Working Groups and Subgroups

Joint SACN-COT Working Group on plant-based drinks

28.            The COT statement from 2021 is feeding into the work of the joint COT - Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) Working Group (WG) on plant- based drinks. The WG has undertaken a BRAFO analysis of three plant drinks compared to cows’ milk. The Committee commented on the draft WG report prior to a peer review consultation period in summer 2025.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

29.            A joint WG of COT and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) are reviewing the data obtained from novel food authorisation applications for cannabidiol (CBD). The evaluation of this data led to an ADI of 0.15 mg/kg bw/day (equivalent to 10 mg/day in a 70kg adult) being established in 2023.

BTS and publications

30.            Posters presenting the COT’s work on novel formulations of turmeric supplements, chitosan, microplastics were presented at the BTS Annual Congress in April 2024.

31.            The COT published the COT Evolving our Assessment and Future Guiding Principles Workshop Report 2023.

32.            The following COT Workshop Reports were published: “Exploring Dose Response” and “Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling (PBPK) for Regulators” and “UK FSA COT Paving the way for a UK Roadmap – Development, Validation, and Acceptance of New Approach Methodologies.” These workshop report findings were published in a peer review Journal (Toxicology Research) entitled: “The new normal chemical landscape: the future of risk assessment toward optimum consumer safety”.

33.            The FSA and COT Roadmap for New Approach Methodologies was accepted as a peer reviewed publication in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology entitled: Food for thought- Paving the way for a UK Roadmap towards optimum consumer safety: Development, Endorsement and Regulatory Acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Chemical Risk Assessment and Beyond.