Workshop on provision of scientific advice to Codex and Member Countries (2004)
Focus
The workshop was convened to seek expert advice on how the management and
working procedures of the provision of scientific advice by FAO and WHO to
Codex and Member Countries could best be improved.
The previous eForum in 2003 provided a range of comments to be considered
when identifying priority issues to be improved by FAO and WHO in the provision
of scientific advice. In addition, the background papers prepared for the eForum
provide a wealth of ideas and highlighted difficulties that were considered
in the joint FAO/WHO Workshop, in January 2004. The objectives of the workshop
were:
- To confirm and prioritise key issues to be addressed in the
improvement of scientific advice by FAO/WHO, taking into account the background
papers and eForum comments and personal expertise
- To discuss options to address the issues identified and consider
the benefits and constraints of each
- To provide, on the basis of 2 above, guidance on the specific papers
to be prepared for consideration at the expert consultation
- To provide guidance to FAO/WHO on the completion of the consultative
process
Experts were asked to agree upon a set of priority issues that, if addressed,
would significantly improve how FAO and WHO meet requests for scientific advice,
and to recommend options which would improve these issues.
Priority issues included the interaction between FAO/WHO and the Codex Alimentarius,
enhanced collaboration with other national/regional bodies providing scientific
advice and declaration of interests in the expert selection process. In all
these discussions, experts considered the underlying objective of upholding
the principles of quality, independence, integrity, transparency, timeliness,
efficiency and sustainability in FAO/WHO scientific advice.
Selection of experts
The workshop brought together experts representing various and differing stakeholder
groups. The selection criteria for experts included ensuring a range of expertise
was available. This included representation from risk assessors, risk managers
and risk communicators, national and international expertise, knowledge of
FAO/WHO procedures for expert committees and ad hoc consultations,
and geographical and gender representation. |
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