Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- December 2023
On this page
Skip the menu of subheadings on this page.Paper for Information.
Secretariat
December 2023
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.
Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) Summary of recent activities
Science Council
Updated: 6th October 2023.
Last open meeting: 8 December 2022.
Summary
- The Chair presented a summary of her activity over the last 6 months.
- The FSA led a discussion of the FSA Science Update 2022 (FSA 22/12/07) to the FSA Board.
- The CSA updated the Council on his recent activity and discussions (including Government Office of Science’s review of SACs, changing FSA priorities this year, the Precision Breeding Bill).
- Updates from Science Council members attending Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs) and a proposed streamlining of members’ engagement.
Next open meeting: 13th March 2024.
Interim Chair: Professor John O'Brien
Secretariat: sciencecouncil@food.gov.uk
Website: science-council.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)
Updated: October 2023.
Last meeting: 5th July 2023.
(11th plenary, open session). Minutes and papers are available on the ACSS website.
Professor Susan Jebb, Chair of the FSA, attended the meeting and spoke about FSA priorities going forward, the Head of Social Science, Dr Joanna Disson, outlined the recent independent Government Social Research (GSR) review of FSA’s Social Science Team; Additionally Nat Gladstone provided an overview of the Science Advisory Committees (SAC) review and the outcomes of this for the ACSS.
Key update items:
- The ACSS hosted KSN XXXXX
- Continuing to work with DEFRA SSEG (Social Science Expert Group)
- 11th plenary on July 5th, attendees include Susan Jebb and members from DEFRAs SSEG secretariat.
Oct 23 update:
- The secretariat and Chair are continuing to scope up future work for the committee, including potential collaborative work with DEFRA’s SSEG (Social Science Expert Group). Members are meeting in late November to discuss new work streams and the best way to achieve.
- The Wider Consumer Interests working group continues to support this ARI, and has completed an in depth review of the monthly Consumer Insight Tracker, making practical recommendations to enhance the value of this research. This is now published on the ACSS website (CIT Review).
The next open meeting: (12th Plenary) of the ACSS will be a hybrid meeting on the 27th Feb 2024.
Chair: Julie Hill
Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk
Website: acss.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)
Updated: 16th Nov 2023.
Last meeting 163rd : 15 Nov 2023.
- Successful meeting. 3 dossiers reviewed requiring a mixture of RFIs and refinement of CADs.
- 1 returning dossiers had further information requested to answer data gaps.
- A draft programme for a proposed workshop on the assessment of allergenicity of new protein sources was discussed with the workshop to be held early 2024.
- A draft safety assessment on outcomes developed and agreed by the PGT Subcommittee on 3 GM applications was reviewed, as well as draft safety assessment outcome on a CBD paper was also finalised.
- Committee provided with an overview of the upcoming applications to be considered for novel food safety assessment.
Next meeting: 7th Feb 2024 (Hybrid).
Update 21/09/23: ACNFP statement on Precision Bred Organisms (July
2023) was published on ACNFP website 07/09; it supported board discussion
in their September meeting 20/09.
Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT)
PGT Subcommittee
Updated: 23 October 2023.
Last PGT meeting: 18th October 2023.
Highlight: First reviewing of the new full GM applications RP1123, RP1372 and RP1506 and their of draft Committee Advice Documents; these will now be reviewed at next ACNFP meeting (November 2023) – planning and process of GM assessments was reviewed.
Next meeting: (PGT11): 12th December 2023.
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and Committee on Toxicity on CBD and Hemp Derived Products
CBD Subgroup
Updated: 13th November 2023.
Last CBD meeting: 7th November 2023.
Highlight: The Subgroup held its final meeting of the year, after the required break in between meetings. Members were asked to approach the previous group B and THC contaminant actions of reading through toxicology data over
the summer and feeding this back during this meeting. Members have been requested a hybrid meeting for the next meeting and this has been organised
accordingly.
The lead secretariats have developed and made live a CBD-focused website
page that is located on the main ACNFP website, similar to the PGT
Subcommittee.
Next main meeting: 1st February 2024 (CBD9 – Topic TBC).
