GMO Unit
The GMO Unit is a department of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) dedicated to risk assessment for GMOs and to oversee the coordination of the GMO Panel. The Unit was led by Suzy Renckens from 2002 to 2008. During this time, Renckens was both head of the GMO Unit and scientific co-ordinator of the GMO Panel.[1]
Acccording to the EFSA, the Unit 'provides administrative and scientific support to the work of the GMO Panel and may carry out other projects in EFSA’s remit. The unit may also produce scientific outputs on behalf of EFSA, for instance in response to urgent requests for scientific advice'.[2]
Contents
People
Head of GMO Unit
- Elisabeth Waigmann, head of the GMO Unit since 2011
- Per Bergman, former head of the GMO Unit, 2008-2011[3]
- Suzy Renckens, former head of the GMO Unit, 2002-2008
Officers and assistants
- Anna Christodoulidou, Senior Officer
- Claudia Paoletti, Senior Officer
- Zoltan Diveki, Officer
- Sylvie Mestdagh, Officer
- Ana Rocheta Gomes, Officer
- Andrea Gennaro, Officer
- Matthew Ramon, Officer
- Yann Devos, Officer
- Yi Liu, Junior Officer
- Anders Falk, Officer
- Irina Olaru, Officer
- Antonio Fernandez Dumont, Junior Officer
- Christina Ehlert, Junior Officer
- Jaime Aguilera, Junior Officer
- Andrea Germini, Junior Officer
- Claudine Ziegelmeyer, Senior Assistant
- Valeria Bernazzali, Assistant
- Sonia Hernández Valero, Assistant
- Yustina Olshevska Grigorov, Assistant
- Luana Giorgini, Assistant
- Malene Ydesen, Assistant[4]
The GMO Network
There are a number of networks identified as supporting the GMO Panel. The EFSA website states:
- 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 the relevant EFSA unit. 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.[5]
The purpose of the GMO Network is given as follows:
- The main overall goals of the GMO Network are to: improve dialogue among participants; build mutual understanding of risk assessment principles; enhance knowledge on and confidence in the scientific assessments carried out in EU; and to provide increased transparency in the current process among Member States and EFSA. In turn, it aims to raise the harmonisation level of the risk assessments developed in EU.[6]
The network currently consists of 24 EU Member States and Norway.[7] The nominated member organisation MC/FF (Molecular Characterisation/Food and Feed) of the Netherlands is Wageningen University and research centre ‐ RIKILT Institute of Food Safety.[8] The full membership list is available at the EFSA website. The process for nominating member organisations is given as follows:
- Each country was allowed to nominate two Member Organisations: one for area of competence in Molecular characterisation and Food/Feed safety (MC/FF) and one for the area of competence in environmental risk Assessment (ERA). These Member Organisations have in total appointed 57 selected scientific experts (and alternates) to attend the yearly meetings in light of the topics on the agenda. A maximum of 2 experts per countries are invited to the yearly meetings.[9]
The 'GMO Network' has to date held three meeting at the EFSA venue in Parma, Italy:
- 1st meeting of the EFSA scientific network for risk assessment of GMOs (22-23 November 2010) Agenda|Minutes
- 2nd meeting of the EFSA scientific network for risk assessment of GMOs (9-10 June 2011) Agenda|Minutes
- 3rd meeting of the EFSA scientific network for risk assessment of GMOs (3-4 May 2012) Agenda|Minutes
Resources
Contact
- Email:
- gmo@efsa.europa.eu
Notes
- ↑ Testbiotech (2010), European Food Safety Authority: A playing field for the biotech industry, Testbiotech report, p3, accessed 9 January 2013.
- ↑ EFSA (2013), About the GMO Panel and the GMO Unit, accessed 12 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, Declaration of Interests, accessed 23 January 2013
- ↑ Europa, EFSA staff directory, accessed 21 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, Networks supporting the GMO unit, accessed 23 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, Annual report the EFSA Scientific Network for Risk Assessment of GMOs, 23 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, Annual report the EFSA Scientific Network for Risk Assessment of GMOs, 23 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, GMO Network: List of members, accessed 23 January 2013
- ↑ EFSA, GMO Network: List of members, accessed 23 January 2013
