Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- December 2022

Paper for Information. 

Secretariat

December 2022

Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) Summary of recent activities

This document summarises the recent activity of the FSA’s Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs).  We highlight topics discussed at the most recent meeting and agenda items for the next meeting.

Science Council

Updated: 11 August 2022.
Last open meeting: 23 June 2022.

• The Chair presented a summary of her activity over the last 6 months.
• The CSA updated the Council on his recent activity and discussions (publication of the first FSA annual review of food standards “Our Food”, modelling FSA staff headcount reduction for Cabinet Office, the Precision Breeding Bill and alternative proteins).
• An update on progress of Working Group 6 on Food Safety and Net Zero Carbon (including the interim report and an HMG workshop).
• Updates from Science Council members attending Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs) and a brief on the tailored SAC review for Cabinet Office.

Next open meeting: 8 December 2022.

Chair Professor Sandy Thomas

Contact for Science Council Secretariat

Link to Science Council Website

Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)

Updated: October 2022.

Last meeting: 20th July 2022 (9th plenary, open session).

Key agenda items 

• Julie Hill has started her role as Chair of the ACSS.
• Three new members join the committee in October, Dr Charlotte Hardman, Professor Fiona Gillison and Dr Naomi Maynard.
• ACSS secretariat and Julie Hill are attending the DEFRA SSEG (Social Science Expert Group) meeting in Cambridge in November.

Minutes and papers are not yet available on the website.

Working group highlights:

• The Assurance working group are supporting the development of a ‘good science’ quality assurance toolkit to support the production of high-quality research. The group have also taken part in the first ‘Social Science Gateway Session’.

• The Kitchen Life 2 working group continues to support the research project Kitchen Life 2.

• The Climate Change and Consumer Behaviour working group had a recent publication around the impact of climate change on consumer food behaviours. The group has paused until new members are in position.

• The Wider Consumer Interests working group continues to support this new ARI and focus on Household Food Insecurity.

• The Economics working group have agreed their Terms of References and reviewed the economic work plan for the next financial year.

The next open meeting of the ACSS will be 2nd February 2023.

• Chair: Julie Hill
• Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk
• ACSS Website 

Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)

Updated: 7th December 2022.

Last meeting: 16th November 2022.

•    The Magnesium-L-threonate application was reviewed for a second time with further information to be requested from applicant.
•    The committee was updated on the progress of the CBD subgroup with outstanding areas for discussion identified and notice of upcoming meetings to be arranged.

•    A workshop was held to continue discussions from the previous PGT subcommittee meeting further exploring the development of framework for Precision Bred Organisms. Discussion on the development of advice to the FSA and how this could be proportionately reviewed scientifically.
•    The Barley Rice protein and Cetylated fatty acids draft opinions returned for final input. The opinion for Barley Rice required minor rewording in some areas and both opinions aim to be published early next year.
•    The 2021 annual report was reviewed. The committee were satisfied with the report with minimal input where no further review or clearance would be required. This will also be published soon.
•    A discussion for approach to assessment of solvent use for CBD applications was held. The legal frameworks in place were considered sufficient at present. However, the committee invited further review if more information pertaining to any risk, that is not currently addressed by legislation and regulatory requirements, were to be identified.

Next meeting:

• 7th & 8th February 2023. 

Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT) 

PGT Subcommittee 

Date: 21st November 2022 (PGT4).

Highlight: Format and level of details for minutes agreed, content reviewed for 3 first sets of minutes; the meeting also included two Precision breeding workshops. Next meeting: 19th December 2022. First statement with ACNFP passed FPP and to be published on 29th November. 

Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and Committee on Toxicity on CBD and Hemp Derived Products

CBD Subgroup 
Date: 28th September 2022.

Highlight: Format and level of details for CBD updates implemented for future CBD updates, level of details for minutes and datasets reviewed. Opinions for the advisory levels of CBD isolates reviewed twice thus far and concluded to be settled using a reserved ADI of 10mg/kg. Minutes for CBD1 has completed review, with CBD2 soon to follow. A package containing the minutes of CBD1 and CBD2 is planned. Next meeting: 30th November 2022 – ACI Consortium Dataset to be discussed using the reserved ADI.

