06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The governing body of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at the end of March approved the appointment of 174 independent experts, to renew the scientific committee of the Authority and eight of its scientific groups for a new term of three years. EFSA will now get in touch with the experts to notify them of their appointment. The list of experts selected will be published shortly before the first inaugural meetings of the committee and the scientific groups, scheduled for June/July 2009. The scientists were chosen from 732 candidates eligible for the positions. The governing body has also adopted the preliminary draft budget for 2010, at a level of €74.4 million, a 2% increase on 2009 budget. (L.C./trans.fl)