Activities of Nicola CAPUTO related to 2018/0088(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
Transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain (debate) IT
Transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain (debate) IT
Amendments (83)
Amendment 7 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Experience shows that the role of the Management Board of the Authority is focussed on administrative and financial aspects and does not impact on the independence of the scientific work performed by the Authority. It is thus appropriate to include representatives of all Member States as well as representatives of civil society and industry in the Management Board of the Authority, while providing that those representatives should have experience in particular on risk assessment.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) promote consistency and, transparency and clarity in formulating risk management recommendations;
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) ensuring the expertise of a Panel responsible for a given assessment matches the competences required for such evaluation, proving understanding of a particular subject matter, and adopting the most appropriate methodology depending on the nature of the different chemical compounds;
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point f a (new)
Article 8 a – point f a (new)
(fa) inform consumers about risk prevention strategies;
Amendment 23 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 d (new)
Article 8 d (new)
Transparency of risk communication (1) The European Commission, the Authority and the Member States shall carry out their tasks as regards risk communication in relation to food law with a high level of transparency. Their approaches and measures to ensure the transparency of risk communication shall be formulated taking account of the general principles of risk communication under Article 8b of this Regulation and after consultation of interested parties. (2) The European Commission and the Authority may issue appropriate guidelines in order to comply with paragraph 1.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 5f a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 5f a (new)
5fa. The Authority shall offer members of Panels comprehensive training on the risk assessment process.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 a
Article 32 a
At the request of a potential applicant for a food law authorisation, the staff of the Authority shall advise on the relevant provisions and the required content of the application for authorisation. The advice provided by the staffwould facilitate the understanding ofn the Authority shall be without prejudice and non-committal as to the subsequent assessment of applications for authorisation by the Scientific Panelsrequirements of the studies to be conducted and serve to establish guidelines on criteria to apply in the studies where international protocols are missing or not suitable for the specific case.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) experts shall perform controls, including audits, to obtain assurance that testing facilities in the EU and in third countries comply with relevant standards for carrying out tests and studies submitted to the Authority as part of an application for an authorisation under Union food law. These controls shall be organised in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States or of the third countries concerned.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 e – paragraph 1
Article 32 e – paragraph 1
Without prejudice to the obligation of applicants for authorisations under food law to demonstrate the safety of a subject matter submitted to a system of authorisation, the Commission may, in exceptional circumstances, maythe event of conflicting scientific findings, request the Authority to commission scientific studies with the objective of verifying evidence used in its risk assessment process. The studies commissioned may have a wider scope than the evidence subject to verification.;
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Without prejudice to the obligation of applicants for authorisations under food law to demonstrate the safety of a subject matter submitted to a system of authorisation, the Commission, in exceptional circumstances, may request the Authority to commission scientific studies with the objective of verifying evidence used in its risk assessment process. The studies commissioncope of the studies requested may havbe as wider scope than the evidence subject to as needed, in order to ensure a proper verification.;
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 38 – paragraph 1 a – introduction
Article 38 – paragraph 1 a – introduction
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 1
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 1
(1) the method and other technical and industrial specifications relating to that method, used to manufacture or produce the subject matter of the request for a scientific output, including a scientific opinion, which should offer all the necessary guarantees for the respect of the environment and the public health;
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Experience shows that the role of the Management Board of the Authority is focussed on administrative and financial aspects and does not impact on the independence of the scientific work performed by the Authority. It is thus appropriate to include representatives of all Member States as well as representatives of civil society and industry in the Management Board of the Authority, while providing that those representatives should have experience in particular on risk assessment.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is therefore necessary to ensure a comprehensive and continuous risk communication process throughout risk analysis, involving Union and national risk assessors and risk managers. That process should be combined with an open dialogue between all interested parties to ensure the coherenceprevalence of public interest only, accuracy and consistency within the risk analysis process.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is therefore necessary to ensure a comprehensive and, continuous and inclusive risk communication process throughout risk analysis, involving Union and national risk assessors and risk managers. That process should be combined with an open dialogue between all interested parties to ensure the coherenceprevalence of public interest, accuracy and consistency within the risk analysis process.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Particular emphasis should be placed on explaining in a coherent, appropriatlear, objective and timely manner not only risk assessment findings themselves but also how these are utilized to help inform risk management decisions along with other legitimate factors, where relevant.