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FINAL MINUTES OF THE TENTH MEETING OF ACAF
HELD AT THE JARVIS PICCADILLY HOTEL, MANCHESTER 6 JULY 2001

Present:

Acting Chairman

Dr Ian Brown

Members

John Cheetham

 

Dr Andrew Chesson

 

Gilli Davies

 

Paul Foxcroft

 

Dr John Heritage

 

Fiona Hodgson

 

Dr Helen Raine

 

Dr Desmond Rice

 

Dr Michael Stringer

Secretariat

Keith Millar

 

Tony Hitching

 

Karen Dell

 

Tim Ford

 

Allyson Allman

Assessors

Malcolm Dragon – Food Standards Agency Wales

 

Susan Pryde – Food Standards Agency Scotland

 

Derek Renshaw – Food Standards Agency

Officials

Gail Jones – Food Standards Agency

 

  1. The acting Chairman welcomed members to the meeting and conveyed apologies for the absence of Bob Moore, Andrew Peddie and the Food Standards Agency Assessor, Bill Knock.

    2. Agenda Item 1 – Minutes of the Previous Meeting (MIN/01/2)

  2. The minutes of the previous meeting were adopted subject to the following amendments:

  • para.8, line 8 – the word "study" to be added after "pilot"

  • paras 5-9 – should be amended to reflect a point raised about consumer concerns over using fish meal in animal feed. The Secretariat to clear a form of words with Fiona Hodgson.

  • para. 17 – Paul Foxcroft to be added to the list of presenters

  • para. 18 – the word "be" to read "been"

Action: The Secretariat

Agenda Item 2 - Points arising from the Open Forum

  1. Members thought that this event had gone well and thanked the Secretariat, particularly Gail Jones, for their work in organising it. The Committee liked the informality of the Forum and the involvement of the delegates. It was noted that there had been positive feedback from attendees. There was some disappointment about the number of attendees and it was suggested that news releases announcing future open meetings should be issued earlier. It was agreed that letters of thanks would be sent to all delegates providing them with feedback on ACAF’s forward work plan. The Secretariat would also provide members with a list of attendees and their organisations.

    2. Action: The Secretariat.

  2. It was agreed that the outcome of Open Forum would be publicised by a news release, cleared by all members, and a short summary of the event to be put on the ACAF website.

    3. Action: The Secretariat.

  3. Members agreed to hold a similar event next year and asked the Secretariat to provide a paper for the next meeting outlining some possible models. The Committee indicated that it would like another informal and interactive event. It was pointed out that ACAF could choose to hold more than one open event per year. Members generally concluded that it was preferable to hold the events outside London, with some favouring locations close to agricultural colleges. It was agreed that holding meetings over two days was too time consuming for members and should be avoided.

    4. Action: The Secretariat.

    Agenda Item 3 – Forward Work Plan (ACAF/01/ 32)

  4. During the Open Forum afternoon session delegates had split into syndicate groups to discuss what topics should be included in ACAF’s forward work plan. Suggestions from the session were included in a discussion paper at this meeting. From views emerging at the Open Forum, members agreed that ACAF would need to address issues relating to on-farm feeding practices as a matter of priority. This generic term would include many of the topics raised by delegates such as on-farm mixing, the use of assurance schemes, feeding hygiene, integrated feeders and input into the future of farming report. Traceability was another wide ranging review that the Committee favoured undertaking. It was suggested that the Food Standards Agency’s Food Chain Strategy Division could be asked to brief members on this area.

  5. Other priority issues identified by the Committee included the nutritional effects of animal feed on the food humans eat. Again, this generic term could include a number of topics including the use of animal feed to affect the nature of meat or other animal products, e.g. canthaxanthin used to effect the colour of egg yolks, "low cholesterol eggs". It was suggested that this could also look at the feed aspects of the implementation of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy’s recommendations on reducing the intake of saturated fats. The Committee also wanted to look at some environmental issues arising from animal feed and feeding practices, e.g. how much waste from feed goes into water and onto the land, but where unsure whether this was part of their remit. It was agreed that the Secretariat would investigate whether environmental aspects are covered by ACAF’s terms of reference and advise the Committee at its next meeting. It was also agreed that the Secretariat would prepare a paper on Commission proposals on the use of processed animal proteins, particularly in relation to a possible re-introduction of meat and bone meal.

    6. Action: The Secretariat

  6. It was agreed that the Secretariat would draft a paper on the forward work plan taking into account the Committee’s remit, the priorities agreed at this meeting and the topics put forward by delegates at the Open Forum.

    7. Action: The Secretariat.

    Agenda Item 4 - ACMSF Second Report on Salmonella in Eggs (ACAF/01/26)

  7. The Committee had discussed extracts, issued in advance of publication, from the ACMSF’s Second Report on Salmonella in Eggs at its ninth meeting on 2 May but had asked to see a copy of the whole report before commenting further. Having now seen the full report, members confirmed their initial reaction was that it focused too much on feed manufacturers and overlooked the key area of integrated producers. The Committee also asked for clarification of the recommendation at para. 6.58 of the Report. It was not clear to members what the ACMSF regarded as unsatisfactory about the present monitoring arrangements. They wanted to know whether any deficiencies had been identified in them, and if so whether the deficiencies related to sampling, to the early detection of emerging serotypes or to some other area. It was agreed that the Secretariat would write to the ACMSF Secretariat conveying ACAF’s views and seeking clarification of the recommendation at 6.58.

    8. Action: The Secretariat

  8. Members asked for regular updates on the work of the Food Standards Agency’s Consultative Group on the Reduction of Salmonella in Chicken and also to be copied in on the quarterly salmonella in feedingstuffs figures from DEFRA.

