Prof. Dr. Hans Verhagen

Prof. Dr. Hans Verhagen is a well-known and respected international expert in food safety, toxicology, and nutrition, with over 40 years of experience across academia, government, and regulatory agencies. He is a certified toxicologist (since 1990) and certified nutritionist (since 2005). He held several prominent roles at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), where he made significant contributions to food regulation in Europe: Served for 9 years as a member of EFSA’s Novel Foods Working Group; Chaired the group for 3 years, helping shape EU policy on novel food safety; Was Head of the Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department (RASA);  Later served as Senior Scientific Officer, focusing on scientific oversight and strategy Prof. Verhagen also contributed to the development of the first national taste-testing guidelines in the Netherlands, sharing this pioneering work with experts in the UK. He is a visiting or adjunct professor at institutions including the University of Ulster and Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and has authored over 185 peer-reviewed publications, with over 826 publications indexed in Web of Science, including EFSA Scientific Opinion Widely respected for his work on health claims, risk-benefit assessments, and novel foods, Prof. Verhagen remains a leading figure in the European and international food safety landscape