EFSA's independence policy 2017 and implementing rules : EFSA explains independence.
Date: 2018-08-03
Institutions: European Food Safety Authority
Subjects: European Food Safety Authority, administrative transparency, conflict of interest, transparency in decision-making

EFSA explains Independence 

EFSA's Independence Policy 2017 
and implementing rules

 ▶ Background

 ▶ What is meant by a conflict of interest?

 ▶ Basic principles of EFSA’s approach to Independence

 ▶ What’s new with EFSA’s Independence Policy 2017?

Background

In June 2017, EFSA’s Management Board adopted a new Independence 
Policy, providing a clear framework for the way in which the Authority 
manages the interests of its scientific experts and others with whom it 
works in the course of its activities. 

The new Policy builds on EFSA’s experience of managing interests over the 
last 15 years as well as on input received from stakeholders, the European 
Parliament and the general public. It is designed to strike the appropriate 
balance between attracting the best experts to work with EFSA while 
protecting it against undue influence. 

Underpinning the Independence Policy is a set of rules that detail how 
EFSA will implement the Policy in practice and that provide guidance to 
scientific experts and others on how to declare relevant interests and how 
they will be assessed by EFSA to prevent conflicts. 

The rules also outline the enforcement measures EFSA will take in case the rules 
are breached and how transparency will be ensured throughout the process. 

What is meant by a conflict of interest? 

 “Any situation where a person has an interest that may compromise, or be reasonably 
perceived as compromising, his or her capacity to act independently and in the public 
interest in relation to the subject of the work performed at EFSA”

Trusted science for safe food

T
M
-
0
5
-
1
7
-
0
6
0
-
E
N
N

-

Basic principles of EFSA's approach to 
Independence 

  Prior to working with EFSA, all experts must submit Declarations of 

Interest (DoIs) that are assessed and published on our website.

  DoIs must be updated by experts at least once a year and every time 

a declared interest changes.

  DoIs are screened to identify potential conflicts related to an expert’s 

professional activities and financial interests.

  No participation in EFSA scientific groups under any circumstances for 

experts employed by industry or NGOs.

  No participation in EFSA scientific groups under any circumstances for experts 
with financial investments linked to business operators directly or indirectly 
impacted by EFSA’s outputs.

  Annual compliance and veracity checks carried out by EFSA on a 

sample of experts’ DoIs.

  Regular external evaluations or audits carried out by the European Court of 
Auditors and the Internal Audit Service of the European Commission .

What’s new with EFSA’s Independence Policy 2017?

  Two-year “cooling-off” periods from any 

  Publication of a register of activities of 

scientific EFSA activity for experts employed by 
industry or NGOs.

Management Board members after they fulfil 
their mandate with EFSA. 

  Two-year “cooling-off” periods for a wide 

  Publication of the list of EFSA’s partner 

range of other professional interests if they 
overlap with the type of work the expert will 
carry out for EFSA.

  Requirements for experts to declare the 

financial impact of their interests on their 
total earnings. 

  Sliding scale of restrictions depending on an 
expert’s financial declaration, up to a two-
year “cooling-off” period from any scientific 
EFSA activity.

organisations, such as national and international 
authorities, universities or research institutes. 

  Requirements for pesticide experts from 

national authorities in the Member States to 
be subject to the same transparency measures 
and DoI screening rules as experts on EFSA’s 
Scientific Panels.

  Strengthened enforcement measures for 

breaches of the independence rules, up to a 
ban on working with EFSA for 10 years.

Via Carlo Magno 1A
43126 Parma 
Italy

Tel.   + 39 0521 036 111
Fax   + 39 0521 036 110 
www.efsa.europa.eu

Photo credits: EFSA, 
Shutterstock

doi:10.2805/354398
978-92-9499-048-8

© European Food Safety Authority, 2017. Reproduction is authorised, except for commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged.