The European Commission has launched the selection procedure to replace 7 of the 14 members of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whose term of office expires on 30 June 2020.
EFSA is the central body for food safety in the EU, competent for risk assessment and the provision of scientific advice to guide the decisions of risk managers (European Commission and Member States).
The call for expressions of interest shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union: OJ C 179 of 24 May 2019. The deadline for applications is 19 July 2019.
The Management Board is responsible for the overall monitoring of EFSA's work in order to ensure that it carries out its mission and tasks in accordance with its mandate and in a spirit of independence and transparency. It shall appoint the Executive Director and the members of the Scientific Committee and the Scientific Panels. The Management Board is composed of 14 members, plus a representative of the Commission. Four of the members must have experience in organisations representing consumers and other interests in the food chain.
Once all the nominations have been submitted, the Commission will draw up a list of candidates to be forwarded to the EU Council, which will then appoint the new members of the Management Board in consultation with the European Parliament.
The appointment is scheduled for June 2020 for the 4-year period beginning 1 July 2022. However, the duration of the mandate will be amended when the European Parliament and the EU Council formally adopt the new Regulation on transparency and sustainability of risk assessment in the food chain (see EUROPE 12192/19) in summer 2019. This new regulation should enter into force in the first half of 2021, following the appointment by the EU Council of the seven members selected on the basis of the call for expressions of interest. As such, the mandate expires on 30 June 2022. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)