Brussels, 06/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Given the need for independence, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published on Tuesday 6 March its new implementing rules related to declarations of interest (DOIs) for all those taking part in its work - scientific experts, staff, members of the management board and third party organisations, including, for the first time, external contractors.
The cornerstone of EFSA's recently adopted “Policy on Independence and Scientific Decision-Making Processes” (see EUROPE 10538 and 10516), the new rules will strengthen current procedures for identifying and managing the declared interests of all those engaging in EFSA's work. They will also allow EFSA to tap into the best scientific expertise available while ensuring - for both the organisation and its experts - independence and integrity throughout all areas of the authority's governance and work. This will mainly facilitate the participation in EFSA work of scientists from national food safety agencies. The implementing rules were presented for the first time on 5 March during a public information session organised in Brussels for stakeholders and interested parties.
Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, EFSA Executive Director, has said: “EFSA understands that, notwithstanding the high calibre of its scientific work, the value of its scientific advice is directly linked to the level of trust held in it by the public and therefore seeks to guarantee independence in all aspects of its governance and scientific activities. The new implementing rules provide clearer guidance for experts submitting declarations of interest to EFSA and increase the level of scrutiny and number of safeguards in place to guarantee independence throughout all our activities. Importantly, these improvements also provide an additional layer of protection for EFSA's scientific experts in recognition of their commitment to support the organisation in fulfilling its public health mission.”
The new rules lay down in detail the criteria EFSA uses for assessing interests declared by scientific experts and other individuals involved in its work. Different types of interests are listed with guidance about whether or not they constitute potential conflicts of interest. Where a potential conflict of interest is identified, the scientific expert or individual is prohibited from participating in EFSA's scientific work or taking up certain roles. For example, scientists currently employed by industry (including full-time consultancy) in areas relevant to EFSA's work (such as the food and feed industry) are categorically excluded from becoming a member of any of EFSA's scientific groups. In other instances, and depending on the interests concerned, an expert may be allowed to become a member of a scientific panel but not be eligible for consideration as chairman.
EFSA confirms its commitment to defend the reputation of its experts should unfounded allegations be put forward by third parties. Recognising that the responsibility for complete and truthful DoIs lies with the person filling in the declaration, under the new rules EFSA has introduced an additional level of scrutiny in support of the integrity of both the process and its experts. As part of the overall verification of its declarations of interest procedures, EFSA will carry out random sampling of declarations of scientific experts to monitor for completeness and coherence with EFSA's rules.
These new arrangements were applied during renewal of its scientific committee and of eight of its scientific groups. For all the other individuals and processes concerned, the new rules will take effect as of 1 July 2012, with a four-month transitional period, EFSA states. (AN/transl.jl)