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The general plan should lay down the practical arrangements for making available to the public the necessary information to achieve a high level of transparency of the risk management process. It should identify the key factors to be taken into account when risk communications’ activities are considered, such as the different levels of risk, the nature of the risk and its potential public health impact, who and what are directly or indirectly affected by the risk, the levels of risk exposure, the ability to control risk and other factors that influence risk perception including the level of urgency as well as the applicable legislative framework and relevant market context. The general plan should also identify the tools and channels to be used and should establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure coherenteffective risk communication.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Transparency of the risk assessment process contributes to the Authority acquiring greater legitimacy in the eyes of the consumers and general public in pursuing its mission, increases their confidence in its work and ensures that the Authority is more accountable to the Union citizens in a democratic system. It is therefore essential to maintainrebuild the confidence of the general public and other interested parties in the risk analysis process underpinning Union food law and in particular in the risk assessment, including the organisation and independence of the Authority and transparency.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Management Board should be selected in such a way as to secure the highest standards of competence, commitment to health and environment protection and a broad range of relevant experience available amongst the representatives of the Member States, the European Parliament and the Commission.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Fitness Check of the General Food Law identified certain shortcomings in the long-term capabilcity of the Authority to maintain its high-level expertise. In particular, there has been a decrease in the number of candidates applying to be members of the Scientific Panels. The system has thus to be strengthened and Member States should take a more active roleMember States should support the dissemination of the Authority’s calls for expressions of interest for membership of the Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee, to ensure that a sufficient pool of experts is available to meet the needs of the Union risk assessment system in terms of high level of scientific expertise, independence and multidisciplinary expertise.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point f a (new)
Article 8 a – point f a (new)
(f a) inform consumers about risk prevention strategies;
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) To preserve the independence of the risk assessment from risk management and from other interests at Union level, it is appropriate that the nominaselection of the members of the Scientific Panels by the Member States, their selection by the Executive Director of the Authority and their appointment by the Management Board of the Authority are based on strict criteria ensuring the excellence and independence of the experts while ensuring the required multidisciplinary expertise for each Panel. It is also essential to this end that the Executive Director whose function is to defend EFSA’s interests and in particular the independence of its expertise has a role in the selection and appointment of those scientific experts. Further measures should also be put in place to ensure that scientific experts have the means to act independently and to dedicate sufficient time to their risk assessment work for the Authority.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) It is essential to ensure the efficient operation of the Authority and to improve the sustainability of its expertise. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the support provided by the Authority and the Member States to the work of the Authority’s Scientific Panels. In particular, the Authority should organise the preparatory work supporting the Panels’ tasks, including by requesting the Authority’s staff or national scientific organisations networking with the Authority to draft preparatory scientific opinions to be peer-reviewed and adopted by the Panels. This should be without prejudice to the independence of the Authority’s scientific assessments.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c a (new)
Article 8 c a (new)
Article 8c a Transparency of risk communication (1) The European Commission, the Authority and the Member States shall carry out their tasks as regards risk communication in relation to food law with a high level of transparency.Their approaches and measures to ensure the transparency of risk communication shall be formulated taking account of the general principles of risk communication under Article 8b of this Regulation and after consultation of interested parties. (2) The European Commission and the Authority may issue appropriate guidelines in order to comply with paragraph 1.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Provisions exist on the content of applications for authorisations. It is essential that the application for authorisation submitted to the Authority for its risk assessment meets the applicable specifications to ensure the best quality scientific assessment by the Authority. Applicants and in particular small- and medium-sized enterprises do not always have a clear understanding of these specifications. It should be thus appropriate that the Authority provides advice to a potential applicant, upon request, on the applicable rules and the required content of an application for authorisation, before an application is formally submitted, while not entering into the design of the studies to be submitted that remain the applicant’s responsibility. To ensure the transparency of this process, the advice of the Authority should be made public. By 36 months after the entry into force of this regulation, the Commission should evaluate the impact of these pre-submission meetings on the functioning of the Authority. It should particularly evaluate their impact on the allocation of the Authority’s resources and its independence.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) The Authority should have knowledge of the subject matter of all studies performed by an applicant with a view to a future application for an authorisation or renewal under Union food law. To this end, it is necessary and appropriate that business operators commissioning the studies and laboratories carrying them out notify those studies to the Authority when commissioned. Information about the notified studies should be made public only once a corresponding application for authorisation has been made public in accordance with the applicable rules on transparency.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 5 f a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 5 f a (new)
