On December 3, 2013, the non-governmental research and campaign organization Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) criticized a newly nominated candidate for the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) management board. The European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG Sanco) nominated Beate Kettlitz, director of Food Policy, Science and R&D at the industry association FoodDrinkEurope. CEO reports that last year’s nomination of FoodDrinkEurope’s executive director Mella Freven by DG Sanco was rejected by the European Parliament. Seven of the positions on EFSA’s management board will be renewed in June 2014. Four of the 23 nominations by DG Sanco have links to the food industry, according to CEO. EFSA’s management board is appointed by the Council of the European Union in consultation with the European Parliament. EFSA’s founding regulation states that 4 of the 14 board members “shall have a background in organisations representing consumers and other interests in the food chain” (Article 25, Regulation EC 178/2002). CEO comments that compliance with this demand should not justify the nomination of food industry members. The organization previously issued a report attesting EFSA a lack of scientific independence (reported on by the FPF).
Read more
Corporate Europe Observatory (December 3, 2013). “European Commission nominates food lobbyist to EU food safety agency’s management board – again”
FPF article “NGO analyzes EFSA’s scientific independence”
