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Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- September 2024

TOX/2024/35

Last updated: 28 August 2024

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Paper for Information. 

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: August 2024.

Last open meeting: June 2024.

Summary

  • ToR updated to reflect SC new way of working.

  •  SC honorarium will be implemented October 2025.

  •  Review of SC members allocated as ‘observers’ in FSA SACs.

  • SC members allocated to act as ‘critical friend’ in new REP structure.

  •  Initial discussions held on SC next project.

Next open meeting: September 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: August 2024.

Last meeting: 9th July 2024.

(13th plenary, key discussion items included: maximising the impact of the Kitchen Life 2 project, the biennial FSA business tracker survey, the evidence base for assessing the impact of regulatory reform, and, understanding changes to, and drivers of, trust in the food system.

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 (14th Plenary) of the ACSS will be a hybrid meeting in March 2025.  

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 167th : 12th June 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).

Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT)

PGT Subcommittee

Updated: 23rd July 2024. 

Last PGT meeting: 17th July 2024. 

Highlight: Constructive meeting where advice was received on the assessment of two returning GM applications (RP307, RP1745) and a new one (RP2065). As a result, the draft Committee Advice Document for one GM application was cleared to be presented at the next ACNFP meeting. The Subcommittee identified where further information from the applicants and further expertise on the committee were needed to complete the safety assessment of the two other applications.

Next meeting: (PGT16): 8th October 2024. 

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

CBD Subgroup

Updated: 12th August 2024.

 Last CBD meeting: 16th July 2024.

Highlight: A successful meeting in which members reviewed the final 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 request to review the provisional ADI and whether the limit proposed in 2023 still stands. This informed decision on what is scientifically appropriate way to manage applications that are part of group A.

Members also considered a draft statement on the safety of THC as a contaminant and expressed that they wish to see an updated draft at the following meeting.

Next main meeting: 11th September 2024 (CBD12 – Group C introduction 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: 9th August 2024.

Last meeting: 19th & 20th June 2024.

The Committee’s plenary meeting was on the 19th of June 2024, followed by a horizon scanning workshop on the 20th.

Committee update

Charlotte Parnell from FSA gave an update on Wave 7 of the Food and You 2 survey.

Giles Chapman- National Food Crime Unit, FSA gave a presentation on food fraud.

  • AMR working group - reserved business.
  • EFIG update (Anthony Wilson, FSA) – reserved business.
  • Sheep Survey overview (Stephen Wyllie, APHA) - reserved business.
  • IID3 update (Erica Kintz, FSA) – reserved business.
  • Campylobacter expert elicitation feedback (Johanna Jackson, FSA) - reserved business.

The horizon scanning workshop was devised by the secretariat and was intended among other things to help identify and further understand the effects of climate change on UK food safety, in line with the FSA’s commitments under Risk Action H9.1 of the government’s Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3).  The committee discussed key causes and possible mitigation strategies.

Next meeting: 24th October 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

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: August 2024.
Last meeting: 9th July 2024.

Topics discussed included:

At their July meeting the Committee commented on a discussion paper submitted by the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC) on the effects of flame retardants on human health: developing a work programme. 

In addition, they considered a first draft statement on the potential health effects of raspberry leaf tea in the maternal diet and a risk assessment of the mycotoxins T2 and HT2 in food.  The Committee also commented on the second draft report of the Plant Based Drinks Working Group (reserved item) and reviewed a paper on the potential risk to human health from marine biotoxins associated with consumption of bivalve molluscs (shellfish) harvested from UK waters.                                                           

The Committee’s assurance was sought from the FCM JEG on a plastic additive opinion and a draft Committee Advice Document on a recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) decontamination process for use in the manufacture of materials and articles in contact with food (both reserved items).

Next meeting: 3rd September 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