Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Process. Minutes of the 151st Meeting held on the 2nd February 2022

These minutes are subject to confirmation by the Committee. 

Members are required to declare any personal interest in matters under discussion. Where Members have a particularly close association with any item, the Chairman will limit their involvement in the discussion. In cases where an item is to be discussed in their absence, a Member may make a statement before leaving. 

This meeting was held online using Microsoft Teams.

Attendance 

Committee Chair

 Dr Camilla Alexander-White

Committee Members

Dr Anton Alldrick

Ms Alison Austin

Dr Mark Berry

Professor Susan Duthie

Professor Susan Fairweather-Tait

Professor Paul Fraser

Dr Hamid Ghoddusi

Professor Wendy Harwood

Professor Huw Jones

Dr Elizabeth Lund

Ms Nichola Lund

Dr Rohini Manuel

Professor Harry McArdle

Mrs Rebecca McKenzie

Professor Clare Mills 

Dr Lesley Stanley

Prof Hans Verhagen

Dr Maureen Wakefield 

Assessor    

Mr Paul Tossell - Head of Radiological, GM, Novel Foods & Radiological Protection 

Observers FSA      

Dr Amie Adkin - Head of Risk

Dr Sabrina Roberts - FSA Senior GM Policy Advisor

Mr Hoa Chang - FSA GM Policy Advisor

Mr Shaun Jacobs - FSA Senior Policy Advisor

Ms Elizabeth Davies - FSA Novel Food Policy Advisor

Ms Gemma Jones - FSA Novel Food Policy Advisor

Monique Von Tonder - FSA Novel Food Policy Advisor

Ms Sophie Burder - FSA Novel Food Policy Advisor

Ms Lisa Nelson - FSA Communications team

Mr Donal Griffin - Head of Regulated Products Risk Assessment (Feed and GM)

Ms Shila Sultana - Regulated Products Risk Assessor

Dr Elli Amanatidou - Trade Risk Assessor

Mr James Donarski - Exposure Assessment & Trade

Ms Chloe Thomas - Exposure Assessment & Trade 

Mr Shadad Saleh - Risk Assessment Support

Observers Devolved administration

Mr Xose Benitu Alvarez - Policy , FSA Wales

Ms Alexia Sully Karlis - Policy, FSA Wales

Mr Andrew Dodd - Policy, FSA Wales

Ms Hannah Reid - Policy, FSA Wales

Mr Adam McDowell - FSA, Wales

Ms Colleen Mulrine - FSA, Northern Ireland

Ms Siobhan Watt - Food Standards Scotland 

Ms Tamara Satmarean - Food Standards Scotland

Ms Lori Hanlon - Food Standards Scotland

Mr Joshua Evans - Food Standards Scotland

Ms Georgina Finch - Food Standards Scotland

Ms Lucy Smythe - Food Standards Scotland

Dr Karen Pearson - Food Standards Scotland

Ms Krystle Boss - Food Standards Scotland

Observers (External)

Ms Claire Nicholson - Science Council 

Ms Ivy Wellman - DEFRA

Secretariat

Mrs Ruth Willis - Technical Secretary

Ms Stephanie Boateng - Lead Secretariat

Dr Tahmina Khan - Senior Secretariat

Mrs Priscilla Wanjiru - Science Secretariat

Dr Karin Heurlier - Science Secretariat

Mr Will Smith - Science Secretariat                            

Mrs Afielia Choudhry - Science Secretariat

Dr Andrew Hudson - Science Secretariat

Mr Matt Hall - Science Secretariat 

Dr Johann Trotter - Science Secretariat

Dr Annalisa Leone - Science Secretariat

Mr Rhys Williams - Science Secretariat

Miss Victoria Balch - Administrative Secretariat 

Members are required to declare any personal interest in matters under discussion. Where Members have a particularly close association with any item, the Chairman will limit their involvement in the discussion. In cases where an item is to be discussed in their absence, a Member may make a statement before leaving. 

1. Apologies and Announcements

Apologies were received from Dr Hamid Ghoddusi.

The Chair welcomed two new members to the FSA Secretariat who will be taking over future meeting organisation: Stephanie Boateng (Lead Secretariat) and Victoria Balch (Administrative Secretariat).

The Chair also welcomed representatives from the FSA, the observers from the devolved administrations and the Secretariat team.

Dr Anton Alldrick and Professor Harry McArdle declared potential conflict of interest in relation to CBD and were not present for the discussions on those items. So as to facilitate this, the agenda had been arranged to separate out the CBD items from the other items for discussion.

Professor Hans Verhagen declared a potential conflict of interest in Barley Rice protein due to work he is involved on by-products of the brewing industry for non-food use but because there is no direct relationship with the application to be reviewed, he was able to contribute to the discussions. Dr Maureen Wakefield also declared a potential conflict of interest in CBD discussions as her employer FERA is conducting work on CBD, but it was concluded that she too could participate as she was not directly involved with the specifics of the applicant’s project. FERA's involvement in the dossiers presented would be kept under review.

2. Meeting Minutes for the 149th and 150th Meetings

ACNFP/149 & 150/MINS

The Committee were content with the minutes of the 149th meeting.

