Introduction

 1.            The COT has agreed to update its guidance on toxicity testing and its supporting principles. The previous COT guidelines date from 1982 but were superseded by guidance from the former Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and so have not been updated since then. To start this work, the COT held a workshop in May 2023. The workshop aimed to focus on identifying the principles that would underpin the development of the guidance. It was considered that the COT should identify existing frameworks and guidance and use or adapt these as necessary, and that it should integrate new approach methodologies, using the best science available.

2.            The purpose of this paper is to start the work developing new COT guidance, and seek the Committee’s agreement on the way forward, including whether establishing a working group would be the most appropriate approach.