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Scientific Committee Meeting - 20 November 2025

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)

FSAI Staff Present

  • Wayne Anderson (WA)
  • Lisa O’Connor (LiOC)
  • Micheál O’Mahony (MOM)
  • Mary Flynn (MFl)
  • Anastasia Georgaki (AG)
  • Chloe Glennon (CG)
  • Sinead O’Mahony (SOM)
  • Judith Giles (JG)

Apologies

  • Séamus Fanning (SF)
  • Karl McDonald (KMcD)

1.    Disclosures of Interest

The Chair welcomed the members to the meeting. There were no disclosures of interest.

2.    Matters Arising from the Meeting Minutes of 22 September 2025

All actions were completed and there were no matters arising.

3.    Update from Biological Safety Subcommittee

Draft Report: Hepatitis E in Pigs & Pigmeat

GD noted this was the first time the committee has seen the draft Hepatitis E report. This was produced by a WG chaired by Helen O’Shea and sent to the Biological Safety Subcommittee for review in October. AG gave a presentation on the report and thanked the members for comments received to date. The following was discussed:

  • The draft report includes ‘Recommendations’ and a form of words conveying these are ‘Risk management options’ might be preferable.
  • Fermented pork sausages (non-thermally treated and dried) – this may cause confusion as ‘dried’ is associated with heat but the heat used rarely goes above 21°C. It should be clear what preservation techniques are used / how the sausages are prepared. A footnote may help. 
  • Techniques such as HPP (high pressure processing) might be referenced.
  • An explanation of non-thermal treatment would be helpful.
  • References to communication are focused on vulnerable groups but could be extended to processors and producers as well, e.g. inclusion of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in HACCP plans.
  • There is such limited evidence on HEV in Ireland it is difficult to answer some questions authoritatively. 
  • It is helpful to include data gaps and requirements for research as these can be included in the FSAI’s Research Needs document.
  • There was a discussion on whether it is necessary to raise awareness of individual pathogens amongst consumers or if more general advice is sufficient.
  • The EFSA Opinion (2017) mentions HEV vaccines and disinfection and irradiation. There was a question on whether these should be referenced in the report. The WG focused on the questions in the Request for Advice (RfA) but will consider if these points merit a brief discussion.
  • A query about shellfish as a source of HEV was raised. The request for advice is focussed on pigs but there is reference to shellfish. 
  • There is insufficient data to attribute sources quantitatively. 
  • Genotype 3 accounts for most HEV in Ireland.

MC thanked everyone who worked on the report. WA asked AG/MOM to confirm when they will bring back an updated version of the report to the Scientific Committee. The report does not need to go back for formal consideration by the Biological Safety Subcommittee, but it would be appropriate that members are aware of how the report is progressing.

Actions:

  • Team to update the report and circulate.
  • MOM/AG to confirm when they will have the report updated.

Report for Adoption: Risk Ranking of Microbiological Hazards

GD noted that the report was updated following feedback from the Scientific Committee and acknowledged the work of the two WGs and the Subcommittee. MC agreed that the updates have been made, with some final editorial comments to be addressed. He proposed the report be adopted by the committee, allowing for a standstill period to 28 November for the members to reflect on the report and raise any concerns. Any final comments received will be dealt with by the Chair. If there is nothing substantive received, the report will be adopted. The committee members agreed. WA will prepare a request to the Board regarding publication of the report for their meeting in December. He asked LiOC/JG to follow up on a list of authors as it is also planned to publish this in the EFSA Food Risk Assess Europe Journal.

Actions:

  • Members to reflect on the report by 28 November.
  • WA to send a request to the FSAI Board to publish the report.
  • LiOC/JG to follow up on a list of authors for the FRAE Journal.

4.    Update from Chemical Safety Subcommittee

Short answers to questions for adoption: Mitigation Measures for Dioxins & PCBs in Terrestrial Farm Animals with Access to Outdoor Pastures

MC noted correspondence received from a member of the subcommittee who expressed concerns that the members did not have sufficient time to contribute to and review the draft report. MC noted the work has been ongoing for a number of years. AF noted any member who does not agree with the report can record their views which will be made available to the Scientific Committee. MC noted that the ownership of all opinions rests with the Scientific Committee, who are responsible for the contents. The Committee agreed that it is reasonable to ask a subcommittee for a report to be completed within a specified reasonable time frame. MC will send a reply to the subcommittee member indicating their concern has been considered by the Scientific Committee.

AF presented a brief document with the focused answers to the questions in the RfA. The plan is to incorporate these into the Executive Summary of the report and present the final report to the Scientific Committee. This will guide the work on how much detail needs to be included in the detail supporting the answers. The following was discussed:

  • The opinion will focus on the evidence related to the RfA.
  • Overall, the evidence is that dioxins and PCBs are a very low risk issue with respect to food produced in Ireland.
  • It may be preferable for the report to include ‘risk management options’ rather than recommendations.
  • There was a question on whether road run off as a potential source of dioxins was covered in the main report.
  • There is very little evidence to support a difference in risk of exposure to dioxins between organic and non-organic methods for outdoor reared animals in Ireland.
  • There was a question re how farmers are supported in understanding and managing potential dioxin related risks.
  • Under regulatory and industry coordination, the committee was asked to consider if there is a strong basis for considering establishment of cross agency groups specifically to address dioxins.

MC proposed that this summary text be provisionally adopted, noting that the report will be brought to the Scientific Committee later. A period of one week until 28 November will apply for reflection and final comments. This was agreed by the members.

Actions:

  • MC to reply to the CS Subcommittee member on the report.
  • Team to work on updating the main report, taking into account the feedback received.

5.    Update from PHN Subcommittee

Scientific Recommendations for FBDG for Adolescents

KC said the PHN Subcommittee met this week to discuss the report. There is some outstanding work to be completed but the draft report will be tabled at the next meeting of the Scientific Committee for review. KC said that he will look at the use of the term ‘Recommendations’ following the discussions at this meeting. WA noted that the RfA came from the Department of Health who asked for recommendations and therefore the context is different for this report. MC noted the distinction between recommending objectives (such as dietary requirements) and recommending how objectives are achieved (policies and practices).

6.    Update from Food Hygiene Rating Systems Subcommittee

Evaluation of food hygiene rating systems and recommendations for Ireland

DOR informed the members that the subcommittee is behind on this work, due to two members having to step away due to illness and the heavy workloads of others. But it is the intention to complete the report within the life time of the Scientific Committee, and a timeline has been set out to get the work done. Of the four questions in the RfA, significant progress has been made on two; however, the other two questions need more work, and this is falling on FSAI staff to complete. The subcommittee will work to get the draft report to the Scientific Committee by the end of January.

7.    Correspondence/AOB

See correspondence received under Item 4.

WA confirmed that a long list of candidates for the next Scientific Committee has been compiled and sent to the DoH for consideration by the Minister of Health.

8.    Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is an in-person meeting in FSAI Offices on 9 December.
The Chair thanked everyone for their input into the meeting.