Chair: Dr Camilla Alexander-White
Secretariat: acnfp@food.gov.uk
ACNFP Website: Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes | Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF)
Updated: 6th November 2023.
Last meeting: 19th October 2023.
The Committee’s plenary meeting was on the 19th of October 2023.
Matters arising (ACM/1416)
The Secretariat has produced an information paper summarising action taken on points arising from the minutes of previous meetings.
Committee update
- AMR Working Group
Report on Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Clostridia Members discussed the ACMSF report produced by the Botulinum
Neurotoxin-Producing Clostridia working group.
Phage use in food production
Dr Francesca Hodges from InnovateUK gave a presentation on the use of phage in food production.
Update on emerging issues Reserved Business
Update on IID3 Reserved Business
Sarah O’Brien (Newcastle University) updated members on the pilot report for the third study of infectious intestinal disease in the UK project (IID3).
Information papers
ACM/1417 Items of literature
ACM/1418 Committee update
Next meeting: Thursday 08 February 2024.
Chair: Professor Bill Keevil
Secretariat: acmsf@food.gov.uk
Website: acmsf.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)
Updated: 27 November 2023.
Last meeting: 31 October 2023.
31 October 2023 ACAF Meeting Summary
• Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to
be made have been noted. (ACAF/87/01).
• A proposal for the Secretariat to take over the assessment of certain
dossier sections was presented, in order to optimise time at meetings
and reduce the number of times a dossier comes to the Committee. It
was well received by members.
• Dossier for assessment RP1282 L. brevis - the application was
reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further
information.
• Dossier for assessment RP1298 Ronozyme HiPhos - the application
was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
• Dossier for assessment RP2059 Copper bolus - the application was
reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further
information.
• Dossier for assessment RP1341 Avizyme 1505 - the application was
reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further
information.
• Reviewed the RFI responses for RP634.
• Draft opinions were evaluated for RP709, RP309, RP593. The
members provided feedback on the content and finalised previous
opinions.
Next meeting: 14 December 2023.
Chair: Professor Nicholas Jonsson
Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)
Updated: October 2023.
Last meeting: 17th OCTOBER 2023.
Topics discussed included:
At their October meeting the Committee the draft “Evolving our
Assessment & Future Guiding Principles – 2023 Workshop Report” and considered how to take the recommendations forward, as well as considering a paper on the Potential Risks from Arsenic in the
Maternal Diet.
They commented on a presentation by the LiDO ToxAD PhD student who updated on his progress this year.
The Committee continued their work on: Sub-statement: the potential risk(s) from exposure to microplastics: Inhalation route (4th
draft) and the Review of titanium Dioxide- second draft statement
and the position paper on BPA.
Next meeting: 12th December 2023.
Chair: Professor Alan Boobis
Secretariat: cot@food.gov.uk
Website: cot.food.gov.uk
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC)
Updated: December 2023.
Last meeting:16 November 2023.
Workshop
“If we can't use animal data, what can we do? How is carcinogenicity
assessed in the cosmetics and personal care industry?”
Next meeting: 21st March 2024.
Further meetings: July, November 2024.
Chair: Professor David Harrison
Secretariat: COC@phe.gov.uk
Website: committee-on-carcinogenicity-of-chemicals-in-food-consumer-products-and-the-environment
The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM)
Updated: December 2023.
Last meeting: 12th October 2023.
Topics discussed included:
• Titanium dioxide.
• QSAR guidance.
• Lay summaries for COM website.
Next meeting: 29th February 2024.
Further meetings: June, October 2024.
Chair: Prof Gareth Jenkins.
Secretariat: COM@phe.gov.uk
Website: committee-on-mutagenicity-of-chemicals-in-food-consumer-products-and-the-environment
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
Updated: March 2023.
Last meeting: 16th March 2023.
Topics discussed included:
- Feeding young children aged 1-5.
- Processed foods and health.
- Approaches to modelling impact of reduction in meat and dairy intakes on micronutrients intakes and disease risk.
- Draft monitoring proposals for the amendments to the micronutrient levels in the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998.
Next meeting: 22nd June 2023.
Further meetings: 23rd November 2023.
Chair: Professor Ian Young.
Secretariat:SACN@dhsc.gov.uk
Website: scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition