Responding to the citizens' concerns expressed in a successful European Citizens' Initiative about the transparency of scientific studies in the food safety area, the Commission tabled last Wednesday new proposal aimed at boosting trust in such studies, the EU press service reported. The proposal aims at giving citizens greater access to information and involving Member States' scientists more closely in approval procedures.

“The EU's science-based risk assessment for food safety is one of the most stringent in the world. We are now making it even stronger through clearer transparency rules and more effective risk communication throughout the process. With this reform, citizens will have immediate access to scientific studies supporting applications for authorisation,” Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said.

The new measures will ensure more transparency, create a common European Register of commissioned studies, allow additional studies to be requested by the EFSA upon request, require consultation of stakeholders and the public on studies, and increase Member States' involvement in the EFSA governance.