A major management change is set to take place at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) over the next year as the organisation, whose remit includes helping to shape Europe’s approach to animal health and welfare, prepares to replace seven out of its 14 management board members, whose mandates expire in June 2016.
In readiness for a 50% change of board leadership, EFSA has issued a “call for expressions of interest” from potential candidates with the submissions deadline set for July 8, 2015.
“The management board is responsible for the general monitoring of the work of the authority to ensure that it carries out its mission and performs the tasks assigned to it in accordance with its mandate and within a culture of independence and transparency,” said EFSA, adding that members are appointed in such a way as to ensure the “highest standards of competence, a broad range of relevant expertise and the widest geographical distribution in the EU”.
The “call” also highlights the importance of EFSA as being the “keystone of the EU’s system of risk assessment for food and feed safety.
“The authority was established to provide scientific advice and support for Union legislation and policies in all fields that may have a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety, as well as closely associated questions in the field of animal health and welfare and plant health,” said EFSA.
“Its mission also includes provision of scientific advice in many areas of food and feed law and whenever Union legislation so requires, including new food technologies such as GMOs.”
Once all applications have been submitted, the European Commission will draw up a list of candidates to send to the EU Council, which will then appoint the new members to the Board in consultation with the European Parliament.