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Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- September 2023

TOX/2023/47

Last updated: 01 September 2023

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Paper for Information. 

Secretariat

September 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.

Science Council

Updated: 9 January 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: 6 September 2023.

Chair: Professor Sandy Thomas

Secretariat: sciencecouncil@food.gov.uk

Website: science-council.food.gov.uk

Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)

Updated: June 2023.

Last meeting: 2nd February 2023.

(10th plenary, open session). Minutes and papers are available on the ACSS website.

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.

Working group highlights:

  • The Assurance working group continues to play a valuable role in the  Social Science Gateway Process, and as such review the research questions and methodology of all new social science projects.
  • The Kitchen Life 2 working group continues to support the innovative, cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary research project Kitchen Life 2. The project is nearing completion and the working group will reach a natural end point in the autumn.  
  • The Wider Consumer Interests working group continues to support this ARI, and has recently completed an in depth review of the monthly Consumer Insight Tracker, making practical recommendations to enhance the value of this research. 
  • The Economics working group have continued to review monthly updates on key activity within the economics team, and are looking to support the development of inhouse training materials for the analytics unit.

The next open meeting: (11th Plenary) of the ACSS will be 5th July 2023.

Chair: Julie Hill

Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk

Website: acss.food.gov.uk

Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)

Updated: 26th July 2023.

Last meeting: 16th 25th July 2023.

Next meeting: 2 days 18th &19th September 2023.

Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT) 

PGT Subcommittee

Updated: 24th July 2023.

Last PGT meeting: 18th July 2023.

Highlight:

The meeting included a Precision Breeding (PB) workshop, focussing on data requirement; comments were invited on the draft statement, by correspondence ahead of the meeting, and in meeting. A revised draft statement will be discussed in ACNFP161, 25th July 2023.

Next meeting: (PGT10): 18th October 2023.

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

CBD Subgroup

Updated: 7th August 2023.

Last CBD meeting: 4th July 2023.

Highlight:

The Subgroup was asked to advise on the approach to the assessment of the group B applications in light of the review of the three previously identified group B studies. The criteria paper incorporated the results of three particularly detailed studies, to provide a reliable depiction of the range of compositions and results that group B will bring compared to the previous group A discussions and the possible criteria that could be taken as ‘gold standards’ for the future review of group B studies.
The Subgroup were also provided an update to the actions set previously regarding cannabinoid receptor activity. It was decided that the Subgroup would be taking a break in September 2023.

Next main meeting: 7th November 2023 (CBD8 – 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: 7th August 2023.

Last meeting: 22nd June 2023.

Matters arising (ACM/1411) The Secretariat has produced an information paper summarising action taken on points arising from the minutes of previous meetings.

Committee update:

 AMR Working Group

Epidemiology of Foodborne Infections Group (ACM/1412) Reserved Business.

Members were updated on the outcome of the EFIG meeting held on 7th June 2023.

Update/milestones IID3 Reserved Business.

Members received an update on the current progress on the third study of infectious intestinal disease in the UK project (IID3).

Information papers

ACM/1413: Items from the literature.


ACM/1414: AMR NAP 2024-29 Commitments.


ACM/1415: workplan.

Next meeting: 19th October 2023.

Chair: Professor Bill Keevil
Secretariat: acmsf@food.gov.uk
Website: acmsf.food.gov.uk

Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)

Updated: 9th August 2023.

Last meeting: 26th July 2023.

26th July 2023 ACAF Meeting Summary:

  • Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to be made have been noted. (ACAF/85/01)
  • Dossier for assessment RP1142 Ronozyme MicroGrain – the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
  • Dossier for assessment RP1055/1582 Huvezym Nexo - the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
  • Dossier for assessment RP1111 Bifidobacterium longum PP102l - the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
  • Dossier for assessment RP1154 BioPlus 2B- the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
  • Reviewed the RFI responses for RP634 and RP593
  • Draft opinions were evaluated for RP658, RP1307, RP416, RP420 and RP791. The members provided feedback on the content and finalised previous opinions.
  • A practical efficacy workshop exercise was carried out. New members had the chance to understand the thought process behind the efficacy assessment. It would have been good to have more time to carry out a more comprehensive exercise, but the outcomes will help inform future ways of working to hasten assessment speed.

Next meeting: 15th September 2023.

Chair: Professor Nicholas Jonsson

Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk

Website: Advisory Committee on animal feedingstuffs | Advisory Committee on animal feedingstuffs (food.gov.uk)

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

Updated: September 2023.
Last meeting: 11th July 2023.

Topics discussed included:

At their July meeting the Committee continued their review of the EFSA opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide, focussing on endpoints other than reproductive toxicity) and also considered an early draft statement.  They commented on the draft EFSA opinion on Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and discussed papers on emerging biotoxins: pinnatoxins, the assessment of the Codex report on food allergen thresholds and 1st draft statements on the aircraft Cabin Air Environment and ergot alkaloids.

The Committee continued their work on a 3rd draft sub statement on the potential risks from exposure to microplastics: inhalation route.

Next meeting: 5th September 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: March 2023.
Last meeting:16th  March 2023.

Topics discussed included:

  • Hydroxy anthracene derivatives (reserved)
  • Draft Annual report.
  • Horizon scanning.
  • Summary of COC Workshop “Changing the paradigm: How should we assess cancer risk in the UK?” 17 November 2023.

Next meeting: 20th July 2023.
Further meetings: 16 November 2023.

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: March 2023.
Last meeting: 23rd February 2023.


Topics discussed included:

  • A can coating (reserved)
  • Draft Annual report.
  • Scoping paper on in vitro biomarkers in genotoxicity.
  • Update on progress with titanium dioxide review.

Next meeting: 15th June 2023.

Further meetings: 12th October 2023.

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