COT 2022 meeting notes
At their February meeting the Committee discussed items including lead in the maternal diet, the draft 2021 Annual Report, Horizon Scanning and a first draft statement on the risk assessment of cow’s milk in children aged 1 to 5 years, in the context of the plant-based drinks evaluations. They also discussed Aflatoxin in foodstuffs and Vitamin D in infant formula. The Committee continued to work on the 2nd draft statement on the effects of excess Vitamin A on maternal health.
At their Extraordinary meeting, the Committee discussed the re-evaluation presented in the EFSA Draft Opinion on BPA which has been published for public consultation.
The Committee reviewed papers covering: a Re-evaluation of the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in foodstuffs , methods and weight of evidence, Benchmark dose modelling (including uncertainty analysis and derivation of the HBGV), Hazard characterisation and specific endpoints including Immunotoxicity, Reproductive and Developmental toxicity, Neurotoxicity and Developmental Neurotoxicity, Genotoxicity and they also had a general discussion on other aspects of the evaluation.
Readers should note that the papers on the website have not undergone all the normal review processes due to the short deadlines and are reminded that they are discussion papers, they are not the final views of the Committee and should not be cited.
At their March meeting the Committee discussed items including the potential risk to human health of turmeric and curcumin supplements, potential approaches to mixture risk assessment for future UK REACH assessments and an updated discussion paper on the bioavailability of nicotine and other ingredients from the use of oral nicotine pouches and the first draft of a statement on the effects of cadmium on maternal health. The Committee continued work on draft statements considering the effects of excess Vitamin A in the maternal diet and on the risk assessment of cow’s milk in children aged 1 to 5 years, in the context of the plant-based drinks evaluations.
At their May meeting the Committee discussed items including the potential risk from exposure to microplastics by the inhalation route, potential approaches to mixture risk assessment for future UK REACH assessments and a paper introducing a proposed update to the COT statement on the cabin air environment. They also heard a presentation on the regulation of food contact materials.
The Committee continued work on draft statements considering the potential effects of vitamin D exposure levels in formula fed infants and children and lead in the maternal diet.
At their July meeting the Committee discussed items including the potential risk to human health of turmeric and curcumin supplements, the potential risks from ergot alkaloids in the maternal diet, the use of ocean bound plastic in food packaging, how the Scientific Advisory Committees evaluate the relevance and reliability of data when assessing a chemical of concern and the risks from potential organophosphate exposure in aircraft cabin air.
The Committee continued to work on draft statements considering the bioavailability of nicotine from the use of oral nicotine pouches and an assessment of the potential toxicological risk to users, and the safety of ginger supplement use in pregnancy. The Committee also commented on the proposed revisions to the Health Based Guidance Values for copper which have been published for consultation by EFSA.
At their September meeting the Committee discussed a position paper on Chitosan used in food contact materials, the potential health effects of raspberry leaf in the maternal diet, and volatile organic compounds in aircraft cabin air in comparison with other modes of transport. They considered a statement on the safety of green tea catechins and a report on approaches to chronic dietary exposure assessment for chemicals in food. The Committee continued to work on a draft statement on the effects of lead on maternal health.
At their October meeting the Committee discussed volatile organic compounds in aircraft cabin air in comparison with work environments, can coating, a review of the guidance levels for fortificants in bread and flour regulations and provided comments on a Public Consultation on a draft EFSA draft opinion on N[1]Nitrosamines in Food. They also considered a draft statement on the potential risk to human health of turmeric and curcumin and the draft COT workshop report.
At their December meeting the Committee discussed carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the aircraft cabin air environment, considered a discussion paper on EFSA’s 2022 assessment of the genotoxicity of acrylamide and a paper summarising the health-based guidance values for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They also considered how to take forward a review of Codex’s report on food allergen threshold levels.
The committee continued to work on the second draft statement on the potential risk to human health of turmeric and curcumin supplements and a second draft sub-statement on the potential risk(s) from exposure to microplastics: Inhalation route.