5f a. The Authority shall offer members of Panels comprehensive training on the risk assessment process.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Food safety is a sensitive matter of prime interest for all Union citizens. While maintaining the principle that the burden is on the industry to prove compliance with Union requirements, it is important to establish an additional verification tool to address specific cases of high societal importance where there is a controversy on safety issues, namely the commissioning of additional studies with the objective of verifying evidence used in the context of risk assessment. Considering that it would be financed by the Union budget and that the use of this exceptional verification tool should remain proportionate, the Commission should be resThis exceptional verification tool should remain proportionate and should not replace the application of the precautionary principle in the presence of scientific uncertainty. The Commission, the Member States and the European Parliament should have the ponssible for triggering theility to ask the Authority to commissioning of such verification studies. Account should be taken of the fact that in some specific cases the studies commissioned may need to have a wider scope than the evidence at stake (for example new scientific developments becoming available).
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) TAs a Party to the Aarhus Convention, the Union has recognised that, in the field of environment, access to information and public participation in decision-making enhance the quality and the implementation of decisions, contribute to the public awareness of environmental issues, give the public the opportunity to express its concerns and enable public authorities to take due account of such concerns. However, the Fitness Check of the General Food Law demonstrated that although the Authority has made considerable progress in terms of transparency, the risk assessment process, especially in the context of authorisation procedures covering the agri-food chain, is not always perceived as fully transparent. This is also partly due to the different transparency and confidentiality rules that are laid down not only in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 but also in other Union legislative acts covering the agri-food chain. Their interplay can impact on the acceptability of the risk assessment by the general public.
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 d
Article 32 d
The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) experts shall perform controls, including audits, to obtain assurance that testing facilities in the EU and in third countries comply with relevant standards for carrying out tests and studies submitted to the Authority as part of an application for an authorisation under Union food law. These controls shall be organised in cooperation with the competent authorities of the Member States or of the third countries concerned.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 e
Article 32 e
Without prejudice to the obligation of applicants for authorisations under food law to demonstrate the safety of a subject matter submitted to a system of authorisation, the Commission may, in exceptional circumstances, maythe event of conflicting scientific findings, request the Authority to commission scientific studies with the objective of verifying evidence used in its risk assessment process. The studies commissioned may have a wider scope than the evidence subject to verification.;
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) To determine what level of proactive disclosure strikes the appropriate balance, the relevant rights of the public toneed to ensure transparency in the risk assessment process, should be weighted up against the rights of commercial applicants, taking into account the objectives of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Accordingly and with respect to the procedures governing requests for authorisation procedures provided in Union food law, experience gained so far has shown that certain information items are generally considered sensitive and should remain confidential across the different sectoral authorisation procedures. It is appropriate to lay down in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 a general horizontal exhaustive list of information items whose disclosure may be considered to significantly harm the commercial interests concerned and should not therefore be disclosed to the public, (“general horizontal list of confidential items”). Only in very limited and exceptional circumstances relating to foreseeable health effects and urgent needs to However, this information can only be kept secret if the applicant opposing its disclosure proves, with verifiable justifications, that proactive disclosure would significantly harm the commercial interests concerned. The exceptions to the principle of transparency must be interproetect human health, animal health or the environment, such information should be disclosedd strictly. In any event, even when the publication of the information is considered to undermine the commercial interests, the information cannot be kept secret if disclosure is requested and is of overriding public interest.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) Furthermore, in order to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the different provisions applying to the Authority, it is also appropriate to provide for a Commissionconduct an independent evaluation of the Authority, in accordance with the Common Approach on Decentralised Agencies. The evaluation should, in particular, review the procedures for selecting the members of Scientific Committee and Panels, for their degree of transparency, cost- effectiveness, and suitability to ensure independence and competence, and to prevent conflicts of interests.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) To ensure that sectoral specificities with respect to confidential information are taken into account, it is necessary to weigh up the relevant rights of the public to transparency in the risk assessment process, including those flowing from the Aarhus Convention35 ,benefit from proactive disclosure of information related to the risk assessment process against the rights of commercial applicants, taking into account the specific objectives of sectoral Union legislation as well as experienced gained. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend Directive 2001/18/EC, Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003, Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 to provide for additional exhaustive list of confidential items to those set out in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. The new provisions on active dissemination laid down in this Regulation and the assessment of confidentiality request by the Authority shall not in any manner limit the scope of the rights given by Regulations 1049/2001 and 1367/2006. __________________ 35 Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies (OJ L 264, 25.9.2006, p.13).
