Scientific committees for public health, consumer safety and the environment

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (EU) 2024/1514 on establishing scientific committees in the field of public health, consumer safety and the environment

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

Decision (EU) 2024/1514 restructures the advisory scientific committees in the European Union (EU) by consolidating them into two main bodies: the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER).

It aims to streamline processes, improve efficiency and maintain high standards of expertise, independence and transparency. The decision also outlines the appointment process for members, the functioning of the committees, the involvement of external experts and the importance of stakeholder engagement and coordination with other EU and international bodies.

KEY POINTS

ESTABLISHING SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES

The decision sets up two scientific committees to provide the European Commission with scientific advice and risk assessments on public health, consumer safety and environmental risks, replacing committees originally established by Decision 2008/721/EC, which is repealed:

the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), replacing the existing committee of the same name;
the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER), replacing the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks.

The committees will also ensure their work does not overlap with that of other EU bodies like the European Food Safety Authority.

Scientific advice

Committee tasks will include:

scientific opinions as required by EU law;
an advisory role, where requested, to advise on relevant public health, consumer safety and environmental risks;
research assessment, including identifying research gaps, assessing proposed research and reviewing outcomes;
rapid risk advice in urgent cases;
collaboration on thematic networks or events to monitor and contribute to scientific knowledge;
emerging issues, highlighting new risks by issuing memoranda or position statements.

COMPOSITION AND MEMBER APPOINTMENT

Each committee has up to 19 members.
Appointment is conducted by the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety based on expertise.
Selection criteria are based on:
- a balance of expertise, geographic origin and gender, and
- independence and absence of conflicts of interest.
Candidates are chosen from a list following a public call for expression of interest.
A reserve list is maintained to replace members if necessary.
The membership list is published in the Register of Commission Expert Groups.
Members serve for 5 years.
Membership can end if a member fails to meet the conditions or is unable to contribute effectively.
New members can be appointed for the remainder of the term if necessary.
Members and external experts receive a special allowance for their work and participation, along with travel and subsistence expenses.

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONING

Each committee elects a chair and two vice-chairs by a simple majority, for a 5-year term, with the possibility of renewal.
Decisions are made by a majority vote, excluding those whose membership has ended.
The Commission may set deadlines for opinions to be adopted.
The Commission may organise consultations with other scientific bodies as needed.
The Commission may invite external experts with relevant expertise to contribute.
Committees can establish working groups to prepare and draft opinions, particularly when specialist expertise is needed.
Joint groups are formed when issues concern multiple committees.
Trainees may attend meetings to build capacity in risk assessment.
Committees adopt common rules of procedure in agreement with the Commission.
Procedures cover principles of excellence, independence, transparency, stakeholder dialogue and coordination.

Coordination with other bodies

Committees assist in identifying opportunities for coordination and resolving divergent opinions with other bodies.
The Commission may organise joint opinions with other EU, national or international bodies.
Committees work to resolve or clarify differences in scientific opinions with other EU bodies.

Secretariat

The directorate-general provides a secretariat to support the committees in:

ensuring effective functioning and compliance with rules;
facilitating communication and stakeholder dialogue; and
coordinating activities with other bodies.

INDEPENDENCE, CONFIDENTIALITY, COMMITMENT AND TRANSPARENCY

Members act independently in the public interest and commit to contributing actively to the committees’ work.
Members must declare any interests that could compromise their independence.
Members must maintain confidentiality and comply with the Commission’s security rules.
The Commission ensures a high level of transparency by publishing agendas, minutes, opinions and declarations of interest on a dedicated website.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

The decision has applied since 20 June 2024.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Scientific committees (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Decision (EU) 2024/1514 of 7 August 2015 on establishing Scientific Committees in the field of public health, consumer safety and the environment (OJ L, 2024/1514, 31.5.2024).

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