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Listen to this siteThe work of the independent committees and working groups that advise the Food Standards Agency helps ensure that the Agency's advice to consumers is always based on the best and most recent scientific evidence.
The General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS), established in December 2007, provides independent advice on the Agency's governance and use of science.
The Social Science Research Committee (SSRC) provides advice to the Agency about how it gathers and uses social science evidence.
ACAF advises on the safety and use of animal feeds and feeding practices, with particular emphasis on protecting human health, and with reference to new technical developments.
The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) is a non-statutory, independent body of scientific experts that advises the Food Standards Agency on any matters relating to novel foods (including genetically modified foods) and novel processes (including food irradiation).
Set up in 1990, this non-statutory committee provides expert advice to Government on questions relating to microbiological issues and food.
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the Food Standards Agency, the Department of Health and other Government Departments and Agencies on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals.
The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) assesses and gives advice on carcinogenic risk to humans.
The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM) assesses and advises on mutagenic risks to humans, advises on important general principles or new scientific discoveries in connection with mutagenic risks, co-ordinates with other bodies concerned with the assessment of mutagenic risks, and makes recommendations for mutagenicity testing.
An Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) TSE risk assessment subgroup has been established to provide independent expert advice in this area to the FSA and other departments, following the abolition of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) on 30 March 2011.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is a UK-wide Advisory Committee set up to replace the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA).
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) is an independent body which advises Ministers on all matters relating to the control of pesticides. Members provide scientific advice on the safe and effective use of pesticides and other pest control methods.
The Pesticide Residues Committee has been replaced by the Defra Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food, They provide independent scientific advice on pesticide residues in the UK's food.
The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) was established in 1970 to advise on the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines, and to consider reports of suspected adverse reactions to veterinary medicines.
The Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC) was established in January 2001. Its main role is to advise the Chief Executives of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Food Standards Agency on the planning of the veterinary residues surveillance programmes, and the implications of the results for consumer safety.
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