Members Present
- Martin Cormican (Chair) (MC)
- Alan Kelly (AK)
- Andrew Flanagan (AF)
- Ann Marie Part (AMP)
- Anne Molloy (AM)
- Dagmar Stengel (DS)
- Dolores O’Riordan (DOR)
- Geraldine Duffy (GD)
- Ita Kinahan (IK)
- Kevin Cashman (KC)
- Lois O’Connor (LOC)
- Mark Fenelon (MF)
- Montserrat Gutierrez (MG)
- Séamus Fanning (SF)
FSAI Staff Present
- Wayne Anderson (WA)
- Micheál O’Mahony (MOM)
- Anastasia Georgaki (AG)
- Lisa O’Connor (LiOC)
- Judith Giles (JG)
Apologies
- Pat O’Mahony (POM)
- Karl McDonald (KMcD)
- Rob Phillips (RP)
1. Disclosures of Interest
The Chair welcomed the members. There were no disclosures of interest.
2. Agree the Meeting Minutes of 18 December and Matters Arising
The draft minutes were agreed. The actions regarding the circulation of the FBDG for Adolescents report and the Dioxins and PBCs report were not completed.
3. Update from Biological Safety Subcommittee
Report: Hepatitis E in Pigs & Pigmeat
The final draft was circulated for review before the meeting and there were a lot of comments received from the members. The draft was discussed at the meeting. The following points were noted:
- The importance of clarity and consistency in use of terms surveillance and monitoring.
- It was agreed that there are big knowledge/data gaps for HEV that could be addressed by research and or monitoring
- There is insufficient evidence to recommend that establishing a surveillance programme would achieve public health benefits.
- The uncertainty and lack of data around HEV were factors in the ranking assigned to HEV in the microbiological risk ranking exercise in 2025.
- Relevant Irish papers and projects were discussed and have been referenced in the report.
- The text on the impact of high-pressure processing on HEV will be reviewed.
The Chair noted that the Committee agreed the report in principle subject to the final edits being made. The final version will be circulated electronically with a period of one week to be given for review and reflection, after which it can be considered adopted.
Actions:
- AG/MOM/MC/GD to meet to agree the text on surveillance.
- AG to circulate the final report to the committee.
4. Update from Chemical Safety Subcommittee
Report: Mitigation Measures for Dioxins & PCBs in Terrestrial Farm Animals with Access to Outdoor Pastures
AF and KMcD met to go through the feedback from the Scientific Committee. However, due to urgent incident support work, the draft report was not updated in time for the meeting. The draft report will be circulated in advance of discussion at the next meeting.
Actions:
- KMcD to circulate the report in advance of the 10 February meeting.
5. Update from Food Hygiene Rating Systems Subcommittee
DOR noted that answers to the questions have been drafted and circulated to the subcommittee for a meeting this week. However there has not been time to edit and consolidate the draft text and there is still a lot of work to be done. It was agreed that DOR would meet with MC and WA this week to discuss.
Actions:
- JG to organise a meeting between DOR, MC & WA.
6. Correspondence/AOB
There was no correspondence received or further business discussed.
7. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for 10 February. The Chair thanked everyone for their input.