Category Archives Issue 457

The European Court of Auditors has issued a special report finding that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and three other consumer health and safety agencies did not have “adequate” conflict-of-interest procedures in place as of October 2011. After auditing agency activities and comparing them with Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines, the court evidently concluded that certain conflict-of-interest risks “are embedded in the selected Agencies’ structure (e.g. the same organization is both a management representative and a supplier of services) and in the use of the research performed by the industry.” In particular, the report faulted EFSA’s Management Board where four of the 15 members “have a background (including current involvement) in organizations representing consumers and other interests in the food industry.” It also noted that “the impartiality of EFSA’s work and decision-making might be jeopardized since three of these organizations represented on the Management Board are also represented in the…