Matthew Sharman is a senior scientist and team leader at the Research and Method Development, Pesticides and Veterinary Drug Residues (Defra) of the Central Science Laboratory in York.  Matthew joined the Food Science Laboratory, Norwich UK (FSL) in 1983, where he worked in the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, the Mycotoxins and the Food Contact Materials teams. Other posts include Senior Scientific Officer and eventually Team Leader of the Food Authenticity Team. Matthew is specialised in the development of analytical methods for trace chemical contaminants in food and has published widely on a number of food related subjects including veterinary residues and food contact materials.  He has been actively involved in a number of EU funded projects including those from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), Standards, Measurements and Testing (SMT), Growth and Framework Programme 6 programmes and has previously worked as a Detached National Expert at the European Commission. He is also an Advisor to the UK Veterinary Residues Committee, and a Member of the Residues Working Group of the International Honey Commission.

Dr. Lawrence Castle is a scientist at the Central Science Laboratory in York, UK. Dr Castle has considerable experience working in national and international risk assessment and standardisation groups including Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), DG-SANCO, as well as working in the Scientific Committee on Food working group on Food Contact materials as a chemistry expert. He currently also holds a position of acting member of the EFSA AFC (Additives Flavourings and Food Contact Materials) Panel. Lawrence has also authored and contributed to over 150 research papers and book chapters dealing with    chemical analysis of food, food safety, chemical migration, food additives and processing contaminants, reaction mechanisms and fate, assessment of exposure, amongst other topics.

Dr. Ólafur Sveinn Oddgeirsson is an Icelandic animal health expert, with over twenty five years of experience working in animal health issues in the EU and third countries.  Dr. Oddgeirsson’s previous roles include Senior Officer of the European Free Trade Association(EFTA) Surveillance Authority where he was responsible for the supervision of the uniform application and implementation of a number of EU Directives on fish and fish products, fresh meat, meat products, milk and milk products, residues in food of animal origin, fresh poultry meat, animal health issues in the EFTA States. Prior to this he was Director of the Institute of Dairy Research at the Icelandic Central dairy laboratory. Ina consultancy role he has extensive experience in the upgrading of EU agri-food business to EU standards, consulting on compliance with EU third country rules and regulations concerning export of food of animal origin to the European Union, assessment of official supervision of the food industry including legal framework, enforcement agencies, laboratories and checks on imports, and in delivering training on food safety related issues around the world.