The SCF provided the European Commission with independent scientific advice[1] on issues of public health related to food consumption.
The main role of the members was to give objective and authoritative advice, spanning a range of food-related issues.
The membership of each working group was selected from among SCF members, then supplemented by ad hoc (specific) experts with appropriate expertise, who participated in some meetings, at the request of the European Commission.
This transfer was made to preserve the independence of those committees, by separating the tasks of expert advice from the direct policy and legislative parts of the commission.
The SCF's opinion papers (about the issues it had studied)[1] and the minutes of its meetings, can be obtained from the European Commission's website at ec.europa.eu (see below: External links).