Scientific Steering Committee and Panels
The Scientific Panels together comprise about 100 independent experts. They are professionally independent and participate for their expertise in their specific field, and all have broad interdisciplinary competence.
The experts do not represent the institution by which they are regularly employed nor other interests. The Scientific Steering Committee and the Panels are responsible for the risk assessments.
You can read more about the Scientific Steering Committee and the Panels below.
The Scientific Steering Committee discusses guidelines and principles for the work in VKM, coordinates risk assessments that are being developed in more than one panel, and finalizes the most extensive risk assessments.
Search the Panels for an overview of the Panel members and risk assessments.
Alien Organisms and trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
This Panel is responsible for assessments of risks to Norwegian biodiversity from the import and keeping/release of alien organisms. The Panel also evaluates applications for import/export and listing proposals under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
This Panel carries out risk assessments concerning feed for terrestrial and aquatic animals, including production methods, raw materials, additives, infectious substances, and genetically modified organisms. The assessments also include how feed affects animal health.
This Panel carries out risk assessments on animal health and welfare, with particular focus on food-producing animals, including both farmed and wild fish.
This Panel conducts risk assessments related to microbiological food hygiene, contamination of food by microorganisms pathogenic to humans, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
This Panel is responsible for risk assessments on environmental contaminants and other pollutants, process-related chemicals, natural toxins, and residues of veterinary and human pharmaceutical substances in food.
This Panel is responsible for assessing issues on safety in the use of food additives, flavourings, processing aids, materials in contact with food and drinking water, chemicals used for water treatment, and residues from biocides. In addition, this Panel is responsible for safety evaluations of cosmetics.
Genetically Modified Organisms
This Panel carries out health and environmental risk assessments of genetically modified organisms, and processed food and feed. Additionally, the Panel carries out risk assessments in connection with national applications for use or introduction of GMOs.
This panel's working areas include environmental and/or health risk assessments regarding the release/import of microorganisms and the use of medicinal products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms, as well as microbiological products for diverse uses.
Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy
This Panel is responsible for risk assessments concerning the issues of human nutrition, dietetic products, food supplements, novel foods, and food allergies, including food fortification, and food supplements and health claims.
This Panel conducts risk assessments concerned with issues on plant pests and organisms that can harm plants, plant products, and biological diversity.
This Panel carries out risk assessments of chemical and biological plant protection products, and their residues in food. Norway has an exemption from EU regulations in this area, which means that all plant protection products have to be nationally approved by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
