European food safety authority remains independent, says report

The European Food Safety Authority is successful at providing independent scientific advice to Europe’s policymakers, despite allegations to the contrary, according to an external evaluation by Ernst & Young.

The report, which assesses Efsa’s activities from 2006 to 2010, finds that the agency has done a good job of completing its responsibilities, and has gone further to protect the independence of its scientific opinions than is required by its founding regulation. However, the agency must continue to become more transparent by improving its communication of risks and how it collects data and makes decisions, says the report.