Task Forces

Task Forces

Task forces initiate, develop and manage all projects. They reach their goals and address their issues through expert groups, partnerships in European Union-funded projects, workshops, and conferences.

Task forces comprise interested company representatives and non-industry experts acting as scientific advisors. Each task force appoints a Chair, a Vice-Chair and an academic Co-Chair who will perform their duties in close collaboration with the ILSI Europe office.

The main roles of the Chair are:

  • To take the lead in defining the scientific programme of the task force and ensuring its application;
  • To ensure good budget management;
  • To closely follow the progress of all expert groups;
  • To ensure the active participation of the task force members in the various activities, such as the long-term planning of the scientific programme and the identification of emerging issues.

The main roles of the Vice-Chair are:

  • To assist the task force Chair in the preparation and follow-up of meetings;
  • To replace the task force Chair in meetings/conference calls when needed.

In principle, ILSI Europe foresees a rotation from the Vice-Chair to the Chair position after three years, with the possibility to extend the mandate of the Chair and Vice-Chair once (maximum two terms) if required.

Task force Co-Chairs must come from academia. Their main roles are:

  • To act as scientific advisors of the task force;
  • To ensure that the scientific work programme of the given task force and its expert groups is aligned with ILSI Europe’s  vision and mission;
  • To ensure the scientific integrity of the task force members and expert groups;
  • To actively contribute to the development and follow-up of new activity proposals.

In principle, ILSI Europe foresees that the Co-Chair rotates when the task force work programme changes focus.

A new task force is created when a new activity proposal is approved by the Board of Directors, after review by the Scientific Advisory Committee and external academic reviewers, provided it receives the support of at least 5 member companies.

A task force is funded by its supporting member companies and is disbanded when its programme is completed or in case company support is below the required minimum of 5 supporting member companies.

Current ILSI Europe Task Forces

Alternatives to Animal Testing in Food Safety, Nutrition and Efficacy Studies
Authenticity of Food
Dietary Carbohydrates
Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health (formerly Metabolic Imprinting)
Food Allergy
Food Contaminants (formerly Process-related Compounds and Natural Toxins)
Health Benefits Assessment of Foods (formerly Functional Foods)
Microbiological Food Safety
Microplastics Initiative
Nutrition and Brain Health (formerly Nutrition and Mental Performance)
Packaging Materials
Prebiotics
Probiotics
Threshold of Toxicological Concern