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) In order to further strengthen the link between risk assessors and risk managers at Union and national levels, as well as the coherence and consistency of risk communicwith other stakeholders in the food chain such as economic operators, consumer and other civil society organisations, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission to adopt a general plan on risk communication on matters covering the agri-food chain. IThe general plan on risk communication shall lay down the practical arrangements for making available to the public the necessary information to achieve a high level of transparency of the risk management process. Therefore, it is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States’ experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point b
Article 8 a – point b
(b) promote consistency and transparency in formulating risk management options and recommendations;
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point c
Article 8 a – point c
(c) provide a sound basis for understanding risk management decisions; including information on:
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point c a (new)
Article 8 a – point c a (new)
(ca) the risk management options considered including, as appropriate, the possibility to adopt provisional measures within the meaning of Article 7 of this Regulation;
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point c b (new)
Article 8 a – point c b (new)
(cb) the extent to which the various risk management options under consideration reflect the degree of uncertainty of the risk assessment, and the level of consumer and animal health and environmental protection each of these options would achieve;
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point c c (new)
Article 8 a – point c c (new)
(cc) as foreseen under Article 6(3) of this Regulation, the factors, other than the results of the risk assessment, which were considered by the risk managers, and how these factors were weighed up against each other;
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point e
Article 8 a – point e
(e) promote appropriatebalanced involvement of all interested parties, including economic operators of the food chain, consumer and other civil society organisations; and,
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 a – point f
Article 8 a – point f
(f) ensure appropriatequitable exchange of information with these interested parties in relation to risks associated with the agri- food chain.
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 b – point a
Article 8 b – point a
(a) ensure that accurate, appropriacomplete and timely information is interactively exchanged, including with all interested parties, based on the principles of transparency, openness, and responsiveness;
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 b – point e
Article 8 b – point e
(e) be accessible, including to those not directly involved in the process, while taking into account confidentiality and protection of personal data.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) identify the appropriate main tools and channels to be used for risk communication purposes, taking into account the needs of relevant target audience groups; and, to ensure the balanced involvements of all interested parties including economic operators of the food chain, consumer and other civil society organisations;
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) establish appropriate mechanisms in order to strengthen coherence of risk communication amongst risk assessors and risk managers and ensure an open dialogue amongst all interested parties., including by systematically acknowledging and explaining, where they exist, divergences in scientific assessment or in the appreciation of the acceptable level of risk
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) lay down the practical arrangements and timeline for making the following information available to the public:
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(db) the agendas and detailed minutes of the meetings of the Authority’s Scientific Committee, Scientific Panels and working groups;
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d c (new)
(dc) at an early stage of the risk management process, the draft risk management measures under consideration;
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d e (new)
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d e (new)
(de) the agendas and detailed minutes of the meetings of the working groups of governmental experts where the risk management measures are discussed;
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d f (new)
Article 8 c – paragraph 2 – point d f (new)
(df) the agendas and detailed summary reports of the meetings of the regulatory committees where the risk management measures are discussed and put to a vote, including an explanation of the votes by individual Member States and the information referred to under Article 8a(c).
