The report series includes peer-reviewed scientific assessments (risk assessments, benefit and risk assessments, and knowledge summaries). The report series was created in 2017, and approved as a level 1 scientific publication channel 20 January 2020.

The scientific assessments cover the following disciplines:

• Animal health and animal welfare
• Pathogens
• Nutrition, nutrients/human nutrition, dietary products, and additives
• Allergies
• Pollutants, natural toxins, and drug residues
• Genetically modified organisms and derived products for food and feed
• Feed
• Cosmetics and personal care products
• Plant health
• Pesticides
• Alien organisms
• International trade in endangered and vulnerable species (CITES)
• Microbiological products
• GMO medicinal products
• Other areas under the responsibility of the Norwegian Environment Agency where VKM has relevant expertise

Scientific Publication Level 1

Publications in VKM Report are approved as a scientific publication at level 1 in the Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers.

Scientific assessments from VKM are peer-reviewed. Read VKM's guidelines for:

• Peer review
• Criteria for authorship and scientific responsibility in VKM's scientific assessments
• Routine for approval of VKM's scientific assessments
• Roles and distribution of responsibilities in VKM

Main features of the work processes behind VKM's scientific assessments

(For more details, see routines and guidelines.)

VKM's scientific assessments are primarily commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency. VKM can also take the initiative for risk assessments and other types of assessments.

VKM and the commissioner engage in dialogue about the assignment. The assignments are published on vkm.no, with descriptions and information about the project group and approval group.

About VKM Bulletin

VKM Bulletin is another open access, digital, scientific report series published by VKM. VKM Bulletin report series was created in January 2024.

The report series includes publications from VKM that are not peer-reviewed. The work processes behind these publications vary. Publications in VKM Bulletin include, among other things:

Non-detriment findings (NDF) are brief assessments of whether the import or export of specimens of a given species listed in Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) would be detrimental to the conservation status of the species.

Read more about VKM's work for CITES here.

Risk assessments of "other substances" in dietary supplements and other foods. "Other substances" are substances that have a nutritional or physiological effect and are not vitamins and minerals. Examples of "other substances" include fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids, carnitine, coenzyme Q10 etc. "Other substances" are primarily added to dietary supplements, but also to sports products and certain other foods.

Inputs to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on applications for the approval of genetically modified food and feed, which EFSA has on a three-month consultation.

Read about VKM's ongoing assignments on genetically modified food and feed here.