    9. Action: The Secretariat.

    Agenda Item 5 - Organic Feedingstuffs Regulation (ACAF/01/ 27)

  9. The Committee considered a paper which outlined and enclosed Commission proposals relating to organic farming legislation with particular provisions for the livestock sector. Members were informed that a vote on the proposals was expected in the autumn. It was pointed out that these proposals may include mandatory percentage declarations of ingredients on feed labels. It was thought that legislation on organic and conventional feedingstuffs should be consistent in respect of matters such as labelling. It was agreed that the Secretariat would provide a paper for members before the next meeting giving a more detailed critique of the Commission’s proposals. It was suggested that an official from the Organic Unit at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should attend the next meeting to update members and answer any questions.

    10. Action: The Secretariat.

    Agenda Item 6 – OECD Consensus Document on the Safety Assessment of GM Animal Feed (ACAF/01/ 29)

  10. This paper, introduced by Dr Chesson, outlined a proposed structure for an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) consensus document on the safety assessment of animal feed derived from GM plants. Members were informed that the OECD recognised that animal feed had had a low priority in the past and so its Task Force on Novel Foods and Feeds had decided to produce a consensus document drawing together areas on GM feed where consensus existed and highlighting areas that were still being questioned. The document concentrated on issues specific to the safety assessment of animal feed to avoid duplicating work being done on GM food assessments. It was emphasised that the draft did not endorse or reject the use of GM technology, this decision was up to others to make. The document aimed to be neutral, looking at how best to test the safety of GM products if the technology was used.

  11. The draft outline was welcomed by members as a clear and interesting document. The Committee had nothing to add to the outline at this stage but members were encouraged to send any comments on the draft directly to Andrew Chesson. The Committee was particularly interested in the issue of feeding studies on target species. Some members expressed concern about the detection of unintended effects of GM feed, particularly in the long term, and thought that tests on target species could be useful in this respect. Others pointed out the difficulty in devising tests for unknown or unexpected outcomes. It was suggested that post-market monitoring might be the best option for looking at long term effects.

    12. Action: Members to send any comments on the draft to Dr Chesson

    Agenda Item 7 - Matters Arising

    Meat Imports

  12. Members were informed that letters were issued on 2 May to the Food Standards Agency, British Retail Consortium and the British Meat Manufacturers Association seeking assurances that the standards of production are no less for imported meat and animal products than applied to UK production. Their attention was drawn to the response from Sir John Krebs on behalf of the Agency and the Secretariat agreed to chase replies to the other two letters before the next meeting. It was also agreed that a similar letter should be sent to the Provision Trade Federation.

    13. Action: The Secretariat.

    Review of Animal Feed Labelling

  13. Members were reminded that this report had been issued on 27 June and that its publication had been announced by a news release the same day. The Food Standards Agency had also responded to the report in a further news release issued the same day. However, the media had not shown any interest in the report to date. The Committee was informed that the Agency had issued a consultation on the report and was planning to hold a meeting with stakeholders at the end of July to discuss its recommendations. It was agreed that the Secretariat would report back to the Committee on the outcome of this meeting.

    14. Action: The Secretariat.

  14. The Secretariat was asked if it was possible for the UK to implement the Report’s recommendations unilaterally and the Committee was informed that in practice there was very limited scope for this. However, a copy of ACAF’s Report had been sent to the Commission and the Secretariat outlined the possible timetable for feed labelling issues to be taken forward at EC level. It was noted that the Labelling Report had been well received by delegates at the Open Forum.

    15. Fish Meal

  15. Members were informed that a decision to extend the EC ban on processed animal proteins, which included fish meal, had been taken by the Commission the previous week. There was no time limit on the extended ban but the Commission had agreed to revisit the issue following a review of methods of analysis, particularly the ELISA test. The Commission had not yet given a timetable for this review. The Committee was informed that the UK ban would come into force on 1 August.

  16. Members expressed their strong disappointment with the Commission’s decision to extend the ban and considered that the decision was not based on sound science. The Committee re-iterated its earlier advice that the removal of fishmeal from UK livestock diets would not be justified by any BSE-related risk, provided fishmeal supplies were traceable and protected from risks of cross-contamination with meat and bone meal (MBM). Some members had concerns about feeding fish meal to livestock for ethical reasons, i.e. because they considered it unnatural, but they agreed with the Committee that there were no safety reasons for banning its use. It was agreed that the acting Chairman would write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs conveying the Committee’s concerns and requesting a progress report on steps being taken to validate the ELISA test and an estimate of the prospects for re-opening the debate on fish meal at EC level.

    17. Action: Dr Brown

    Agenda Item 8 – Any Other Business

    Revised Terms of Reference

  17. The Committee was informed that its terms of reference needed to be amended to reflect the replacement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It would now read:

    18. "To advise the Food Standards Agency, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministers of the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) on the safety and use of animal feeds and feeding practices, with particular emphasis on protecting human health and with reference to new technical developments. In carrying out its functions, the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs will liaise with other relevant advisory committees as appropriate."

    Date of next meeting.

  18. Members were reminded that the next meeting would take place on 25 September in Aviation House in London.

    19. Other Information Papers

  19. The following papers were also presented for information:

    20.

  • Update on Animal Feed Additive Dossiers (ACAF/01/28)

  • EC Developments (ACAF/01/31)

  • Update on the Work of Other Advisory Committees and the Food Standards Agency (ACAF/01/30)


ACAF Secretariat
Food Standards Agency
July 2001



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