Brussels, 03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Part of the management board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is due to be renewed in June 2014. On Tuesday 3 December, Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) revealed that a representative of the European agri-food industry's lobby group is on the shortlist of board members drawn up by the European Commission.
Beate Kettlits, who currently holds a top post at FoodDrinkEurope, is on the 23-man shortlist drawn up by the Commission, but CEO points out that this is not compatible with the independence needed for such a key body on food safety in the EU, responsible for risk assessment of food and feed, including pesticides, food additives and genetically-modified plants.
On behalf of CEO, Martin Pigeon said that the fact that the Commission has again short-listed an agri-food lobbyist sends a signal that anyone concerned about consumer protection and the environment will find hard to understand because a professional like this on the EFSA board would, by definition, be a constant danger to the independence of the EU's food safety agency. This is the second time that the Commission has tried to appoint somebody from FoodDrinkEurope to the EFSA board. A year ago, it tried to get Mella Frewen, currently Director General of FoodDrinkEurope, onto to the board, but the European Parliament and Council of Ministers opposed her appointment, says Corporate Europe Observatory.
Seven seats are up for renewal on the EFSA board and CEO points out that four people on the Commission shortlist have agri-food industry interests. The Commission argues that, under the rules, four of the fourteen board members must have experience in an organisation representing consumers and other interests in the food chain. CEO points out that the rules do not say that the agri-food industry has to be represented. (AN/transl.fl)