Wolves in the clothing of sheep? The case of the European Food Safety Authority

Abstract:

One could expect that the principal mission of the new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should be consumer protection and better scrutiny of the European food industry. However, the task of the EFSA is more complex: one of its main concerns is to enhance the smooth functioning of the internal market in food products and to regain consumer confidence after various food scandals. Moreover, it is to play an important role in the new centralised authorisation regime for GMOs. Therefore, the EFSA's mission is characterised by a tension between the two values that are often in conflict: consumer protection and the free movement of food products in the internal market. Although the EFSA was not given any regulatory powers, its tasks are widely defined and its scientific opinions are likely to exercise considerable influence in the policy-making process. Consequently, the EFSA is going to be subjected to considerable pressure from the food industry and politicians. Hence, its independence is of vital importance. Regretfully, the institutional guarantees do not seem sufficient to prevent its capture, especially by the food industry.