Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food
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Skip the menu of subheadings on this page.INFORMATION PAPER
Updates from other Committees
Science Council
Last open meeting: 15 March 2024
Summary
· A workshop for invited experts to agree the “50 key research questions on the future of food safety”.
· These questions were shortlisted from 262 questions that had been submitted by the same experts prior to the workshop which:
o Meet the FSA’s three strategic priorities.
o Are currently unanswered.
o Would be feasible to answer using evidence-based research approaches.
o If answered, could guide potential policy approaches to improve food safety in the UK or more widely.
· The questions have been included in the FSA research question list, which will be used to prioritise the contents of future ARIs and Research and Evidence programmes.
Next open meeting: March 2025
Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)
Last meeting: 27th February 2024 (12th plenary, open session).
Minutes and papers are available on the website. Key discussion items included: how best to maximise academic engagement with FSA research, horizon scanning, and research questions around consumer knowledge and practises related to ultra processed foods.
Four working groups are currently active, supporting the development of a range of research activity, from the evidence behind the 2024/25 Spending Review business case, to a rapid evidence assessment outlining the available evidence around consumer knowledge, beliefs and practises around UPFs.
The next open meeting (13th Plenary) of the ACSS will be a hybrid meeting on the 9th July 2024.
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)
Last meeting 165th: 17th April 2024
· Successful meeting. 9 Committee Advice Documents (2x CBD, 2x GM, 3x oligosaccharides, Olive oil dry extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol and vit D2 mushroom powder) that have previously been discussed were reviewed all requiring little refinement and some requiring further information from the applicant. Once resolved, the CADS will be finalised via Chair’s action.
· The Committee received an update on the work of the science teams and Secretariat to support the development of the policy for precision breed organisms and its implementation.
Next meeting: 12th June 2024 (hybrid)
ACNFP Precision Breeding Workshop (166th ACNFP): 1st May 2024
Successful meeting. The Committee peer reviewed a FSA-owned draft PB technical guidance by correspondence prior to the meeting, and discussed remaining technical difficulties identified by the Secretariat. Technical advice will be used to inform revisions, the accuracy of which will be cleared by Chair’s action.
PGT Subcommittee
Last PGT meeting: 8th March 2024
Highlight: Minutes of PGT12 to be amended; first reviewing of the new full GM application RP1868 and its draft Committee Advice Documents; requests for further information to be sent to applicant. Reviewing of the expertise needed to ensure statistical analysis part of the comparative analysis in GMO assessments is conducted properly; identification of the additional expertise not on PGT membership needed to assess GMOs with altered nutrition. Further discussion on GM applications was held.
Next meeting (PGT14): 15th May 2024
CBD Subgroup
Last CBD meeting: 22nd May 2024
Highlight: Members were asked to approach several group A studies in light of the published provisional ADI, group B assessment approaches and finalisation of the action from February to decide the best way to approach applications with a multitude of cannabinoids.
Members were provided with a proprietary database designed by the Secretariat to standardise the entire collection of CBD applications and visualise where uncertainties are prevalent. This completed the previous action to plot relevant CBD NOAELs and the appropriate endpoints, to assess the presence of current data gaps.
Next main meeting: 17th July 2024 (CBD11 – Group A mop-up and THC)
Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)
Last meeting: 3 April 2024
Summary
· Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to be made have been noted. (ACAF/90/01)
· Dossier for assessment RP1421 HiPhoriusTM – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
· Dossier for assessment RP1280 Formaldehyde – the application was reviewed, and members requested additional clarification before discussing further.
· Dossier for assessment RP1579 Pediococcus acidilactici CNCM I-4622 – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
· RP1355 Bio-D – an update was provided in relation to this application.
· Reviewed the RFI responses for RP1072, RP1137, RP1243, RP1282, RP1298, RP1341 and RP1512.
· Draft opinions were evaluated for RP552, RP634, RP812, RP814, RP1015, RP1039/RP1040 and RP1111. The members provided feedback on the content and finalised previous opinions.
Next meeting: 11 June 2024
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)
Last meeting: 26th March 2024.
Summary
At their March meeting the Committee discussed the draft 2023 COT Annual Report which was postponed from the February meeting.
The committee’s assurance was sought from the FCM JEG on 1 opinion – the evaluation of the recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) decontamination process operated by LINPAC for use in the manufacture of articles in contact with food (Reserved) as well as commenting on the FCM JEG position statement on Ocean Bound Plastic. The Committee also commented on 1 AEJEG opinion: Application to modify the conditions of use of E401 (sodium alginate) for use as a surface treatment in entire fruits and vegetables (Reserved). They also considered additional information on bamboo biocomposites in food contact materials and discussed the second draft of the Joint COT/SACN working group report on plant-based drinks (Reserved).
The Committee also continued their work on a fifth draft interim position statement on bisphenol A and a fourth draft statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive.
Next meeting: 21st May 2024.
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC)
Last meeting:21st March 2024
· Updating guidance statements
· Output of horizon scanning workshops
· Presentation on a revised strategy for the assessment of Chemical carcinogenicity
Next meeting: July 2024
Further meetings: November 2024
The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM)
Last meeting: 29th February 2024
Topics discussed included:
· Titanium dioxide
· QSAR guidance
· Lay summaries for COM website
Next meeting: June 2024
Further meetings: October 2024
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
Updated: March 2024
Last meeting:
· Meat and dairy analysis
· working group and sub-group analysis including SACN framework update.
· Nutrition and maternal health (reserved)
· Joint COT/SACN working Group report on plant-based drinks (reserved)
Next meeting: 19th June 2024
Secretariat
June 2024