No L 167/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 18. 7. 95 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 6 July 1995 relating to the institution of a Scientific Committee for Food (95/273/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas the drafting and amendment of common rules concerning the composition, manufacturing characteris- tics, packaging and labelling of foodstuffs requires consi- deration of the problems relating to the protection of health and safety of persons; Whereas the quest for solutions to these problems needs the participation of highly qualified scientific personnel, particularly in the fields associated with medicine, nutri- tion, toxicology, biology, chemistry or other similar disci- plines ; Whereas contact with such groups should assume a permanent character in the form of a committee of a consultative nature established by the Commission ; Whereas Commission Decision 74/234/EEC of 16 April 1974 relating to the institution of a Scientific Committee for Food ('), as amended by Decision 86/241/EEC (), provides that the said Committee shall be composed of not more than 18 members; whereas, in view of the further enlargement of the Community on 1 January 1995 and the increase in the Committee’s workload since the said number of members was established, the maximum number of members provided for should be increased ; Whereas, according to Article 101, Protocol 37 and Chapter XII of Annex II to the Agreement on the Euro- () OJ No L 136, 20. 5. 1974, p. 1. () OJ No L 163, 19. 6. 1986, p. 40. pean Economic Area, the Commission has undertaken to ensure the participation in the Scientific Committee for Food of at least one highly qualified scientist from those Member States of the European Free Trade Association signatory to the Agreement; Whereas scientific advice on matters relating to food safety must, in the interests of consumers and industry, be independent and transparent ; Whereas, in the interests of transparency, Decision 74/234/EEC should be replaced by this Decision, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 A Scientific Committee for Food hereinafter called the ‘Committee’ is hereby established by the Commission. Article 2 1.  The Committee shall be consulted by the Commis- sion whenever a legal act requires so. 2. The Committee may be consulted by the Commis- sion on any other problem relating to the protection of the health and safety of persons arising or likely to arise from the consumption of food, in particular on nutri- tional, hygienic and toxicological issues. 3.  The Committee may draw the attention of the Commission to any such problem.