So despite much more powerful public opinion in opposition to GMOs, in
Europe the industry largely regulates itself, just like here in the US.
Does EFSA have the means of its remit?” [Translation from British English:
Does EFSA have the ability to carry out its mission?]
Tom
In a message dated 6/17/2013 4:01:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
European Food Safety Authority mishandled a major revolving doors case
with biotechnology company Syngenta
Press release by Corporate Europe Observatory and Testbiotech
29 May 2013
http://corporateeurope.org/pressreleases/2013/eu-ombudsman-efsa-fails-confli
ct-interests-p
In a May 23 ruling, the EU Ombudsman stated that EFSA (European Food
Safety Authority) failed to take adequate measures to prevent conflict of
interests arising from a major 'revolving doors' case in 2008. According to the
Ombudsman's conclusions, EFSA “failed to fulfil the procedural obligations
emanating from the applicable rules” and did not “acknowledge its failure
to observe the relevant procedural rules and to carry out a sufficiently
thorough assessment of the potential conflict of interests (…).” Furthermore “
EFSA unduly restricted the scope of what might amount to a possible
conflict of interest (...).”These statements relate to the case of Dr Suzy
Renckens, who was head of EFSA´s unit responsible for the risk assessment of
genetically engineered plants from 2003 till 2008 before moving directly to a
top EU lobbying position at Syngenta, a company that produces and markets
these very plants.
Martin Pigeon, researcher and campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory,
said: “this highly symbolic case reminds everybody how strategic EFSA is
for the agrofood industry, and how weak EFSA's independence policy remains.
The agency's management of this case shows that it failed to take the
crucial issue of corporate influence seriously, an inexcusable failure for a body
supposedly 'commited to ensuring that Europe's food is safe'. Does EFSA
have the means of its remit?”
Testbiotech brought the Renckens case to public attention in 2009 but EFSA
and the EU Commission refused to take any action. Therefore, Testbiotech,
with the support of Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), asked the EU
Ombudsman to investigate the case. The EU Ombudsman sent a series of first
recommendations in 2011, stating that EFSA did not handle this case correctly.
EFSA then changed its rules and procedures in December 2011 to strengthen its
independence, but, according to the Ombudsman ruling published last May 23
(see bottom), the Ombudsman clearly sees need for further improvements.
With his judgement, the Ombudsman fuels concerns about EFSA´s independence
policy which were already expressed in a report from the European Court of
Auditors published in October 2012, as well as two resolutions from the
European Parliament in 2012 and 2013 in the framework of the budget discharge
process.
“EFSA seems to not be able to solve its problems with conflict of
interests. For example, the authority still lacks sufficient standards in its
relationship with the industry think tank International Life Sciences Institute
(ILSI). After criticism from many sides, experts working with ILSI are now
mostly excluded from being involved in the work of EFSA; but experts who
worked with ILSI for many years and then officially ended their cooperation
still are decisive for EFSA´s scientific work.” says Christoph Then for
Testbiotech. “All the key decisions and risk assessment protocols that were
influenced by ILSI´s experts in the last ten years were never re-evaluated.”
For instance, Juliane Kleiner just became EFSA's Director of Science
Strategy and Coordination. Kleiner joined EFSA right after a career at ILSI
between 1997 and 2004. Gijs Kleter, who officially worked with ILSI from
2002-2007 on risk assessment of genetically engineered plants, is now the
vice-chair of EFSA´s expert group on genetically engineered organisms (“GMO Panel”
). Harry Kuiper was the chair of EFSA´s GMO Panel from 2003 to 2012 and in
parallel a member of ILSI working groups for several years, but the
standards and decisions he was responsible for were never re-assessed by EFSA.
His case was also brought up by Testbiotech in a complaint to the EU
Ombudsman that is still pending.
Contacts:
Martin Pigeon, Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), phone: +32 2 893 09 30
/ +32 484 671 909 [log in to unmask]
Dr. Christoph Then, Testbiotech, Tel.: + 49 (0) 15154638040,
[log in to unmask]
The recent judgement of the EU Ombudsman: www.testbiotech.de/node/801
The full chronology of the complaint about EFSA:
www.testbiotech.org/independence
A Testbiotech briefing about Harry Kuiper and ILSI:
http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/429
A report from Corporate Europe Observatory about ILSI:
http://corporateeurope.org/blog/new-briefing-international-life-sciences-institute-ilsi-corpora
te-lobbygroup
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