Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- July 2024
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Secretariat
July 2024
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: 7th February 2024.
Last open meeting: 15th 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.
Interim Chair: Professor John O'Brien
Secretariat: sciencecouncil@food.gov.uk
Website: science-council.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)
Updated: June 2024.
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 s and practises around UPFs.
The next open meeting (13th Plenary) of the ACSS will be a hybrid meeting on the 9th July 2024.
Chair: Julie Hill
Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk
Website: acss.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)
Updated: 26th June 2024.
Last meeting 165th : 17th April 2024.
- Constructive meeting of the full committee to explore the way forward for a number of ongoing applications. Committee Advice documents were cleared for 1 GM and 2 CBD applications for 98% purity CBD novel foods.
- The Committee also provided advice on how to complete the assessment for one traditional food (Baru nut) and 2 novel food with complex food safety risks (a microbe Akkermansia muciniphila and a corn protein isolate). Following discussion and where needed responses from the applicant the outputs can be finalised with the Committee by correspondence.
- The Committee also cleared the annual report for the Committee and its subgroups work in 2023. This detailed the significant and high profile work the Committee has completed including the first international view on a safe upper intake for CBD and work to support policy development on precision breed organisms.
Next meeting: 17th and 18th September 2024 London (Hybrid).
ACNFP Precision Breeding Workshop (166th ACNFP): 1st May 2024.
- Successful meeting. The Committee peer reviewed an 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.
Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT)
Updated: 5th June 2024.
Last PGT meeting: 15th May 2024.
Highlight: Successful meeting. A new GM application (RP1962), part of another new GM application (RP1745), and answer from applicant for a request for further information for returning GM application RP307 were assessed; request for further information were sent to applicants. The Subcommittee provided technical input on outstanding questions on an FSA-owned draft precision breeding technical guidance, and did some user testing using examples from the literature.
Next meeting: (PGT15): 17th July 2024.
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and Committee on Toxicity on CBD and Hemp Derived Products
Updated: 29th May 2024.
Last CBD meeting: 22nd May 2024.
Highlight:
A successful meeting in which members reviewed further datasets and updated datasets for 98% pure CBD novel foods. This has formed the basis for whether these applications can move forward for reviewed by ACNFP and development of an output.
Members also considered a proprietary database designed by the Secretariat to standardise the entire collection of CBD applications and visualise where uncertainties the data. This informed decision on what is scientifically appropriate way to manage applications with a range of cannabinoids present.
Next main meeting: 16th July 2024 (CBD11 – Group A mop-up and THC)
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: 1st March 2024.
Last meeting: 8th February 2024.
The Committee’s plenary meeting was on the 8th of February 2024.
Matters arising (ACM/1419)
The Secretariat has produced an information paper summarising action taken on points arising from the minutes of previous meetings.
Committee update
- AMR Working Group
- PATH-SAFE update (ACM/1420)
- Edward Haynes from Fera gave a PATH- SAFE update.
- Kitchen Life 2 (ACM/1421)
- Helen Heard and Thomas Mills from FSA gave a presentation of the Kitchen Life 2.
- EFIG update (ACM/1422) Reserved business
- Review of Campy project (Erica Kintz) Reserved business
- IID3 update (Erica Kintz) Reserved business
- RPS continuous improvements Reserved business
Information papers
ACM/1423 Items of literature
ACM/1424 Committee update
Next meeting: Wednesday 19th June & Thursday 20th June 2024.
Chair: Professor Bill Keevil
Secretariat: acmsf@food.gov.uk
Website: acmsf.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)
Updated: 17th June 2024.
Last meeting: 11th June 2024.
11th June 2024 ACAF Meeting Summary
- Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to be made have been noted.
- The Committee received a presentation on bioinformatics, particularly whole genome sequencing.
- Dossier for assessment RP1366 Econase XT – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Dossier for assessment RP1400 – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Dossier for assessment RP1460 Miya-Gold (Clostridium butyricum FERM BP-2789) – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Reviewed the RFI responses for RP1026/RP1027, RP1070, RP1317, RP1298, RP1512 and RP2059.
- The post-market monitoring report for RP140-141-142-284 was reviewed.
- Draft opinions were evaluated for RP812, RP814, RP1039/1040, RP1111 and RP1579. The members provided feedback on the content and finalised previous opinions.
Next meeting: 17th July 2024
Chair: Professor Nicholas Jonsson
Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)
Updated: June 2024.
Last meeting: 21st May 2024.
Topics discussed included:
Topics discussed included:
Updated: June 2024.
Last meeting: 21st May 2024.
Topics discussed included:
At their May meeting the Committee discussed an update on a request for Committee Advice on the safety of the Application to modify the conditions of use of E401 (sodium alginate) for use as a surface treatment in entire fruits and vegetables. The committee received a presentation on Pinnatoxin- surveillance and exposure.
The committee continued their work on a fifth draft statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive and a sixth draft interim position statement on bisphenol A and discussed an updated position paper on bamboo composites in food contact materials. The committee also discussed a paper reviewing their ways of working.
Next meeting: 9th of July 2024.
Next meeting: 26th March 2024.
Chair: Professor Alan Boobis
Secretariat: cot@food.gov.uk
Website: Committee on Toxicity | Committee on Toxicity (food.gov.uk)
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC)
Updated: March 2024.
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: 18th July 2024.
Further meetings: 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: July 2024.
Last meeting: 20th June 2024.
Topics discussed included:
- Horizon scanning- presentations on Computational methods and mutagenicity and on Artificial Intelligence and mutagenicity data.
- Guidance statement on the use of Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR).
Next meeting: 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: July 2024.
Last meeting:
Topics discussed included:
- Nutrition and maternal health (reserved)
- Joint COT/SACN working Group report on plant-based drinks (reserved)
Next meeting: To be confirmed.
Chair: Professor Ian Young.
Secretariat:SACN@dhsc.gov.uk
Website: scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition