The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) is an independent risk assessment body consisting of a secretariat and a scientific committee. 100 experts constitute the committee, which is organised into a Scientific Steering Committee and eleven Scientific Panels, similar to the EFSA structure. The secretariat is organised as an independent unit within the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. VKM is financed and appointed by the Ministry of Health and Care Services. VKM conducts risk assessments at the request of Mattilsynet (NFSA) across the authority's field of responsibility. Furthermore, on behalf of the Miljødirektoratet (Norwegian Environment Agency), VKM carries out environmental risk assessments of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), microbiological products and alien organisms, as well as endangered species assessments related to the CITES regulations. VKM is the Norwegian Focal Point for EFSA. The director of VKM’s secretariat is a member of the EFSA Advisory Forum. VKM is the Norwegian Scientific Authority under the CITES Convention.