Members were asked if they were content with the minutes for the 150th meeting. It was agreed that further revisions were necessary to capture the discussions as transparently as possible and at an appropriate level of technical detail. The minutes would be revisited by the Secretariat and a revised final copy sent out to the members.

3. Matters Arising from the last meeting

ACNFP/151/MA

• The Committee discussed at the previous meeting an application for Mung Bean Protein under the Novel Food Regulation. Due to data gaps that remained on allergenicity, a request for further information was requested from the applicant by the Secretariat.
• The application for Calcidiol was reviewed for the second time as well as an application for Barley Rice Protein also under the Novel Food Regulation. Members advised that further information to address data gaps were needed. The Secretariat drafted a request for further information which was sent to the respective applicants.
• The Committee reviewed for the first time an application on Cetylated Fatty Acids. The Committee advised on various areas where further information was needed for the assessment, specifically ADME, production process and history of use. The Secretariat drafted a request for more information from the applicant.
• Discussions were held on the approach towards assessing CBD applications and the data requirements for the toxicological aspects of the assessment. The Committee concluded by agreeing to the approach presented. 
• The Committee also considered an intersessional paper on the scientific criteria for considering Genome Edited products. Members were thanked for their comments that policy colleagues are using to support thinking on this issue.  

4. Barley Rice Protein (Dossier Number RP 19)  

ACNFP/151/01

The dossier was considered by the Committee in April and September 2021; the latter resulted in a further request for additional information. Committee members considered the response to the second request for information, and whether this addressed outstanding questions on the dossier. Discussion was held on the identity/composition, production process, proposed use, nutritional information and allergenicity aspects of the application.

The Committee noted the response from the applicant and advised that further clarification was needed on the balance of starting materials and whether this influenced the novel food’s composition. The Committee noted the information provided by the applicant on molecular weight distribution which provided information on the consistency and reproducibility of the process.

The Committee considered the further information on the  proposed use of Barley Rice Protein and the range of products in which it was intended for the product to be used.  The applicant indicated that it was not intended as a replacement for non-plant-based protein and would provide additional options to those seeking to maintain a plant-based diet.

The Committee commented that the applicant’s response had addressed the question of the management of any antinutritional factors present but these strategies may not be applicable for some final products, for example those that are not cooked.

Action: The Secretariat to request further information from the applicant.

5.  Items for Information

5.1 Novel Food Policy Update - Oral

The Committee was provided with an oral update on the issues under consideration regarding novel foods.

5.2 GM Policy Update - Oral

The Committee was provided with an oral update on the issues under consideration regarding GM.

5.3 SACS Update - Written

The Committee was provided with a written update on the activities of the different SACs.

6.  Any other business

• The next meeting in March will be held online due to constraints in identifying a venue. However, it was expected that meetings will be held in hybrid format from June onwards.
• Members were requested to use their networks to promote the current recruitment drive for new members for the ACNFP and several other advisory Committees. It was highlighted that there was an emphasis in the recruitment to ensure the Committees reflect the diversity in the UK population and to highlight the opportunities working with Committees have for mid-career professionals.
• Those members reaching their maximum service limits were encouraged to look at the vacancies in other committees and groups in order for the FSA and the regulated products system to continue to benefit from their expertise.
• Members were also informed of the publication of a Post Note on Genome Editing of crops. As well as the publication of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs around the presence of THC as a contaminant in CBD products and the status of these products under UK drugs law. This would provide context to the ongoing evaluation of CBD as a novel food.

7. Synthetic Cannabidiol (Dossier Number RP 70) (Reserved Business)

ACNFP/151/02                                 

Dr Alldrick declared a potential conflict of interest relating to his previous employment and was not present during this item.

Prof Harry McArdle declared his work with EFSA’s novel food committee in considering data requirements for CBD. While not seen as a conflict, to avoid Prof McArdle being subject to information that would influence his EFSA work, it was agreed that he would not be present in discussions for both items 7 and 8 on CBD but could supply comments for consideration by the Committee upon review of the minutes.

An application has been received under the novel food authorisation process for a synthetic cannabidiol (CBD). The Committee reviewed the application for the first time. The applicant intends to use the CBD as an ingredient in the manufacture of food supplements. Discussions were held on the production process, ADME, toxicology, proposed uses and allergenicity.

Action: The Secretariat to request further information from the applicant.

8.  Hemp Derived Cannabidiol (Dossier Number RP 85) (Reserved Business)

ACNFP/151/03

Dr Alldrick declared a potential conflict of interest relating to his previous employment and was not present during this item.

Prof Harry McArdle declared his work with EFSA’s novel food committee in considering data requirements for CBD. While not seen as a conflict, to avoid Prof McArdle being subject to information that would influence his EFSA work, it was agreed that he would not be present in discussions for both items 4 and 5 on CBD but could supply comments for consideration by the Committee upon review of the minutes.

An application has been received under the novel food authorisation process for an isolated cannabidiol (CBD) from the same applicant as item 7. The Committee reviewed the application for the first time. The applicant intends to use the CBD as an ingredient in the manufacture of food supplements. The Committee considered the identity and composition, production process, ADME, toxicology, proposed uses and allergenicity of the novel ingredient.

Action: The Secretariat to request for further information from the applicant.

9. Date of next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 30th March 2022 and will be held on Microsoft Teams.