New chairs named at first meeting of European Food Safety Authority

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, http://www.efsa.eu.int) (1,2, and references therein), held its inaugural management board meeting in Brussels on 18-19 September 2002. The meeting formally marked the establishment of the EFSA, and the chairman and two vice chairwomen were appointed. David Byrne, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, outlined the next stages needed to build up this authority, which will provide independent scientific advice on all matters that have a direct or indirect impact on food safety in Europe.