Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
(SCENIHR) was set up in 2004 by the European Commission to provide the
Commission with unambiguous scientific advice on the safety of a series of
issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of the risks, such as new
technologies, medical devices, etc.
The SCENIHR advice is intended to enable risk managers to take the adequate
and required actions in order to guarantee consumer safety or public health.
The SCENIHR addresses questions concerning emerging or newly-identified risks
and on broad, complex or multi-disciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive
assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health and related issues not
covered by other Community risk- assessment bodies.
The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks is
composed of a maximum of 13 members, but for any specific question may enlist
the support of up to six associated members selected on the basis of their
expertise. There is also a reserve list made up of candidates found suitable for
a position in a Scientific Committee but not appointed. The members of the
SCENIHR are appointed on the basis of their skills and experience in the fields
in question, and consistent with this a geographical distribution that reflects
the diversity of scientific problems and approaches in the European Union (EU).
The experts' term of office is three years and is renewable for a maximum of
three consecutive times. In agreement with the Commission, the Scientific
Committees may turn to specialised external experts.
The SCENIHR complies with the principles of independence, transparency and
confidentiality. The members therefore make a declaration of commitment to act
in the public interest and a declaration of interests; requests for opinions,
agendas, minutes and opinions are published; work and publications are done with
regard to the need for commercial confidentiality.