European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Established in 2002, the EFSA Management Board ensures that the Authority functions effectively and efficiently, delivers its mandate as defined in the founding Regulation and meets the expectations of European and national institutions, stakeholders and the public. The Board’s function and role have evolved since the Authority became operational in 2002, shifting from an initial focus on the adoption of rules and procedures to its current emphasis on evolving EFSA’s strategy and future direction. The Board meets several times a year. Its key tasks are:

• to establish the budget and work programmes and monitor their implementation;
• to appoint the Executive Director and members of the Scientific Committee and the Scientific Panels.

Other more general tasks include:

• ensuring that EFSA’s priorities are in line with its mandate and key missions and that adequate time is given by EFSA to so-called “self-tasking”. ‘Self-tasking’ occurs when EFSA, during the course of its regular work, identifies a particular issue which it believes requires further analysis and research;
• meeting legal requirements and that EFSA meets deadlines for scientific opinions as far as possible;
• ensuring appropriate financial management and accountability.

The Board’s decisions are taken by a majority of its members.

The European Council has announced the names of the new members of EFSA Management Board, 24/06/2008

The Council of the European Union has appointed seven members to join the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority. The members will take up their appointment on 1 July 2008. Along with seven other Board members appointed in June 2006, they will ensure continuity in overseeing the functioning of the Authority.

• Sue Davies, Chief Policy Advisor of the UK consumer organisation “Which?”
• Pier Giuseppe Facelli, Director, Office for Community and International Affairs of the Italian Ministry of Health 
• Matthias Horst, Director-General of the Federation of the German Food and Drink Industry (BVE) 
• Milan Pogačnik, Dean of the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 
• Jiri Ruprich, Head of the Center of Hygiene of Food Chain, Czech National Institute of Public Health 
• Sinikka Turunen, Secretary General of the Finnish Consumer's Association
• Bernhard Url, Managing Director of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
  

The Management Board is appointed by the Council in consultation with the European Parliament from a list drawn up by the Commission.