- Any financial interests or benefits, including holding of stocks and shares, equity, bonds, partnership or property interests relevant to the Authority’s mandate. Financial interests connected with a pension or investment scheme contracted prior to membership and/or interests in unit trusts or similar arrangements would not, in principle, be of particular interest, providing that the Member has no influence on financial management.
- Professional experience in the last five years in a field relevant to the Authority’s mandate. This should include all work, irrespective of whether the activities have been subject to regular or occasional remuneration (Board membership, executive or non-executive directorship, employment, consultancy, contractual interests, and traineeship).
- Interests the member may have had in the past or ongoing legal proceedings relevant to the Authority’s mandate, with an indication of their implications, are to be declared.
- All assistance and support received by private and public undertakings or bodies are to be declared, where they are associated with direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit and which have a bearing on the topic of the Working Group. These include grants for study or research, fellowships or sponsorships for the last 5 years.
- Participation in public interest groups, professional societies, clubs and organizations which may have an agenda relevant to the Authority’s mandate is to be declared. The role and position held is to be set out clearly.
- Close family member includes spouse or partner and dependent children living in the same household.
- When declaring interests, member should consider statements of personal opinion on issues relevant to the questions addressed by the Food Authority (e.g. Publications, public statements); employment or family (e.g. the possibility of any indirect advantage or any likelihood of pressure could arise from the member's employer, business associates or immediate family members).
- The Food Authority recognizes that scientific expertise underpins the fulfilment of its mandate and tasks and that the quality of such expertise is inherently based on prior experience. An “interest” declared is not automatically considered to be a conflict of interest. Interests of an intellectual nature are considered as indispensable to safeguard the quality and overall balanced objectivity of the scientific work.
- The details of interests declared may be kept confidential by the Food Authority unless its disclosure is necessary to establish objectivity and independence of the Member involved.
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