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 10
Article 10
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a – point b
Article 25 – paragraph 1 a – point b
(b) one member and substitute member appointed by the European Parliament, with the right to vote.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 5
Article 28 – paragraph 5
5. The members of the Scientific Committee who are not members of the Scientific Panels, the members of the Scientific Panels and the additional members referred to in paragraph 5ba shall be appointed by the Management Board, acting upon a proposal from the Executive Director, for a five year term of office, which may be renewable, following publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, in relevant leading scientific publications and on the Authority’s website of a call for expressions of interest.”, for a renewable five year term of office in accordance with the following procedure: (a) A call for expressions of interest shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, in relevant leading scientific publications and on the Authority's website; (b) Member States shall ensure the broad dissemination of the call for expressions of interest across the scientific community; (c) On the basis of the applications received and in accordance with the Authority’s independence policy and implementing rules applicable to Scientific Panels’ members, the Executive Director shall draw for each Scientific Panel a list of experts larger than the number of members to be appointed. The Executive Director may not draw up such a list where he/she can justify that the applications received do not allow him, given the criteria for selection set up in point d) of this paragraph, to draw up a larger list. The Executive Director shall submit the list to the Management Board for appointment. (d) The nominations by the Member States, the selection by the Executive Director and the appointments by the Management Board shall be made on the basis of the following criteria: (i) A high level of scientific expertise; (ii) Independence and absence of conflict of interests in accordance with Article 37(2) and the Authority’s independence policy and implementing rules on the independence of the Scientific Panels’ members; (iii) Meeting the needs for the specific multi-disciplinary expertise of the Panel to which they will be appointed and the applicable language regime. (e) The Management Board shall ensure that the broadest possible geographical distribution is achieved in the final appointments.
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a
(b) The following paragraphs 5a to 5gf are inserted: “"5a. TWhe members of the Scientific Panels shall be appointed by the Management Board for a renewable five year term of office in accordance with the following procedure: (a) consulting the Management Board, shall send to the Member States the request for the specific multidisciplinary expertise needed in each Scientific Panel and shall indicate the number of experts to be nominated by the Member States. The Executive Director shall notify the Member States of the Authority’s independence policy and implementing rules applicable to Scientific Panels’ members. Member States shall launch a call for interest as a basis for their nominations. The Executive Director shall inform the Management Board of the requests sent to the Member States. (b) Member States shall nominate experts with a view to collectively reach the number indicated by the Executive Director. Each Member State shall nominate at least 12 scientific experts. Member States may nominate nationals of other Member States. (c) made by Member States, the Executive Director shall draw for each Scientific Panel a list of experts larger than the number of members to be appointed. The Executive Director may not draw up such a list where he/she can justify that the nominations received do not allow him, given the criteria for selection set up in point d) of this paragraph, to draw up a larger list. The Executive Director shall submit the list to the Management Board for appointment. (d) States, the selection by the Executive Director and the appointments by the Management Board shall be made on the basis of the following criteria: (i) (ii) conflict of interests in accordance with Article 37(2) and the Authority’s independence policy and implementing rules on the independence of the Scientific Panels’ members; (iii) Meeting the needs for the specific multi-disciplinary expertise of the Panel to which they will be appointed and the applicable language regime. (e) ensure that the broadest possible geographical distribution is achieved in the final appointments. 5b. When the Authority identifies that specific expertise is missing in a Panel or several Panels, the Executive Director shall propose additional members of the Panel(s) for appointment to the Management Board in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 5. 5c. The Management Board shall adopt, on the basis of a proposal of the Executive Director, rules on the detailed organisation and timing of the procedures set up in paragraphs 5a and 5b of the present Article. 