Food Additives, Chemical Contaminants & Residues Sub-Committee
This Sub-committee advises on food safety risks associated with food additives and food contaminants, including pesticides and residues of veterinary medicines. Its remit also includes the migration of chemicals from packaging materials into foods, heavy metals and persistent environmental chemical contaminants.
Terms of Reference for the FSAI Scientific Sub-Committee on Food Additives, Chemical Conteminants and Residues, 2005 - 2010
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 health of consumers arising from exposure to food additives, food contact materials, processing aids and chemical contaminants in food including pesticides and veterinary drug residues, and to advise on risk management strategies for such chemicals;
2. To support the carrying out of detailed risk assessments of specific chemicals in food and feed as required;
3. To advise on the assessment of any dossier submitted in support of a request for the temporary authorisation of a food additive at national level, including the carrying out of an independent risk assessment;
4. To advise on the content of national surveillance programmes for food additives, chemical contaminants, pesticides and veterinary drug residues;
5. To advise on the appropriate use of food consumption and analytical data to provide assessments of the exposure of Irish consumers to food chemicals and possible implications for public health, in association with the Sub-committee on Nutrition and Novel Foods;
6. To advise on relevant aspects of new EC and national legislative proposals related to food additives and chemical contaminants, including the establishment or revision of maximum levels for such chemicals in food;
7. To advise the FSAI on the risk assessment work of international organisations, including the following:
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
World Health Organisation / Food and Agricultural Organisation committees
8. To support the FSAI in the drafting and publication of scientific reports related to food additives, chemical contaminants and residues.
Members
The Sub-committee members are as follows:
- Prof. Michael Ryan - Chair
Health Sciences Centre
University College Dublin
- Dr Thomasina Barron
Pesticide Control Service
Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Dr Padraig Burke
Public Analyst Laboratory
University College Hosptial
- Dr Claire Chambers
Chambers Toxicological Consulting
- Dr Edel Healy
Health and Safety Authority
- Dr Liam Hyde
Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Dr Evin McGovern
Marine Institute
- Dr Terry McMahon
Marine Institute
- Dr John Moriarty
Central Veterinary Research Lab.
Dept of Agriculture and Food
- Dr Michael O’Keeffe
Residue Specialist
- Dr Dan O’Sullivan
Pesticide Control Service
Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Dr Iona Pratt
Consultant Toxicoligist,
FSAI
Last reviewed: 2/2/2012