Applications from interested individuals must include:

• a letter expressing their interest and detailing the experience most relevant to one or both of the areas covered (professional conduct and/or ethics in public health);

• a curriculum vitae, which may include a list of publications most relevant to the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee’s missions and indicating any participation in bodies addressing ethical and professional conduct issues;

• a public declaration of interests to be completed via the Agency’s application available at the following link: http://dpi.santepubliquefrance.fr

Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2016, to the following address: candidaturesced@santepubliquefrance.fr.

Applications will be reviewed by a jury convened by the Agency.

Declarations of interest will be reviewed by the internal ethics committee. Members’ declarations of interest will be published on the Agency’s website.

They must be updated by the declarant as soon as any change occurs regarding the declared ties or new ties are established. They are updated at least once a year.

The composition of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee will be proposed for appointment by the Director General to the Board of Directors during the fourth quarter of 2016.

Missions of the National Public Health Agency

The National Public Health Agency, established by Order No. 2016-462 of April 14, 2016, is a public administrative institution of the State, under the supervision of the Minister of Health.

The agency’s missions are:

• epidemiological observation and monitoring of the health status of the population;

• monitoring health risks threatening the population;

• health promotion and the reduction of health risks;

• developing prevention and health education;

• preparing for and responding to health threats, alerts, and crises;

• issuing health alerts.

Duties of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee and its Activities

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee is responsible, in particular, for:1° continuously monitoring best practices in the field of conflict of interest prevention in similar institutions, particularly abroad;2° contributing, through its opinions and assessments, to the implementation of the policy for the prevention and management of conflicts of interest and the rules in force regarding conflicts of interest, in collaboration with the agency’s ethics officer. In particular, the Board of Directors consults the Committee on the procedures for implementing the rules of professional conduct referred to in paragraphs 15) and 16) of Article R. 1413-12;3° to evaluate and issue an opinion on the measures put in place to ensure the independence of staff members when they speak at public events, particularly when such events are organized or supported by private companies, professional unions, associations, learned societies, or any other economic or social sector;4° to issue an opinion, at the request of the Director General or on its own initiative, on any specific situation that may call into question compliance with the ethical rules applicable to the Agency’s work; 5) to issue opinions and recommendations, at the request of the Director General or the Scientific Council, on any ethical issue raised by the implementation of the Agency’s scientific programs and activities.

Composition of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee consists of seven members. These members are appointed for a term of four years by decision of the Chair of the Board of Directors, following approval of the list of members by the Board of Directors, from among individuals recognized for their knowledge and expertise in the field of professional conduct and ethics, and after review of their conflicts of interest, as defined by the provisions of Article L. 1451-1.

The duties of a member of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee are incompatible with membership in any other body of the agency or with any contractual relationship with it, and are subject to all professional obligations applicable to the agency.

In the event of a vacancy, members shall be replaced under the same conditions for the remainder of the term of the person they are replacing.

The committee may call upon the assistance of any competent person.

Areas of Expertise

The members of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee are experts in professional conduct and ethics and come from various disciplines (ethics, law, epidemiology, health prevention and promotion, public health, philosophy, humanities, and social sciences, etc.).

Two more specific areas of expertise have been identified:

1. Policy on the prevention and management of conflicts of interestThe agency wishes to have an external body with the necessary perspective to help ensure that its missions are carried out in accordance with the ethical principles applicable to the field of public health (see the CED’s missions and activities).

2. Ethical issues related to the agency’s missionsEthical issues of an individual and collective nature frequently arise during the design, conduct, and reporting of results from investigations, surveys, and surveillance systems; the testing of innovative prevention programs; the development of prevention messages; the definition and implementation of public health interventions, health promotion and education, or behavioral change toward health-promoting behaviors, and the evaluation of the impact of these actions, as well as the production of opinions and recommendations.

Through this external body, the agency aims to enhance its capacity for reflection and analysis of the ethical issues associated with the execution of its missions in the areas of prevention, monitoring, surveillance, and investigations (without prejudice to the bodies provided for by regulations, particularly regarding biomedical studies and compliance with the Data Protection Act).The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee is specifically responsible for issuing opinions and recommendations on any ethical issues raised during the implementation of the agency’s scientific programs and activities.

In this context, the following will be of particular concern: a. the clear articulation of the purpose of surveillance, alert, and investigation systems for non-experts; the representation or image of health for the public or affected groups that may arise from the selected surveillance targets and indicators and their relevance to action (e.g., migrant health, vaccination coverage indicators, selection of population groups…) ;b. understanding the environmental, social, and individual factors that influence the health status of populations and addressing the issue of inequalities in support of social change to promote population health;c. the protection of personal data, with particular attention to increasing data-linking capabilities;d. the application of rules regarding participant consent in studies and surveillance systems; the consideration of ethical aspects in the opinions and recommendations arising from the agency’s programs, including in the area of preparedness and support for the response to health threats;e. the dissemination of information and communication efforts directed at the general public or specific population groups (risk of stigmatization, perception of risk, social impact of using certain indicators…) ;f. the necessity and/or relevance of forums for dialogue and consultation with the public, public health practitioners, and decision-makers.

Operations and workload

Operations

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee may be referred to within its scope of competence by a member of the Board of Directors, the Scientific Council, or an expert committee; by the agency’s ethics officer designated pursuant to Article L. 1451-4; by the agency’s Director General; or by any other agency staff member. It may also take up any matter it deems relevant.The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee elects its chair from among its members. It establishes its operating procedures in accordance with the institution’s internal regulations and the resources allocated to it; in particular, it defines the process for analyzing matters submitted to it or which it takes up on its own initiative, as well as the procedures for issuing its opinions. It informs the Board of Directors and the agency’s Director General of these procedures.The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee may deliberate only if at least half of its members are present. It issues its opinions by a two-thirds majority of those present. Dissenting opinions shall be noted. The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee shall have access to all information held by the agency necessary for the exercise of its powers. The Director General shall provide the Committee with the resources necessary for its operation under the conditions set forth in the deliberations of the Board of Directors and shall take the decisions he deems appropriate for the implementation of its opinions and recommendations.

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee reviews the annual report on the processing of declarations of interest produced by the agency. It is consulted on declarations of interest whose analysis raises new and/or complex issues, on any proposal for general guidelines regarding ethics and professional conduct, and on any matter falling within its remit.

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee meets at least twice a year, and as needed. Its secretariat is provided by the Agency’s Scientific and International Mission. Agendas are prepared jointly by the Chair of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee and the Committee’s secretariat. The minutes of the Committee and the annual activity report are prepared by the secretariat of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee prior to approval by the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee. The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee transmits its opinions and recommendations to the person or body that referred the matter to it, to the Board of Directors, and to the Director General of the Agency. Its opinions are made public in accordance with rules ensuring respect for privacy. The annual report is presented to the Board of Directors; appended to this report are the opinions and recommendations of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee, with the exception of those containing data that is directly or indirectly identifiable. This report is made public in accordance with rules protecting privacy.

Workload for members

The workload is estimated at 6 days per year (attendance at meetings, preparatory work).

Additional workload for the Chair of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee

This workload is estimated at 3 to 5 days per year. The chair presents the annual activity report to the board of directors.

Compensation and Expenses

In addition to coverage of expenses for attending meetings (transportation, lodging, per diem allowances), members of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee are compensated on a flat-rate basis, the amount of which is determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the National Public Health Agency.

¹ Decree No. 2016-523 of April 27, 2016, on the creation of the National Public Health Agency: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/decret/2016/4/27/2016-523/jo/texte