Biological Safety Sub-Committee
Terms of Reference for the FSAI Biological Safety Sub-Committee 2011-2016
The Sub-committee operates under the aegis of the Scientific Committee of the FSAI and the terms of reference of the sub-committee cover the following areas as requested by the Scientific Committee, or as a result of self-tasking following consultation with the Scientific Committee:
1. To provide advice on possible risks to the public health arising from exposure to micro-organisms (parasites, bacteria, viruses), microbial toxins and other biological agents (including TSE-related agents) in food
2. To carry out risk assessments on specific biological hazards in food and evaluate risk management options
3. To advise on the content and effectiveness of national surveillance and official monitoring of foodstuffs for micro-organisms
4. To advise on emerging and newly emerged and re-emerging biological hazards in foods;
5. To advise on relevant aspects of new EC and national legislative proposals related to the control of biological agents in foods
6. To advise on the scientific content, impact on food safety in Ireland and relevance to food safety in Ireland of biological risk assessment work carried out in other international and national organisations including the following:
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
- World Health Organisation / Food and Agricultural Organisation committees
- Other food agencies
- Academic institutions
7. To advise the Scientific Committee on research gaps and needs in the area of biological hazards in food
8. To undertake any other such work or assessments in the area of biological hazards in food as proposed by the Sub-committee subject to approval from the Scientific Committee.
Members
- Prof. Martin Cormican, National University of Ireland, Galway (Chair)
- Prof. Dan Collins, Prof. Emeritus, University College Dublin (Deputy Chair)
- Dr Bill Doré, Marine Institute
- Ms Catherine Foye, Health Service Executive
- Dr Geraldine Duffy, Teagasc
- Dr Helen O’Shea, Cork Institute of Technology
- Mr John Griffin, Dept of Agriculture, Food & Marine
- Dr Kieran Jordan, Teagasc
- Dr Margaret O’Sullivan, Health Service Executive
- Dr Micheal O’Mahony, Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority
- Dr Montserrat Gutierrez, Dept of Agriculture, Food & Marine
- Dr Paul McKeown, Health Protection Surveillance Centre
- Dr Paul Whyte, University College Dublin
- Ms Paula Barry Walsh, Dept of Agriculture, Food & Marine
- Mr Ray Parle, Health Service Executive
- Prof. Simon More, University College Dublin
- Dr Theo De Waal, University College Dublin
- Mr Vincent Young, Health Service Executive
Last reviewed: 2/2/2012