Press release Two ILVO researchers in renewed Scientific Committee at FASFC
On January 31, 2025, in the presence of FASFC Managing Director Herman Diricks, the official installation of a renewed Scientific Committee at the FASFC took place.
During this first session of the FASFC, Dr. Lieve Herman and Dr. Nicolas Korsak were elected Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Scientific Committee, respectively. Under their chairmanship, the members of the new Scientific Committee will take over from the previous Committee, whose term of office ran from 2021 to 2025. Over the next four years, 22 members from Belgium's academic world and research institutes will sit on this independent advisory body. They were appointed by Royal Decree on November 11, 2024.
The Scientific Committee is an independent advisory body that was established by the FASFC when the Agency was founded in 2000. The committee provides scientific advice on risk assessment and risk management in the food chain. It can do so at the request of the Minister, the managing director of the FASFC or on its own initiative.
In his video speech, Minister David Clarinval emphasized the essential role of the Scientific Committee in providing their independent advice. He also spoke about the many challenges ahead. These do not only concern general challenges such as climate change and globalization, but also those specific to the food chain, such as the fight against the introduction of animal diseases. The minister also called for more cooperation between all the players involved, so that innovation can be promoted and the challenges of the future can be tackled decisively and efficiently.
Herman Diricks, Managing Director of the FASFC: “I wish the new Scientific Committee every success and fruitful cooperation between the scientific experts. The Committee's advice undeniably plays a very important role in the FASFC's decision-making process.”
His colleague Johan Robbens also became a member as an expert in food safety.
More information about the Scientific Committee: https://scicom.favv-afsca.be/wetenschappelijkcomite/
