Type Government agency Website VKM.no Headquarters Oslo | Industry Food safety Founded 2004 Number of employees 15 (2011) | |
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Key people Lars Hanssen (Director) Owner Ministry of Health and Care Services Parent agency Ministry of Health and Care Services | ||
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM), (Norwegian: Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet), conduct open, independent, scientific risk assessments regarding food safety, animal health, plant health, animal welfare and cosmetics on request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. VKM also carries out risk assessments on genetically modified organisms on request from the Norwegian Environment Agency. The scientific committee itself is also free to take initiative to carry out risk assessments. The risk assessments are used by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency when giving advice to Norwegian ministries, and when Norwegian Food Safety Authority is developing new laws and regulations.
VKM is the Norwegian focal point for the European Food Safety Authority. (EFSA) EFSA is responsible for scientific advice on food safety and scientific risk assessments on request from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Member States