Update on the work of other Scientific Advisory Committees- July 2025
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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: October 2024.
Last open meeting: March 2024.
Summary
- Workshop with experts to discuss the “Future of Food Safety” and shortlist 51 key questions within the FSA strategy to deliver food consumers can trust. By this we mean a food system in which:
- Food is safe
- Food is what it says it is
- Food is healthier and more sustainable
- The report of this workshop will be published in the first quarter of 2025.
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: July 2025.
Last meeting: 19th March 2025.
Last meeting: 19th March (14th plenary), key discussion items included:
Updated: July 2025
Last meeting: 19th March (14th plenary), key discussion items included: Using a food systems approach to explore the impacts of regulatory interventions, and the Provision of Allergen Information: Best Practice Guidance for food businesses.
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 supporting changes to the FSA consumer monitoring surveys.
We held a joint meeting with DEFRAs Social Science Expert Group, and the British Academy, around “Food systems futures: System challenges, policy solutions and threats” in May 2025
The next open meeting (15th Plenary) of the ACSS will be an in person meeting at the beginning of October 2025 (TBC).
Chair: Julie Hill.
Secretariat: acss@food.gov.uk
Website: acss.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP)
Updated: 26th June 2025.
Last meeting: PGT 19th: 13th May 2025.
ACNFP committee meetings 24th June 2025:
A successful meeting was held, chaired by Huw Jones, reviewing 4 novel food applications. This included 2 new full applications: Fusarium str. flavolapis RP1637 and β-lactoglobulin RP1571. For these new dossiers, Members identified data gaps and provided advice to the Secretariat to seek further information from each applicant. The Committee also progressed the assessment of two returning novel food applications Fermotein RP1215 and allulose RP1130. Further queries were raised and these points will be actioned by the Secretariat. The assessment of three GMO applications were successfully completed and the respective Committee Advice Documents reviewed and finalised. Members were additionally notified of the FSA Sandbox team’s plans for updated FSA guidance for companies who wish to conduct novel food pre-market taste trials. The 171st minutes were agreed in principle.
Products of Genetic Technologies Subcommittee (PGT)
PGT Subcommittee
PGT meetings: 13th of May 2025- The Sub-Group is chaired by ACNFP Member Andy Greenfield.
A very successful face to face meeting, where advice was received on the assessment of three returning GM applications (Soy leghemoglobin RP735, oilseed rape RP1745, and B. juncea oilseed rape RP2178) and a new one (maize RP2242). The additional expert advice from a toxicologist was received.
The Subcommittee identified where further information from the applicant was needed to complete the safety assessment of RP2735; applications RP1745, RP2178 and RP2242 will be presented to ACNFP together with their draft Committee Advice Documents in June 2025.
The Subcommittee also discussed the expertise needed for the safety assessment of 3 other GM applications.
Cell Cultivated Products Subgroup(CCP)
CCP Subgroup
ACNFP-CCP Subgroup meeting: 19th June 2025.
The Subgroup met in person and online for their first meeting since its establishment to discuss key topics associated with the assessment of cell cultivated products (CCPs). A successful workshop meeting. The Subgroup discussed nutrition and allergenicity and identified key considerations for the assessment with advice on the development of FSA guidance for applicants. The subgroup was established earlier in the year, along with the agreed terms of reference, to support the FSA 2-year sandbox programme and assessment of these innovative foods. Plans for the next workshop meeting on CCP cell lines and production were discussed.
Next ACNFP meeting: 24th and 25th September 2025 (Hybrid).
Next ACNFP-PGT meeting: 15th July 2025 (Virtual)
Next ACNFP-CCP Subgroup: 18th August 2025. (Hybrid).
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: 4th March 2025.
Last meeting: 06 February 2025
The Committee’s 108th plenary meeting was on the 6th of February 2025.
Anne Gravett (FSA) gave an update on Root Causes Analysis.
Lorcan Browne (FSA) gave an update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza B3.13.
Transmission of AMR Campylobacter and Escherichia coli during the processing of chicken meat (Bukola Onarinde, University of Lincoln)-Reserved business.
EFIG summary report (Anthony Wilson, FSA) – Reserved Business
IID3 update (Erica Kintz, FSA) - Reserved Business.
Committee Updates
- Listeria working group
Next meeting: 18 -19th June 2025.
Chair: Professor Bill Keevil
Secretariat: acmsf@food.gov.uk
Website: acmsf.food.gov.uk
Advisory Committee on Animal Feeding stuffs (ACAF)
Updated: 16th June 2025.
Last meeting: 11th June 2025.
11th June 2025 ACAF Meeting Summary
- Minutes discussed from the last meeting, any changes that need to be made have been noted.
- Discussion regarding RP1605 Titanium dioxide – members continued to discuss this additive.
- Dossier for assessment RP2105 Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1079 – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Dossier for assessment RP2163 B-Act – the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Dossier for assessment RP2187 Pediococcus pentosaceus NCIMB 12674- the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Dossier for assessment RP2252 Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) - the application was reviewed, and the applicant will be asked to provide further information.
- Reviewed the RFI responses for RP2071 and RP2157.
- A draft opinion was evaluated for RP1696.
Next meeting: 24th July 2025.
Chair: Professor Nicholas Jonsson
Secretariat: acaf@food.gov.uk
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)
Updated: May 2025.
Last meeting: 30th May 2025.
Topics discussed included:
At their May meeting the Committee reviewed 3 reserved items:
Committee Advice Document on the Authorisation of the substance Blue Microalgae Extract (Blue Galdieria Extract) for Use as a New Food Additive in the ‘Colour’ Functional Class. (RP507).
Safety of Nitrates and Nitrites as Food Additives- Presentation from RSM UK Consulting LLP.
Matters arising: Flavourings guidance: weight-of-evidence document for exposure assessment.
They continued their work on the maternal diet reviewing a discussion paper on the effects of calcidiol supplementation during preconception, pregnancy and lactation and a first draft statement on mercury in the maternal diet.
Finally, thy reviewed a statement on the derivation of a health-based guidance value for antimony.
Next meeting: 15th of July 2025.
Chair: Professor Rev Lesley Stanley
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: May 2025.
Last meeting: March 2025.
Joint workshop with COM and COT, followed by regular COC meeting.
Workshop topics included - AI, UK HSA chemical safety webpages, NAMs in regulatory decision making, germ cell mutagenicity
Regular meeting- Joint session as below, COC Annual report, horizon scanning.
Next meeting: July 2025.
Further meetings: November 2025.
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 2025.
Last meeting: June 2025.
Genotoxicity of smoke flavours (reserved), presentation from NC3Rs, update on OECD guidelines.
Next meeting: October 2025.
Further meetings: March, June, 2026.
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 2025.
Last meeting: 12th June 2025.
Meeting focus:
Plant based drinks, maternal weight outcomes, National Diet and Nutrition Survey.
Next meeting: TBC.
Chair: Professor Ian Young.
Secretariat:SACN@dhsc.gov.uk
Website: scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition