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

TOX/2023/40

Last updated: 10 July 2023

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Paper for Information. 

Secretariat

July 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: 15th June 2023.

Last meeting: 14th June 2023.

  • Draft outputs for RP1033 and RP1232 (GM) were reviewed, with refinement advised.
  • RP1468 was also reviewed needing further information from the applicant and will be actioned by the secretariat.
  • The Committee was updated on the work on the PGT Subcommittee and a workshop held to further explore approaches to aid these assessments. 

Next meeting: 

19th Sep 2023 (with potential for 2 days).

Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT) 

PGT Subcommittee

Updated: 25th May 2023.

Last PGT meeting: 17th May 2023.

Highlight:

The meeting included a Precision Breeding (PB) workshop, focussing on data requirement; answers for outstanding questions will be sought by correspondence. Comments were invited on the draft safety advice for the full GM application RP1232, to be completed by correspondence. Both PB conclusions (in the form of workshop) and RP1232 draft safety advice are to be discussed in ACNFP160, 14th June 2023.

Next meeting: (PGT9): 18th July 2023.

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

CBD Subgroup

Updated: 8th June 2023.

Last CBD meeting: 3rd May 2023.

Highlight:

The Subgroup were provided with an introduction to the range of datasets to expect from Group B (cannabinoid mixtures) focused meetings. The introductory 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.

The Secretariat were given actions based on stability data and cannabinoid receptor activity to complete by the following meeting.

Next main meeting: 4th July 2023 (CBD7 – Group B CBD products and assessment criteria).

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: 28th February 2023.

Last meeting: 9th February 2023.

The Committee’s plenary meeting was on the 9th of February 2023.

Matters arising (ACM/1402) The Secretariat has produced an information paper summarising action taken on points arising from the minutes of previous meetings.

Committee update:

 AMR Working Group

Neurotoxin-producing Clostridia subgroup report (ACM/1403) Members discussed the ACMSF report on botulinum toxin-producing Clostridia and vacuum packaging and associated processes.

Survey of Infectious Intestinal Disease during COVID-19 (ACM/1404) Members were presented an overview of the recent IID COVID survey.

Risk assessment of the risk to vulnerable consumers from Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat smoked fish (ACM/1407) Reserved Business.

Food Standards Scotland presented an overview of a strategic risk assessment on the risk of Listeria in smoked fish. Epidemiology of Foodborne Infections Group (ACM/1405) Reserved Business.

Members were updated on the outcome of the EFIG meeting held on 6th December 2022.

Incidents and outbreaks update (ACM/1406) Reserved Business.

Members received the report on recent microbiological food incidents and outbreaks.

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/1408 ACMSF workplan.

ACM/1409 Update from other SACs.

ACM/1410 Items of interest from the literature.

Next meeting: 22 June 2023.

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

Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)

Updated: 14th June 2023.

Last meeting: 8th June 2023.

8th June 2023 ACAF Meeting Summary:

  • Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to be made have been noted. (ACAF/84/01).

  • Dossier for assessment RP859 Chlorophyllins – the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.

  • Dossier for assessment RP1072 Avatec (chickens) - the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.

  • Dossier for assessment RP1101 Actisaf Sc 47 live - the application was reviewed and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.

  • Dossier for assessment RP1105 Histidine E. coli KCCM 80212- the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.

  • Reviewed the RFI responses for RP552, RP709, RP746, RP1015, RP1071.

  • Draft opinions were evaluated for RP416, RP420, RP791, RP666, RP694, RP748. The members provided feedback on the content and finalised previous opinions.

  • The Chair provided a comprehensive presentation on his approach to assessing efficacy in dossiers to train ACAF members and Secretariat and ensure consistency of assessment. Members and Secretariat will carry out a practical exercise to test these principles at the following meeting.

Next meeting: 26th July 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: June 2023.
Last meeting: 16th May 2023.

Topics discussed included:

At their May meeting the Committee discussed papers on the final EFSA opinion on BPA and on novel formulations of supplement compounds designed to increase oral bioavailability. 

The committee also discussed reserved papers on: Can coating, Committee Advice on the safety of the extension of use of steviol glycosides (E 960) from stevia leaf extract produced by enzymatic conversion (RP1084) and Committee Advice on the safety of the Approval of Steviol Glycosides (E 960) Produced by Yarrowia lipolytica (RP1140).

The Committee continued their work on a second draft statement on green tea catechins.

Next meeting: 11th July 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