On March 27, 2015 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a news story about a new editorial that highlights how EFSA scientists are tackling key scientific issues to increase the robustness, transparency and openness of its scientific assessments. EFSA also presents a new report showing how these and other on-going efforts are responding to public feedback EFSA received during last year’s consultation on the “Transformation to an Open EFSA”. The editorial aims to stimulate discussion on EFSA’s current methodological activities in the wider scientific community. EFSA wants the wider scientific community to understand its work better, explains Tony Hardy, Chair of EFSA’s Scientific Committee and a co-author of the editorial. Being more transparent helps people to understand that EFSA is there to act in society’s interest, adds Sue Davies of EFSA’s Management Board. Discussions should particularly focus on methods for evidence use in science, uncertainty in risk assessment, weight of evidence and biological relevance. As EFSA points out in the editorial, assessment methodologies shall ensure the assessment is fit for purpose and appropriately tailored to answer the question posed.
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EFSA (March 27, 2015). “Methodology developments among efforts contributing to Open EFSA.”
EFSA (March 27, 2015). “Editorial: Increasing robustness, transparency and openness of scientific assessments.” EFSA Journal 2015;13(3):e13031.
EFSA (March 27, 2015). “Cross-cutting assessment methodology developments at EFSA.”
EFSA (March 26, 2015). “Outcome of the targeted consultation of the EFSA Journal editorial on increasing openness, robustness and transparency of scientific assessments.”
