presenting a joint document
to the Commission clarifying the contentious scientific issues
and identifying the relevant uncertainties in the data. This
document shall be made public.

CHAPTER 4

PRINCIPLES

Article 15

Independence

The Members of

the Scientific Committees, associated
1.
members, other
the Pool and the
external experts shall be nominated in a personal capacity.
responsibilities to any other
They shall not delegate their
person.

scientific advisors of

the Scientific Committees and,

2. Members of
scientific
advisors of the Pool, and the external experts participating in
working groups shall undertake to act independently of any
external influence.

3.
Those members of a Committee who have resigned or
whose membership has been terminated in accordance with
Article 5(2) shall not be taken into account for the calculation
of the majority for the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2.

For that purpose they shall make a declaration of commitment
to act in the public interest and a declaration of interests indi­
cating either the absence or existence of any direct or indirect
interest which might be considered prejudicial to their inde­
pendence.

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These declarations shall be made in writing. Members of the
Scientific Committees and scientific advisors from the Pool shall
make annual declarations.

to European Parliament, Council and Commission
access
documents (2), especially with regard to commercial confiden­
tiality.

of

the

and other

scientific advisors,

Scientific Committees,

associated
3. Members
members
external
experts participating in working groups shall declare at each
meeting any specific interest which might be considered as
prejudicial to their independence in relation to the items on
the agenda.

and the

Article 16

Transparency

1.
The activities of the Scientific Committees shall be carried
out with a high level of transparency. The Commission shall in
particular make available to the public on its website, without
undue delay:

(a)

request
the
Committees;

for opinions

addressed to the Scientific

(b) agendas and minutes of

the Scientific
the meetings of
Inter-Committee Coordination Group and

Committees,
working groups;

(c)

the scientific opinions, and rapid advice adopted by the
Scientific Committees, including the minority opinions and
the names of the participants in the working groups that
contributed to the opinion concerned; minority opinions
shall be attributed to the members or advisors concerned;

(d) the

common rules of procedures of

the

Scientific

Committees;

(e)

the names of the members of the Scientific Committees as
well as of the scientific advisors from the Pool, together
with a brief curriculum vitae of each member and advisor;

(f)

the declarations of interests of the members of the Scientific
Committees, of the scientific advisors from the Pool and of
the external experts that participated in a working group.

Article 17

Confidentiality

The members of the Scientific Committees, scientific advisors,
external experts and trainees shall not divulge information
acquired as a result of the work of the Scientific Committees,
thematic workshops, working groups or other activities related
to the application of this Decision, when they are informed that
it is confidential.

CHAPTER 5

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 18
Secretariat of the Commission’s Scientific Committees

1.
The Scientific Committees and their working groups, the
ICCG as well as other meetings, workshops or events related to
the application of
this Decision shall be convened by the
Commission.

The Commission shall provide the scientific and adminis­
2.
trative secretariat
the Scientific Committees and their
working groups as well as for all other activities related to
the application of this Decision.

for

of

3.
The secretariat shall be responsible for providing scientific
and administrative support necessary to facilitate the efficient
to monitor
the
functioning
Scientific Committees,
rules of procedure, particularly in
compliance with the
relation to the requirements for excellence,
independence and
to ensure communication on the Committees’
transparency,
activities and the appropriate stakeholder dialogue,
including
in particular organisation of hearings on the activities of the
Committees, and publication of the opinions and other public
documents. Moreover, the secretariat shall provide support to
the Committees and organise and apply quality control of the
opinions, as provided for in the rules of procedure, as far as
completeness, consistency, clarity, correspondence with requests
and with editorial standards are concerned.

The transparency rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall be
2.
applied in accordance with the requirements of 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 insti­
tutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (1)
(EC), and of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public

4.
The secretariat shall ensure the scientific and technical
coordination of the activities of the Scientific Committees and
where necessary coordination of their activities with those of
other Community, national and international bodies, as well as
the application of the stakeholder dialogue procedure set up in
the rules of procedure and the communication on the activities
of the Committees.

(1) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.

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Article 19

Reimbursements and indemnities

(c)

the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified
Health Risks shall replace the Scientific Committee of the
same name.

Members of the Scientific Committees, scientific advisors from
the Pool and external experts shall be entitled to an indemnity
for their participation in the meetings of
the Committees,
thematic workshops, working groups and other meetings and
events organised by the Commission, and for
serving as
Rapporteur on a specific question, as provided for in Annex III.

Article 21

Repeals

1.

Decision 2004/210/EC is repealed.

Reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs shall be paid by
the Commission.

However, the three Committees established by that decision
shall remain in office until the Scientific Committees established
by this Decision take office.

Article 20

Replacement of the Scientific Committees

The Scientific Committees established by Article 1(1) of this
Decision shall replace the existing Scientific Committees estab­
lished by Decision 2004/210/EC as follows:

(a)

the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety shall replace
the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products;

(b) the Scientific Committee on the Health and Environmental
Risks shall replace the Committee of the same name;

2.
References to the repealed decision shall be understood as
applicable to this Decision; references to the Committees estab­
lished by the repealed decision shall be understood as applicable
to the Committees established by this Decision.

Done at Brussels, 5 August 2008.

For the Commission

Androulla VASSILIOU
Member of the Commission

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ANNEX I

FIELD OF COMPETENCE

1. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

It shall provide opinions on questions concerning all types of health and safety risks (notably chemical, biological,
mechanical and other physical risks) of non-food consumer products (for example: cosmetic products and their
ingredients, toys, textiles, clothing, personal care and household products such as detergents, etc.) and services (for
example: tattooing, artificial sun tanning, etc.).

2. Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks

It shall provide opinions on health and environmental risks related to pollutants in the environmental media and other
biological and physical factors or changing physical conditions which may have a negative impact on health and the
environment, for example in relation to air quality, waters, waste and soils, as well as on life cycle environmental
assessment. It shall also address health and safety issues related to the toxicity and eco-toxicity of biocides.

Without prejudice to the competences conferred on the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), Scientific Committee on
Consumer Safety (SCCS) and other European risk assessment agencies, it may also be invited by the Commission to
address, notably in collaboration with other European agencies and in particular ECHA, questions relating to exa­
mination of the toxicity and eco-toxicity of chemical, biochemical and biological compounds whose use may have
harmful consequences for human health and the environment. In addition, the Committee will address questions
relating to methodological aspect of the assessment of health and environmental risks of chemicals, including mixtures
of chemicals, as necessary for providing sound and consistent advice in its own areas of competence as well as in
order to contribute to the relevant issues in close cooperation with other European agencies.

3. The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks

It shall provide opinions on questions concerning emerging or newly identified health and environmental risks and on
broad, complex or multidisciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of risks to consumer safety or public
health and related issues not covered by other Community risk assessment bodies.

Examples of potential areas of activity include potential risks associated with interaction of risk factors, synergic effects,
cumulative effects, antimicrobial resistance, new technologies such as nanotechnologies, medical devices including
those incorporating substances of animal and/or human origin, tissue engineering, blood products, fertility reduction,
cancer of endocrine organs, physical hazards such as noise and electromagnetic fields (from mobile phones, trans­
mitters and electronically controlled home environments), and methodologies for assessing new risks. It may also be
invited to address risks related to public health determinants and non-transmissible diseases.

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ANNEX II

RULES OF PROCEDURES

The common rules of procedures to be adopted by the Scientific Committees in accordance with Article 12 shall cover in
particular the following subjects:

1. coordination between the Scientific Committees

(a) the designation of the Scientific Committee responsible on request for scientific opinions which do not fall within
the fields of competence of a single Scientific Committee or which need to be considered by more than one
Committee;

(b) the adoption of joint opinions, rapid advice, memoranda and/or position statements;

(c) the procedures for ensuring coordination between the Scientific Committees including matters relating to harmo­

nisation of risk assessment and the functioning of the Inter-Committee Coordination Group;

2. decision procedures within the Committees

(a) the election of the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Committees;

(b) the procedures for the adoption of opinions:

— under normal conditions,

— under written procedure under normal conditions, and

— under an accelerated, written procedure if the urgency of the matter requires such a procedure;

(c) the procedure for the provision of rapid advice when so requested by the Commission in accordance with
Article 2(3); this procedure shall ensure the quality and appropriate endorsement by the Committee of the advice;

(d) the adoption of memoranda and position papers to draw the attention of the Commission to specific or emerging

problems;

3. organisation of the scientific works

(a) the creation and organisation of the working groups of the Scientific Committees, including joint working groups;

(b) the association of scientific advisors from the Pool to the activities of the Committees and the involvement of

external experts;

(c) the appointment of Rapporteurs and the description of their tasks in relation to the preparation of draft opinions

for the Scientific Committees;

(d) the format and content of scientific opinions and procedures for ensuring and improving their coherence as well as

the editing standards;

(e) the organisation of, and participation in, meetings, thematic workshops, and networks;

(f)

the association of trainees;

4. obligations of the members of the Committee, the associated and other scientific advisors from the Pool,

external experts and for the trainees

(a) the participation criteria and the conditions under which membership of the Committee shall expire;

(b) the implementation of the confidentiality requirements laid down in Article 17;

(c) the responsibilities and obligations of members, associated and other scientific advisors from the Pool and external

experts in relation to their contacts with petitioners, special interest groups and other stakeholders;

(d) the conditions and the procedure under which a member of a Committee, an associated or other scientific advisor
or an external expert should be excluded from the deliberations and/or the vote on a particular subject in the
Committee or in a working group, where there are reasonable doubts on his independence;

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5. relations with third parties

(a) procedures for identifying, resolving or clarifying diverging opinions with Community, national and international

bodies carrying out similar tasks, including information exchange and the organisation of joint meetings;

(b) representation of a Scientific Committee in external activities, notably in relation to other Community or inter­

national bodies engaged in similar activities;

(c) the organisation of the stakeholder dialogue procedure, in particular the organisation of hearings with industry or

other special interest groups or other stakeholders;

(d) the publication of scientific opinions and other documents.

ANNEX III

INDEMNITIES

Members of the Scientific Committees, scientific advisors from the Pool and the external experts shall be entitled to
indemnities related to their participation in the activities of the scientific committees as follows:

for participation at meetings:

— EUR 300 for each full day participation or EUR 150 for participation in a morning or afternoon meeting of a
Scientific Committee, a working group or at an external meeting attended in connection with the work of a Scientific
Committee;

for acting as Rapporteur for a question requiring not less than one day of preparation of a draft opinion and with the
prior written agreement of the Commission:

— EUR 300,

— where fully justified and subject to budget availability, this sum may be increased to EUR 600 for questions which are

particularly demanding in terms of work load.

The Commission will regularly assess the need to adapt these indemnities in light of prices indexes, the evaluation of
indemnities paid to experts in other European bodies and the experience on the workload for members, associated
members, other scientific advisors and external experts. The first assessment will take place in 2009.