4.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 66/45 COMMISSION DECISION of 3 March 2004 setting up Scientific Committees in the field of consumer safety, public health and the environment (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/210/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Articles 152 and 153 thereof, Whereas: 1 () O] L 169, 27.6.1997, 2000/443[EC (O] L 179, 18.7.2000, p. 13). The Scientific Committees were established by Commis- sion Decision 97[404/EC of 10 June 1997 setting up a Scientific Steering Committee (') and by Commission Decision 97/579[EC of 23 July 1997 setting up Scien- tific Committees in the field of consumer health and food safety (). The responsibilities of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) in relation to scientific advice on bovine spongi- form encephalophathy and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have been transferred to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down the procedures in matters of food safety (°). Also the responsibilities of five of the eight Scientific Committees established by Decision 97/579/EC have been transferred to EFSA namely the responsibilities of the Scientific Committee on Food, the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition, the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health, and of the Scientific Committee on Plants. The terms of office of the members of the remaining three Scientific Committees established by Commission Decision 97/579/EC, namely the Scientific Committees on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products intended for Consumers, the Scientific Committee on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices and the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment p. 85; Decision as amended by Decision () O L 237, 28.8.1997, p. 18; Decision as amended by Decision 2000/443/EC. () OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1; Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1642/2003 (O] L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 4). have come to an end. Members of those committees remain in office until they are replaced or their appoint- ments are renewed. It is therefore necessary to replace Decision 97/404/EC and Decision 97/579/EC and to repeal these acts. Sound and timely scientific advice is an essential require- ment for Commission proposals, decisions and policy relating to consumer safety, public health and the envir- onment. The advice of the Scientific Committees on matters relating to consumer safety, public health and the envir- onment must be based on the principles of excellence, independence and impartiality, and transparency, as developed in the Commission Communication on ‘The collection and use of expertise by the Commission: prin- ciples and guidelines. Improving the knowledge for better policies’ (*). It is essential that the Scientific Committees make best use of external expertise in the EU and beyond as may be necessary for a specific question. It is timely to reorganise the Scientific Committee advi- sory structure in the light of operational experience, the establishment of the EFSA and the Commission's future needs for independent scientific advice. Such a structure must provide the flexibility to allow it to advise the Commission on matters falling under established areas of competence as well as on emerging and newly identi- fied health risks and matters not within the competence of other Community risk assessment bodies. The need for independent scientific advice both in estab- lished and new areas of Community responsibilities falling within the competence of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products intended for Consumers and the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment is likely to continue to increase. (*) COM (2002) 713 final of 11 December 2002 on ‘The collection and use of expertise by the Commission: principles and guidelines. Improving the knowledge for better policies’.