Brussels, 04/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission decided to set up three new independent scientific committees to assess the risk linked to non-food issues, in an effort to help the Commission in risk management activities. These will involve:
the scientific committee on consumer products (19 members), which will formulate opinions on all issues related to consumer product safety other than food (security and allergic properties in cosmetics, safety of toys, textiles and clothing and domestic appliances an services for consumers such as tattoos, for example;
the scientific committee on health and environmental risks (19 members) which will formulate opinions on issues linked to toxicity and eco-toxicity in chemical, biochemical and organic components whose use could have damaging consequences to human and environmental health;
the scientific committee on new and emerging health risks, (13 member and 6 associated members) dealing with general issues that demand an overall evaluation of the risks to consumer safety or public health and public health issues not covered by other Community agencies that assess risk (resistance to antibacterial agents, new technologies such as nano-technology, medical appliances, genetic tissue, physical risks such as noise and electro-magnetic fields etc.).
Rather that setting up actual committees the initiative will involve modifications to the three committees dealing with non-food issues (scientific committee on cosmetic products and non-food products for consumers, scientific committee on toxicity, eco-toxicity and the environment and the committee on medicines and medical appliances) which since the transfer to the European Food Safety Authority, assessed the risks linked to all food issues.
The Commission will soon be publishing a call for tenders in the Official Journal for the posts on theses committees. (this appeal for tenders can also be consulted at: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/health//ph_/document/call_2004_en_htm ).