Chair: Dr Camilla Alexander-White

Contact for ACNFP Secretariat: acnfp@food.gov.uk
Link: to ACNFP Website

Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF)

Updated: 27th October 2022.
Last meeting: was on the 20th October 2022. 

The Committee’s plenary meeting was on the 20th of October 2022.

Matters arising (ACM/1391)

The Secretariat produced an information paper that summarised action taken on points arise from the minutes of previous meetings.

Horizon Scanning Workshop Output (ACM/1392) 

The Committee considered the finalised version of the output from the June 2022 horizon scanning workshop (paper to be published after meeting).

Quality Assurance of Microbiological Strategic Risk Assessments (ACM/1393)

Members discussed the process used to review the FSA’s microbiological food safety strategic risk assessments.
UK Food Safety Network.
Members were updated on the objectives of the network as well as research priorities that have been developed with food stakeholders, and the network's planned activities.

Dates of future meetings (ACM/1394)

Epidemiology of Foodborne Infections Group (ACM/1395) Reserved Business Members received update on the outcome of the EFIG meeting held on 7 June 2022.
Survey of microbiological quality of ready to eat food sold on social media (ACM/1396) Reserved Business Food Standard Scotland presented an overview of a proposed survey to provide a baseline understanding of the microbiological quality of Ready To Eat (RTE) food sold through social media.

Update/milestones IID3 (ACM/1397) Reserved Business
Members received a presentation on the third study of infectious intestinal disease in the UK project (IID3) and updated on current progress.

Information papers:
ACM/1398: ACMSF Work plan.
ACM/1399: Update from other committees.
ACM/1400: Items of interest from the literature.
ACM/1401: Food and You Wave 4.

Next meeting: 9th February 2023.

Chair: Professor Bill Keevil
Contact: for ACMSF Secretariat acmsf@food.gov.uk
Link: to ACMSF Website

Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)

Updated: 16th November 2022.
Last meeting: 6th October 2022.

The plenary discussed:
• Dimethylglycine sodium salt RP665.
• Hostazym RP593.
• Lactococcus lactis DSM 11037 RP686.
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae RP694.

Next meeting: 9th December 2022.

Chair: -
Contact: for ACAF Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk
Link: to ACAF Website

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

Updated: November 2022.
Last meeting: 25th October 2022.

Topics discussed included:

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.

Chair: Professor Alan Boobis
Contact: for COT Secretariat: cot@food.gov.uk
Link: to COT Website

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

Updated: November 2022.
Last meeting: 17th November 2022.
 

Meeting held as workshop:

“Changing the paradigm: How should we assess cancer risk in the UK?”

Next meeting:

• 16 March 2023

Further meetings:

• 20 July 2023
• 16 November 2023

Chair: Professor David Harrison
Contact: for COC Secretariat COC@phe.gov.uk
Link: to COC Website

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

Updated: November 2022.

Last meeting: 13th October 2022.
Topics discussed included:

• Review of EFSA opinion on titanium dioxide.
• TMBPF-DGE can coating (reserved).
• Horizon scanning.
• Draft guidance statement “The Use of Biomarkers in Genotoxicity Risk Assessmen.t
• Non expert summaries for COM website.

Next meeting:

• 23 February 2023.

Further meetings:

• 15 June 2023.
• 12 October 2023.

Chair: Prof Gareth Jenkins
Contact: for COM Secretariat COM@phe.gov.uk
Link: to COM Website

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

Updated: November 2022.

Last meeting: 11 November 2022.

Topics discussed included:
• Feeding young children aged 1-5.
• Vitamin D fortification update.
• Updated SACN framework.

Next meeting:

• 16 March 2023.

Further meetings:

• 22nd June 2023.
• 23rd November 2023.

Chair: Professor Ian Young
Contact: SACN Secretariat SACN@phe.gov.uk

Link: to SACN Website