Working Groups

Joint ACNFP/COT Working Group on Cannabidiol (CBD)

1.90          A joint Subgroup of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) and COT was formed to address a series of questions in relation to the safety of cannabidiol (CBD)-containing and hemp-derived ingredients. The overarching aim of the Subgroup is to enable the FSA to perform risk assessments for CBD in food.

1.91          The Subgroup has now reviewed the group A ‘pure’ compounds and established an provisional ADI for pure form CBD (>98% purity) of 0.15 mg/kg bw/day (10 mg/day for a 70 kg adult) as set out in a joint statement.

1.192          The Subgroup is continuing to review the different purity groups of CBD products including considering the less pure Group of B compounds with a lower proportion of CBD and “Group C products” which are products that contain between 2.5 and 67% CBD.

Plant-based drinks

1.193          Plant-based drinks have become increasingly popular in the (UK) both for individuals with an allergy to cows’ milk or lactose intolerance and those who wish to avoid dairy products for ethical or cultural reasons. The three most commonly consumed drinks were reviewed by the Committee, with a statement being published in 2022.

1.194          The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has also considered these drinks from a nutritional perspective. To bring these two strands together, a joint Working Group was established to undertake a benefit risk-assessment of soya, oat and almond drinks as replacements for cows’ milk. The Working Group started work in December 2021 with a draft report being published for peer review in 2024. It is anticipated that the final report will be published in 2025.

PFAS Subgroup

1.195          The COT subgroup on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was set up to help provide guidance to UK Government Departments and Agencies to support human health risk assessments of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) where exposures to existing and legacy PFAS is occurring through food, drinking water and other environmental media.

1.196          The subgroup held one meeting in 2024, which considered the evidence on thyroid effects and liver effects of PFAS. Further papers on other endpoints will be considered in 2025 and beyond.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) Subgroup

1.197          The TiO2 Subgroup had been set up to develop the text of the statement. A TiO2 subgroup had been set up to develop the text of a statement outlining the assessment of COT on the potential hazards of TiO2 in food products. The Subgroup had three meetings at the start of 2024 and due to the work of the subgroup the statement was signed off by the COT at the May meeting. An executive summary and the full statement were published in 2024 along with a lay summary of the statement.

 Smoke Flavourings Working Group

1.198       Smoke Flavourings Working Group (SFWG) of the AEJEG continued their assessment and started phase 3 assessment of these flavourings (conclusions on genotoxicity, assessment of general toxicity and Extended One Generation Reproductive Toxicity (EOGRT)).

1.199       The SFWG has also discussed a “weight of evidence” update paper on flavourings to be used in their assessments.