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<p>As set out in the statement on use of independent scientific knowledge and advice
(<a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/reach/resources/agency-statement-transparency-independent-scientific-advice.pdf"
target="_blank">Agency statement on transparency and the use of independent scientific
knowledge and advice (ISA) (hse.gov.uk)</a>) the secretariat for the REACH Independent
Scientific Expert Pool (RISEP) will be provided by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) . However, the work of this secretariat is limited to organisation, and support
of RISEP experts in administration and protocol matters. Agendas and notes of Challenge
Panels involving RISEP members will be made public, with accredited stakeholders also
in attendance to ensure transparency.</p><p> </p><p>In establishing independent scientific
knowledge and advice within the UK REACH system, experts from HSE (as the Agency with
UK REACH) and the Environment Agency (EA) used experience and “hands-on” knowledge
of their work within the EU REACH scientific expert process (on the Committee for
Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC)). This
enabled HSE to define the skills and experience necessary to ensure robust independent
scrutiny and challenge to produce high-quality opinions, to inform decisions by the
Secretary of State for Defra with the consent of Ministers for Wales and Scotland.
The REACH SI mandates the Agency to include information about the qualifications or
relevant experience that are suitable in order to provide knowledge and advice to
the Agency within the statement produced on the use of independent scientific knowledge
and advice (<a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/reach/resources/agency-statement-transparency-independent-scientific-advice.pdf"
target="_blank">Agency statement on transparency and the use of independent scientific
knowledge and advice (ISA) (hse.gov.uk)</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The actual composition
of experts used to help the Agency produce specific opinions will be dependent on
the type of dossier – for instance for an environmentally driven restriction any Challenge
Panel would be made up of more independent environmental scientists than human health.
All opinions will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. We have not set a minimum
number of experts, but as a contingency we have ensured that we are able to co-opt
members of other committees should we need to so. However, due to the large response
we have had to the recruitment it is thought that this will not be required.</p><p>
</p><p>HSE was also able to use discussions with stakeholders and prioritisation exercises
with Defra, and officials from the Scottish and Welsh governments to inform decisions
around the number of experts required within the process on the basis of estimates
of the numbers of restrictions and applications for authorisation expected.</p>
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