The European Food Safety Authority has nominated its choice as its first chief executive; he is Geoffrey Podger, current chief executive of the UK Food Standards Agency.


Podger will have to appear before the European Parliament’s environment committee before being formally appointed, but it is highly unlikely that this hearing will lead to his losing the post; the meeting will be held this month.


Podger was the successful candidate of a short-list drawn up and interviewed by the EFSA’s management board. It is thought Podger was successful partly because of his experience in establishing a national food safety agency.