http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/efsa-striking-correct-balance-in-safeguarding-impartiality-of-scientific-advice/#.Uv4lTO_A

'Huge and growing' interest in the EU say European parliament and
BusinessEurope presidents: theparliament.com
By Sue Davies
12th February 2014

theparliament.com

Apart from anything, the scientific panel system at EFSA means that no one expert, including the chair,
can unduly influence the decisions of the whole group
Sue Davies
The European food safety authority's recently strengthened policy on independence and scientific
decision-making ensures that the authority delivers impartial and objective advice, writes Sue
Davies.
The recent commentary on this website by PAN Europe about the European food safety authority (EFSA)
presents a very misleading view of the authority's approach and priorities.
Apart from containing a number of unsubstantiated claims about EFSA's scientific experts, the article is
misleading about the authority's work on cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of pesticides.
CRA is a complex scientific area concerning the cumulative effects of consumer exposure to pesticides.
The latest step in EFSA's work involves the development of a methodology to group together pesticides
with similar chemical structures and toxic effects – known as cumulative assessment groups (CAGs). The
next major element involves the assessment of human exposure to multiple chemicals.
Contrary to PAN Europe's claims, EFSA's work on CRA is already well under way. As anyone who visits
our website will see, in July 2013 the authority put its methodology for defining CAGs out to public
consultation.
Far from playing into the hands of commercial operators, the outcome of this consultation – published in
the last few days – highlights that it is industry that has the most reservations about EFSA's approach,
deeming it to be too precautionary. Our approach takes into account current gaps in scientific knowledge
and aims to ensure a high level of consumer protection.
The process has taken time but any delays reflect the complexity of the science at hand not, as PAN
Europe claim, because of efforts by industry to infiltrate EFSA's work.
Apart from anything, the scientific panel system at EFSA means that no one expert, including the chair,
can unduly influence the decisions of the whole group. The conclusions of an EFSA Panel – comprising
21 scientists – are always the outcome of collective deliberations and collective decisions.
This is but one of the several safeguards in place at EFSA to ensure the impartiality of our scientific
advice.
I believe that many of the differences of opinion between PAN Europe and EFSA come down to our
respective interpretations of what constitutes a 'conflict of interest'. Contributing to an EU-funded research
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http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/efsa-striking-correct-balance-in-safeguarding-impartiality-of-scientific-advice/#.Uv4lTO_A

project or attending a meeting sponsored by industry should not automatically exclude an expert from
working for EFSA, as PAN Europe seem to be suggesting.
The key is to balance correctly the need for the highest-quality expertise in our scientific panels with the
need to ensure that the scientific advice they deliver is impartial and objective.
With EFSA's recently strengthened policy on independence and scientific decision-making, I strongly
believe that the authority is striking the correct balance.
The steps taken towards enhancing transparency, including open panel meetings, which we will be
expanding on in the coming year, and open consultations also means the work is open to wider scrutiny.
Finally, there is also an important point to make here about the professionalism and integrity of EFSA's
experts. These are top scientists, employed by food safety agencies in the member states, research
bodies or universities, who voluntarily give significant amounts of their time to work in the public interest.
Their experience provides access to the most recent scientific knowledge and the best multi-disciplinary
expertise at a level impossible for EFSA to achieve on its own. Without these experts, the EU system to
protect consumers from food-related risks would simply cease to exist.
EFSA's Management Board is very grateful for the work that they do.
Sue Davies is chair of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) management board

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