Press Release: New EFSA body to coordinate pesticide risk assessment

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in September 2008, approved a proposal to create a Pesticide Steering Committee with effect from October 2008. The new committee, which will be fully operational from January 2009, will further strengthen EFSA's role in reviewing the safety of active substances used in pesticides together with the European Commission and EU member states. The Committee will be made up of experts responsible for the pesticide risk assessment process at national level as well as representatives of EFSA and the European Commission.