Updates from other committees

Science Council 

Last event: 9 June 2025, workshop “Key factors in use of Artificial Intelligence in food assurance”.

·       Brought together experts in AI and food industry to discuss future uses of AI in safety assurance in food production (chemical, microbiological and authenticity).

·       Will inform Science Council’s current project, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Food Safety and Authenticity.

Next open meeting: March 2026  
 

Advisory Committee on Novel foods and processes (ACNFP)

Last meeting: 24^th and 25^th September.  Key discussion items included:

·       A successful 2-day hybrid meeting was held reviewing 3 novel food applications and 3 CBD applications.

This review included 3 new full novel food applications (Urolithin A RP1777, Clostridium Protein RP1920 and LPC rich oil from krill RP2181) for which Members identified data gaps for all and provided advice to the Secretariat to seek further information from each applicant.

For the three CBD items, one of the assessments (RP225) was finalised and data gaps were identified for both RP47 and RP46 for which Members provided advice to the Secretariat to seek further information from the applicant. The assessment of one GMO application was successfully completed and the respective Committee Advice Documents reviewed and finalised.

The meeting included a Workshop on Cell Cultivated Products (CCP) which gathered feedback on a draft FSA guidance for applicants on nutrition and allergenicity. Members Comments will be considered by the Sandbox team and the guidance further developed. The meeting also included an introduction to the assessment of Group C CBD applications by the Secretariat - hemp extracts with a significant amount of CBD present. The 172nd minutes were agreed in principle pending minor amendments and Chair’s action. 

Next Meeting: November 2025

Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)

Last Meeting: 10^th September 2025

·       Dossier for assessment RP2276 3-NOP – members reviewed a summary prepared by the Secretariat and answered preliminary questions. 

·       Dossier for assessment RP2268 XTRACT RUMINANT CODE X60-7065 – members discussed the application and raised further questions for the applicant. 

·       Reviewed the RFI responses for RP2074, RP2105, RP2107, RP2187 and RP2245. 

·       A draft opinion was evaluated for RP2071 and RP2157. 

·       Members undertook a scoping exercise for horizon scanning for the October meeting. 

Next meeting: 30^th October 2025  

Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)

Last meeting: 9^th September 2025.

At their September meeting the Committee reviewed a paper on Deriving a health-based guidance value for boron to support development of UK Drinking Water. 

They also reviewed three EFSA draft options: 

·       Evaluation of the safety of preparations from the fruits of sweet and bitter fennel, 

·       Risks to human health from lectins in food. 

·       Δ⁸ THC – Derivation of a Health Based Guidance Value 

The Committee also continued their work on reviewing two second draft statements on: 

·       Citrinin in the maternal diet, 

·       Mercury in the maternal diet. 

Next Meeting: 21^st October 2025 (Virtual)

Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC)  

Last meeting: July 2025

Joint workshop with COM and COT, followed by regular COC meeting. 

Presentation from bibra, talc, QSAR, tox tracker test guideline

Next meeting(s): November 2025

The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM)

Last meeting: June 2025. Key discussion items included:

·       Genotoxicity of smoke flavours (reserved), presentation from NC3Rs, update on OECD guidelines. 

Next meeting: October 2025

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

Last meeting: 12^th June 2025.

·       Plant based drinks, maternal weight outcomes, National Diet and Nutrition Survey. 

Next meeting: 13^th November 2025