Call for expression of interest for risk assessment experts
Call for expression of interest for inclusion on a list of experts to be used by the Director of the EMCDDA to extend the Scientific Committee for the purposes of ensuring a balanced assessment of the risks posed by new psychoactive substances
This call is addressed to scientists who wish to be considered for inclusion on a list of experts to be used by the Director to extend the Scientific Committee for the purposes of ensuring a balanced assessment of the risks posed by new psychoactive substances in accordance with Article 5c of the EMCDDA Regulation (as amended) (1)(2).
The official text of the announcement/notice of the call for expressions of interest was published in the Official Journal and is available here >>.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), based in Lisbon, Portugal, was established to provide the European Union and its Member States with 'factual, objective, reliable and comparable information at European level concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences'. In addition, the EMCDDA plays a central role in the information exchange, early warning, and risk assessment of new psychoactive substances. For additional information on the EMCDDA, please see https://www.emcdda.europa.eu
Role and Composition
The risk assessment of new psychoactive substances is carried out by the Scientific Committee extended as required by additional experts, in accordance with Article 5c of the EMCDDA Regulation (as amended). During a risk assessment, the Scientific Committee is required to assess the following areas:
(a) Available information on the chemical and physical properties of the new psychoactive substance and the methods and the precursors used for its manufacture or extraction.
(b) Available information on the pharmacological and toxicological properties of the new psychoactive substance.
(c) An analysis of the health risks associated with the new psychoactive substance, in particular with respect to its acute and chronic toxicity, abuse liability, dependence-producing potential, and physical, mental and behavioural effects.
(d) An analysis of the social risks associated with the new psychoactive substance – in particular its impact on social functioning, public order and criminal activities, and the involvement of criminal groups in the manufacture, distribution and distribution methods, and trafficking of the new psychoactive substance.
(e) Available information on the extent and patterns of use of the new psychoactive substance, its availability and potential for diffusion within the Union.
(f) Available information on the commercial and industrial use of the new psychoactive substance, the extent of such use, as well as its use for scientific research and development purposes.
(g) Other relevant information, where available.
Therefore, the expertise required for the list includes experts from the following scientific fields and areas: chemistry; pharmacology; toxicology; (neuro)biological and behavioural sciences; medicine; public health; risk management; botany; psychology; sociology; prevention; treatment; regulation; crime; and, economics.
The selected experts will be included, in a personal capacity, on a list to be approved by the EMCDDA Management Board for a three year period. They will give their opinions completely independently of the Member States and the European Union Institutions. The EMCDDA Management Board may decide to extend the validity of the approved list of experts for further three years.
Pursuant to the rules applicable for the definition of the list of experts to be used to extend the EMCDDA Scientific Committee for the purposes of the assessment of the risks posed by new psychoactive substances, these experts must be nationals of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or of a Country which has concluded an agreement with the latter for the purpose of the participation in the work of the EMCDDA. This requirement is a condition of eligibility for the selection and the inclusion on the above referred list. If this condition is not met, this will determine the exclusion of the concerned person from the selection process and/or from the approved list of experts, as from the moment when this condition is not met.
With regard to the above, and by taking into account the on-going process concerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU (Brexit), United Kingdom’s nationals will no longer satisfy this condition as of the date of this withdrawal, to be determined in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union (TFEU). However, if at this date the Agreement to be concluded between the EU and the UK on this withdrawal (Withdrawal Agreement, as endorsed by the European Council on 25 November 2018) enters into force, United Kingdom’s nationals will be considered to meet the aforementioned condition of nationality during the transition period established by this Agreement.
Meetings
Risk assessment meetings are held on an ad hoc basis in accordance with Article 5c of the EMCDDA Regulation (as amended) at the EMCDDA premises in Lisbon. The vehicular working language of the risk assessment procedure and risk assessment meetings is English.
Each expert designated by the Director to extend the Scientific Committee for the purpose of a risk assessment will be entitled to receive an indemnity for each day of attendance to the meeting held for this assessment. Furthermore, they will be entitled to the payment of the travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses exposed for this attendance.
The conditions and terms of the above-referred entitlements will be the ones applied for the appointed members of the Scientific Committee, in accordance with the rules in force at the EMCDDA for this purpose.
Declarations of independence and interest
Each expert designated by the Director to extend the Scientific Committee for the purpose of a risk assessment shall sign a declaration of independence in relation to the performance of his/her duties in and for this body, and shall fill in and sign a written declaration of interest covering current and past interests up to five years before the date of the declaration. These declarations will be made available for public scrutiny on the EMCDDA website, with due respect to EU rules on protection of personal data.
Instructions for applying
1. Please download and read carefully the complete information on this call:
- Official text of the announcement/notice of the call for expressions of interest.
- Call for expressions of interest and procedures and arrangements for the selection and inclusion on the list of experts to be used by the EMCDDA Director to extend the EMCDDA Scientific Committee for the purposes of the assessment of the risks posed by new psychoactive substances, in accordance with Article 5c of the EMCDDA regulation (as amended).
- Privacy statement on personal data protection for the selection and inclusion on a list of experts to be used by the Director to extend the Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA for the purposes of ensuring a balanced assessment of the risks posed by new psychoactive substances in accordance with Article 5c of the EMCDDA Regulation (as amended).
2. Download and complete the application form.
3. Write a short introduction letter, stating why you are interested in being included on the list of experts.
4. Send the completed application form and the short introduction letter to expertlist19@emcdda.europa.eu
Closing date The closing date for submission of applications is 24.05.2019 at 23.59, Lisbon time (date and hour of e-mail). The EMCDDA reserves the right to disregard any expressions of interest sent after that date.