When drawing up policies and proposals relating to consumer safety, health and the environment, the European Commission relies on independent scientific committees to provide it with sound scientific advice and to draw its attention to new and emerging issues.  Scientific committees may call upon experts additional candidates from a reserve list, and a database of experts. 

The following two scientific committees began their work in April 2016:

• Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)
• Scientific Committee on Health, Environment and Emerging Risks (SCHEER)

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER SAFETY (SCCS)

This committee issues opinions on health and safety risks – chemical, biological, mechanical and other physical risks – associated with non-food consumer products, such as: cosmetics and their ingredients, toys, clothing and textile accessories, motor vehicles, personal care products, tattoos and sunbeds.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT AND EMERGING RISKS (SCHEER)

At the request of the Commission’s services, SCHEER provides opinions on issues relating to health, the environment and emerging risks. In particular, the Committee issues opinions on matters relating to emerging or newly identified risks to health and the environment, and on broad, complex or multidisciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health, as well as related matters not covered by other European Union risk assessment bodies.

The SCHEER will also provide opinions on the risks associated with pollutants in the environment and other biological and physical factors, or changing physical conditions, that may have a negative impact on health and the environment, for example in relation to air, water, waste and soil quality, as well as on
life cycle environmental assessment.

For further information on the scientific committees, please see their official website at the European Commission.