5d. The Member States shall put in place measures ensuring that the members of the Scientific Panels act independently and remain free from conflict of interests as provided for in Article 37(2) and the Authority’s internal measures. Member States shall ensure that the members of the Scientific Panels have the means to dedicate the necessary time and effort to contribute to the work of the Authority. Member States shall ensure that the members of the Scientific Panels do not receive any instruction at any national level and that their independent scientific contribution to the risk assessment system at Union level is recognised as a priority task for the protection of the safety of the food chain. 5e. Member States shall ensure that the public bodies employing those scientific experts and those having responsibility for the setting of priorities of the scientific bodies employing those experts implement the measures provided for in paragraph 5d. 5f. The Authority shall support the tasks of the Panels by organising their work, in particular the preparatory work to be undertaken by the Authority’s staff or by designated national scientific organisations referred to in the Article 36 including by organising the possibility for preparing scientific opinions to be peer- reviewed by the Panels before they adopt them. 5g. maximum of 21 members.”,n the Authority identifies that specific expertise is missing in a Panel or several Panels, the Executive Director shall propose additional members of the Panel(s) for appointment to the Management Board in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraphs. The Executive Director, after On the basis of the nominations The nominations by the Member A high level of scientific expertise; Independence and absence of The Management Board shall 5b. The Management Board shall adopt, on the basis of a proposal of the Executive Director, rules on the detailed organisation and timing of the procedures setup in paragraphs 5a and 5a of the present Article. 5c. Members of the Scientific Panels shall act independently and remain free from conflict of interests as provided for in Article 37(2) and the Authority’s internal measures. They shall have the means to dedicate the necessary time and effort to contribute to the work of the Authority, shall not receive any instruction at any national level, and their independent scientific contribution to the risk assessment system at Union level is shall be recognised as a priority task for the protection of the safety of the food chain. 5d. As appropriate, Member States shall ensure that the public bodies employing those scientific experts and those having responsibility for the setting of priorities of the scientific bodies employing those experts implement the measures which are necessary to ensure that the conditions referred to in paragraph 5c are met. 5e. The Authority shall support the tasks of the Panels by organising their work, in particular the preparatory work to be undertaken by the Authority’s staff or by designated national scientific organisations referred to in the Article 36 including by organising the possibility for preparing scientific opinions to be peer- reviewed by the Panels before they adopt them. 5f. Each Panel shall include a maximum of 21 members.”, Each Panel shall include a
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 28 – paragraph 9 b
Article 28 – paragraph 9 b
“The number of members in each Scientific Panel within the maximum provided for in paragraph 5g.;f.”
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 a
Article 32 a
At the request of a potential applicant for a food law authorisation, the staff of the Authority shall adprovisde on the relevant provisions and the required content of the application for authorisationconsultation to explain what information is required and how the various tests and studies necessary to prove the quality, safety and efficacy of the planned product are to be carried out. The advice provided by the staff of the Authority shall be without prejudice and non-committal as to the subsequent assessment of applications for authorisation by the Scientific Panels. The staff of the Authority providing the advice shall not be involved in any preparatory scientific work that is directly or indirectly relevant to the application that is the subject of the advice.
Amendment 280 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 281 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 32 a – paragraph 1 a (new)
Within 36 months after the entry into force of this regulation, the Commission shall assess the impact of this article on the functioning of the Authority. Particular attention shall be paid to the additional workload and mobilisation of staff, and whether it has led to any shift in the allocation of the Authority’s resources, at the expense of activities of public interest.
Amendment 283 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 b – paragraph 1
Article 32 b – paragraph 1
1. A Union register of studies commissioned by business operators seeking to obtain an authorisation or renewal under Union food law is hereby established. Business operators shall notify, without delay, to the Authority the subject matter of any study commissioned within the EU and beyond to support a future application for an authorisation or renewal under Union food law. The register shall be managed by the Authority.
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 b – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 32 b – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission shall establish, as part of a delegated act, penalties for breaches of the notification obligation.
