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Subject: =?utf-8?Q?GMW=3A=20EU=20Ombudsman=3A=20EFSA=20fails=20on=20conflict=20of=20interest?=
From: =?utf-8?Q?GMWatch?= <[log in to unmask]>
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To: =?utf-8?Q??= <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:01:21 +0000
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European Food Safety Authority mishandled a major revolving doors case wit=
h biotechnology company Syngenta
Press release by Corporate Europe Observatory and Testbiotech
29 May 2013
http://corporateeurope.org/pressreleases/2013/eu-ombudsman-efsa-fails-conf=
lict-interests-p

In a May 23 ruling, the EU Ombudsman stated that EFSA (European Food Safet=
y Authority) failed to take adequate measures to prevent conflict of inter=
ests arising from a major 'revolving doors' case in 2008. According to the=
 Ombudsman's conclusions, EFSA =E2=80=9Cfailed to fulfil the procedural ob=
ligations emanating from the applicable rules=E2=80=9D and did not =E2=80=
=9Cacknowledge its failure to observe the relevant procedural rules and to=
 carry out a sufficiently thorough assessment of the potential conflict of=
 interests (=E2=80=A6).=E2=80=9D Furthermore =E2=80=9CEFSA unduly restrict=
ed the scope of what might amount to a possible conflict of interest (...)=
=2E=E2=80=9DThese statements relate to the case of Dr Suzy Renckens, who was=
 head of EFSA=C2=B4s unit responsible for the risk assessment of genetical=
ly engineered plants from 2003 till 2008 before moving directly to a top E=
U lobbying position at Syngenta, a company that produces and markets these=
 very plants.

Martin Pigeon, researcher and campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory,=
 said: =E2=80=9Cthis highly symbolic case reminds everybody how strategic=
 EFSA is for the agrofood industry, and how weak EFSA's independence polic=
y remains. The agency's management of this case shows that it failed to ta=
ke the crucial issue of corporate influence seriously, an inexcusable fail=
ure for a body supposedly 'commited to ensuring that Europe's food is safe=
'. Does EFSA have the means of its remit?=E2=80=9D

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 Ombu=
dsman to investigate the case. The EU Ombudsman sent a series of first rec=
ommendations in 2011, stating that EFSA did not handle this case correctly=
=2E EFSA then changed its rules and procedures in December 2011 to strengthe=
n its independence, but, according to the Ombudsman ruling published last=
 May 23 (see bottom), the Ombudsman clearly sees need for further improvem=
ents. With his judgement, the Ombudsman fuels concerns about EFSA=C2=B4s i=
ndependence policy which were already expressed in a report from the Europ=
ean Court of Auditors published in October 2012, as well as two resolution=
s from the European Parliament in 2012 and 2013 in the framework of the bu=
dget discharge process.

=E2=80=9CEFSA 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 I=
LSI are now mostly excluded from being involved in the work of EFSA; but e=
xperts who worked with ILSI for many years and then officially ended their=
 cooperation still are decisive for EFSA=C2=B4s scientific work.=E2=80=9D=
 says Christoph Then for Testbiotech. =E2=80=9CAll the key decisions and r=
isk assessment protocols that were influenced by ILSI=C2=B4s experts in th=
e last ten years were never re-evaluated.=E2=80=9D

For instance, Juliane Kleiner just became EFSA's Director of Science Strat=
egy and Coordination. Kleiner joined EFSA right after a career at ILSI bet=
ween 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=C2=B4s expert group on genetically engineered organisms (=
=E2=80=9CGMO Panel=E2=80=9D). Harry Kuiper was the chair of EFSA=C2=B4s GM=
O 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 Testbiote=
ch 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, info@testbiot=
ech.org
The recent judgement of the EU Ombudsman: www.testbiotech.de/node/801
The full chronology of the complaint about EFSA: www.testbiotech.org/indep=
endence
A Testbiotech briefing about Harry Kuiper and ILSI: http://www.testbiotech=
=2Ede/en/node/429
A report from Corporate Europe Observatory about ILSI: http://corporateeur=
ope.org/blog/new-briefing-international-life-sciences-institute-ilsi-corpo=
rate-lobbygroup
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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