Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee develops harmonised risk assessment methodologies on scientific matters of a horizontal nature in the fields within EFSA's remit where EU-wide approaches are not already defined. It provides general co-ordination to ensure consistency in the scientific opinions prepared by EFSA's Scientific Panels. It also provides strategic scientific advice to EFSA’s management.
Scientific Committee Members are prominent scientists from across Europe, of recognised scientific excellence with competences spreading across disciplines within EFSA's remit, seniority and prior experience with scientific bodies:
- Risk assessment practice – human health risk assessment, food consumption and exposure assessment, environmental risk assessment, animal health risk assessment, toxicology, microbiology, human nutrition, epidemiology, animal health, animal welfare, human medicine, veterinary medicine, food hygiene, food technology, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, life sciences.
- Cross-cutting scientific issues – statistical approaches in risk assessment, the preparation of guidance for the safety assessment of applications of new technologies in the area of food and feed, the harmonisation of the use of default assumptions in the absence of real data, the safety assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations and the introduction of validated complementary techniques in risk assessment using ‘omics’ technologies, QSAR and mathematical models.
Work programme
The current Scientific Committee work programme runs from 2025 to 2027. Towards the end of 2026, a consultation of EFSA panels and units will take place to gather ideas to be discussed for possible inclusion in the next work programme spanning 2027-2029. The document includes recently added topics for the development of cross-cutting guidance documents.
Panel Members
Panel composition before 2018
2018-2021
Chair: More Simon John
Vice-Chair: Benford Diane; Hougaard Bennekou Susanne
Members: Bampidis Vasileios; Bragard Claude; Halldorsson Thorhallur Ingi; Hernández-Jerez Antonio F.; Koutsoumanis Konstantinos Panagiotis; Lambré Claude (as of February 2021); Machera Kyriaki; Naegeli Hanspeter; Nielsen Søren Saxmose; Schlatter Josef Rudolf; Schrenk Dieter; Silano Vittorio (until December 2020 †); Turck Dominique; Younes Maged.
2015-2018
Chair: Tony Hardy
Vice-Chair: Diane Benford; Hubert Noteborn
Members: Thorhallur Ingi Halldorsson; Michael John Jeger; Helle Katrine Knutsen; Simon More; Alicja Mortensen, until June 2017; Hanspeter Naegeli; Colin Ockleford; Antonia Ricci; Guido Rychen; Josef Rudolf Schlatter; Vittorio Silano; Roland Solecki; Dominique Turck; Maged Younes, as of July 2017
2012-2015
Chair: Anthony Richard Hardy
Vice-Chair: Jan Alexander; Robert Luttik
Members: Mohammad Qasim Chaudhry; Birgit Noerrung; Josef Rudolf Schlatter; Diane Benford, Chair of the CONTAM Panel; Michael John Jeger, Chair of the PLH Panel; Ambroise Martin, Chair of the NDA Panel; Simon More, Chair of the AHAW Panel; Alicja Mortensen, Chair of the ANS Panel; Bernadette Ossendorp, Chair of the PPR Panel; Joe Perry, Chair of the GMO Panel; Kristen Sejrsen, Chair of the FEEDAP Panel; Vittorio Silano, Chair of the CEF Panel; John Griffin, Chair of the BIOHAZ Panel
2009-2012
Chair: Vittorio Silano
Vice-Chair: Ada Knaap; David Lovell
Members: Boris Antunovic, as of March 2011; Susan Barlow; Andrew Chesson; Dan Collins, until January 2011; Albert Flynn; Corrado Galli, until February 2011; Anthony Richard Hardy; Michael John Jeger; Harry Kuiper; Alicja Mortensen, as of May 2012; Birgit Noerrung, as of February 2011; Iona Pratt, as of July 2011; Ivonne Rietjens, from July 2011 until May 2012; Josef Rudolf Schlatter; Frans Smulders; Philippe Vannier
The Declarations of Interests and CVs of previous Panel members are available upon interestmanagement [at] efsa.europa.eu (request).
Plenary meetings
Networks
What are EFSA's networks?
EFSA’s networks consist of nationally appointed EU Member State organisations with expertise in the fields covered by the network. Representatives of the Commission and of other organisations (including those from outside the EU) with specific expertise may also be invited to participate in the work of EFSA Networks.
Networks are chaired by EFSA and supported by relevant EFSA units. Their aim is to facilitate scientific cooperation in the field of EFSA’s mission by:
- coordinating activities,
- exchanging information,
- developing and implementing joint projects,
- and exchanging expertise and best practices.
- Decision concerning the establishment and operation of European Networks of scientific organisations operating in the fields within the Authority’s mission(35.46 KB)
Emerging Risks Exchange Network
EFSA networks with Member States, EU and international agencies on exchanging data, methodologies and lessons learnt on emerging risks through its Emerging Risks Exchange Network (EREN).
- Terms of reference last updated: 31 January 2025
- List of members last updated: 16 January 2026
Risk assessment of nanotechnologies in food and feed
The main goals are to facilitate harmonisation of assessment practices and methodologies, enhance exchange of information and data between EFSA and Member States, and achieve synergies in risk assessment activities.
- Terms of reference last updated: 15 April 2025
- List of members last updated: 16 January 2026