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 32 e
Article 32 e
Without prejudice to the obligation of applicants for authorisations under food law to demonstrate the safety of a subject matter submitted to a system of authorisation, the Commission and without prejudice to the application of the precautionary principle in presence of scientific uncertainty, the Commission, the Member States or the European Parliament, in exceptional circumstances, may request the Authority to commission scientific studies with the objective of verifying evidence used in its risk assessment process. The studies commissioned may have a wider scope than the evidence subject to verification.;
Amendment 323 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The Authority shall carry out its activities with a high level of transparencyactively disseminate the information it possesses to ensure high level of transparency in line with the Aarhus Convention and Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006. It shall in particular make public without delay:
Amendment 337 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 38 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Those items referred to in the first subparagraph shall be made public on a dedicated section of the Authority’s website. That section shall be publicly available and easily accessible. The relevant items shall be available to download, print and search through in an electronic and as appropriate machine- readable format.
Amendment 357 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 1
Article 39 – paragraph 1
1. By way of derogation from Article 38, the Authority shall not make public information for which confidential treatment has been requesgranted under the conditions laid down in this Article.
Amendment 360 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Authority may only accept to provide confidential treatment in relation to the following information, the disclosure of which may be deemed, upon verifiable justification, to significantly harm the interests concernedand provided that the request for confidential treatment demonstrates, with adequate and verifiable justification, that disclosure would specifically and significantly harm the commercial interest of the applicant:
Amendment 365 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 1
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 1
(1) the method and other technical and industrial specifications relating to that method, used to manufacture or produce the subject matter of the request for a scientific output, including a scientific opinion; provided that the applicant demonstrates that such method does not entail emissions in the environment and has no harmful impacts on health and environment;
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 4
Article 39 – paragraph 2 – point 4
(4) quantitative composition of the subject matter of the request for a scientific output, including a scientific opinion, except when relevant to understanding the potential effects on health and the environment.
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 39 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 39 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) Where urgent action is essential to protect public health, animal health or the environment, such as in emergency situations, the Authority may disclose the information referred to paragraphs 2 and 3; andor,
Amendment 424 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 41 – paragraph 1
Article 41 – paragraph 1
Where environmental information is concerned, Articles 6 and Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council39 shall also apply. Articles 38 to 39d of this Regulation shall apply without prejudice to the application of Regulation 1049/2001 and Regulation 1367/2006.; __________________ 39 Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies (OJ L 264, 25.9.2006, p. 13).
Amendment 432 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 61 – paragraph 2
Article 61 – paragraph 2
2. Not later than five years after the date referred to in Article [entry into force of the Regulation amending the GFL], and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall assess the Authority’sAuthority jointly with the Commission shall commission an independent evaluation of their performance in relation to itstheir objectives, mandates, tasks, procedures and location, in accordance with Commission guidelines. The evaluation shall address the possible need to modify the mandate of the Authority, and the financial implications of any such modification. The evaluation shall take into account the views of the stakeholders, at both Community and national level.
Amendment 434 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 61 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 61 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Management Board of the Authority shall examine the conclusions of the evaluation and issue to the Commission such recommendations as may be necessary regarding changes in the Authority.
Amendment 435 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Article 61 – paragraph 3
Article 61 – paragraph 3
Amendment 448 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive 2001/18/EC
Article 25 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 2 a (new)
The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Article 24 and 25 of this Directive, and Article 38 and 39 of Regulation 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation 1049/2001 and 1367/2006.
Amendment 462 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003
Article 30 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 472 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003
Article 18 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in this Article, and in Articles 38 and 39 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation 1049/2001.
Amendment 480 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 2065/2003
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Articles 14 and 15 of this Regulation, and Articles 38 and 39 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Amendment 485 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004
Article 20 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 20 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Articles 19 and 20 of this Regulation, and Articles 38 and 39 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Amendment 501 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Articles 11 and 12 of this Regulation, and Articles 38 and 39 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Amendment 523 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009
Article 63 – paragraph 3a (new)
Article 63 – paragraph 3a (new)
(5a) in Article 63, the following paragraph is added after paragraph 3: “3a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Article 63 of this Regulation, and Article 38 and 39 of Regulation 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulations (EC) No 1049/2001 and (EC) No 1367/2006.”
Amendment 534 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 2015/2283
Article 23 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The provisions on active dissemination laid down in Article 23 of this Regulation, and Articles 38 and 39 of Regulation 178/2002, are without prejudice to the right of access to documents upon request set in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.