Annual Report 2024 - Discussion Paper

Committee Paper for Discussion - ACNFP/171/05

Advisory Committee For Novel Foods and Processes

Annual Report

Issue

The Committee issues a report yearly, outlining the work it has carried out for that year’s period. This report covers the period of the 1^st January 2024 to 31^st March 2025. This reflects the move from calendar year to financial year reporting. A draft of the report is attached for Members comments and agreement (Annex A).

Background

1. The report includes links to the ACNFP website and 2024-2025 meeting pages leading readers to the agendas, minutes and non-reserved business committee papers for discussion from previous meetings. 

2. The format remains as used last year and with some updates to the standard text.

3. The report includes the information on work carried out by the Products of Genetic Technology (PGT) and Cannabidiol and hemp derived products (CBD) subgroups. In addition, the report has been updated following the progress of the work on Cell Cultivated Products (CCPs) to include those aspects relating to the formation of the new CCP Subgroup.

4. The Member insights were a new addition in the 2023 report. The Secretariat would welcome contributions for this report to continue to provide a range of perspectives from the Committee.

5. A link to the Member interest’s page on the ACNFP website is provided. Thank you to those who responded to the annual update of interests in November.  If Members have any updates for this page, please can these be provided to the Secretariat so that these can be updated. Information on Members who newly joined the Committee in 2024 are also included.

6. The Food Standards Agency’s Good Practice Guidelines contains a list of principles which each FSA Committee is asked to reconsider annually as part of the preparation of its annual report. The Good Practice Guidelines are on page 33. Recognising the range of activities of the different Committees, the good practice document notes that not all the guidelines will apply to all Committees all of the time. 

7. If Members are content, it is proposed that the text be finalised for publication.

Committee Actions Required

• Members are asked to review the report and raise any comments or changes needed to ensure it is an accurate record of the work of the Committee and its subgroups between January 2024 and March 2025.
• Members are also asked to consider the Committee's performance during this financial year against the Good Practice Guidelines and to suggest any areas where the ACNFP should review or adapt its working practices.
• Members are requested to provide substantive comments on the report during the meeting. Any minor drafting points can be sent directly to the Secretariat.

ACNFP Secretariat

April 2025

Annexes

Annex A – January 2024 -March 2025 Report on the activities of the ACNFP and its subgroups.