Scientific Committees Scientific Steering Committee (former MDSC) Outcome of discussions

Minutes of the Scientific Steering Committee Meeting of 7-8 December 2000

1. Welcome, apologies, introductory remarks, declaration of interest in relation to the current agenda

Mr.Bertrand Carsin, Director of the Directorate "Scientific Health Opinions" of the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General (DG-SANCO) welcomed the participants of the Scientific Steering Committee, which started with this meeting its second mandate.

He congratulated the newly elected chairpersons of the scientific committees: Prof.Dr. Ada G.A.C. Knaap (Scientific Committee for Food), Prof.Dr. Georges Bories (Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition), Prof.Dr. Ian R. White Scientific Committee for Cosmetics and Non-Food Consumer Products), Prof.Dr. Johannes Löwer (Scientific Committee for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices), Prof.Dr. James W. Bridges (Scientific Committee for Eco-Toxicology and the Environment), Prof.Dr. Johanna Fink-Gremmels (Scientific Committee for Veterinary Public Health) and Prof.Dr. Anthony R. Hardy (Scientific Committee for Plants). The chairperson of the Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare is to be elected at a plenary meeting in January 2001. The present composition of the Scientific Steering Committee for its second mandate is given in annex 1.

He apologised Prof.Bridges (for 7.12.00) and Profs. Jones, White, Knudsen and Leneindre (for 8.12.00). Prof.Leneindre represented the Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SC-AHAW). Prof. Le Neindre was however not entitled to participate neither in the vote for the chairperson and vice persons nor in the possible adoption of opinions, as SC-AHAW had not yet been formally newly installed and therefore had not yet elected its chairperson and vice-persons..

Declarations of interest:

At the occasion of this first meeting into the second mandate, the participants completed and signed the "Annual Statement of Member's Interest and Declaration Concerning Confidentiality" (Annexes 1 and 2 to the Rules of Procedure of the SSC). The other members will have to send these forms, duly completed, by mail to the SSC secretariat.

No member declared an interest in any of the items on the agenda of this specific meeting.

2. Approval of the agenda

The agenda was approved without changes. The final agenda is attached as annex 2.

3. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 14-15 September 2000.

The minutes of the extra-ordinary meeting of 27-28 November 2000 were adopted without changes.

4. Procedural matters:

a. Installation of the Committee and related matters.

The election of the chair- and vice-chairpersons was held as stipulated in the SSC's current Rules of Procedure. Prof.Pascal was elected chairperson. Profs. Osterhaus and Silano were elected respectively first and second vice-chairpersons.

A copy of the Rules of Procedure of the SSC was made available to all members. No discussion was held at this stage as the new members needed time to become acquainted with the SSC so that they can place the present Rules in their context. A detailed discussion resulting in possible amendments is planned for one of the first upcoming meetings.

b. Planning: dates of next meetings in 2001 and 2002

A planning of the meetings until June 2002 was agreed upon (see annex 3).

c. Composition of BSE/TSE ad hoc group

The SSC elected Prof.Silano as chairman of the TSE/BSE ad hoc Group. Profs. Silano, Skerfving, Osterhaus and Loewer will represent the SSC in the ad hoc Group. The SSC decided that the other members of the TSE/BSE ad-hoc group remain in office until the SSC addresses the composition of the group again in February 2001. At that moment, the chairpersons of the sectorial committees with representation in the ad hoc Group (SCF, SCAN, SCAHAW, SCVPH and SCMPMD), will also present their members.

d. Working procedures of the SSC

The SSC discussed their present working procedures and agreed upon a number of changes with immediate effect:

- The agenda item "Reports of the Chairmen of the 8 Scientific Committees" which so far was always addressed at the end of the meeting, will as from now be discussed as one of the first items on the agenda, for example after the adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. This will make it possible to address this item with the emphasis it merits, to pay more attention to the co-ordination of multidisciplinary matters and to possibly attribute time to the discussion of issues which are of general interest or which have the potential of becoming a scientific matter of increasing concern.

As from now, all the members of the SSC who are chairperson of a scientific committee will therefore present at each meeting a brief overview of those activities of their committee that are of general interest, that have a multidisciplinary character or that have the potential of evolving into an issue of potential concern. This presentation should also include the list of opinions adopted since last meeting, but should not elaborate on the day-to-day routine of the committee or ongoing work (unless it fits into the above frame). The time allocated for the presentation should not exceed approx. 3 minutes per scientific committee, possibly followed by a discussion of appropriate length. A written report of the presentation, not exceeding 1 page should be provided to the SSC secretariat for inclusion in the minutes.

- The SSC agreed that, whenever appropriate and possible, the meeting should be split-up into working groups addressing several agenda items in parallel and preparing them for plenary discussion. In the past, this approach has been successfully applied at two occasions.

- The SSC also discussed, once more, the ever increasing number of (mostly urgent) questions submitted to all Scientific Committees and the corresponding increasing workload. The SSC unanimously emphasised that additional staffing of high scientific quality is critical to support the activities of the Scientific Committees.

- The SSC finally suggested that Commissioner Byrne or the SANCO General Director would discuss with the SSC members their mandate (expectations from the Commission) and the frame their work within in relation to the overall context of the Commission's health and consumer protection policy.

4. Multidisciplinary matters

a. Safety of cotton

The SSC was asked to advice the Commission on how best to address a new interdisciplinary question regarding the safety of cotton products such as feminine hygiene products (e.g. tampons, sanitary pads etc), baby or adult incontinence products (e.g. nappies, etc), "medical cotton" product (cotton balls, make-up pads, gauze, etc) and cotton fabrics and garments.

It was agreed that a draft report and draft opinion would be prepared by the present GMP working group composed of a core of SC-Plant members. The draft report would be circulated for comments and possible contributions from competent members the SC-MPMD and the SC-CNFP. Final discussion and possible adoption of an opinion would be done by the SSC, possibly at its meeting of February 2001.

b. "Emerging health issues: pilot exercise applied to GMOs"

The opinion adopted at the meeting of 26-27 October 2000 was distributed to all new SSC members and briefly introduced. No discussion was held.

c. Harmonisation of risk assessment procedures

The final opinion and report, adopted at the SSC meeting of 26-27 October 2000, was distributed to all new SSC members, introduced in detail by Professor Bridges and discussed.

The report consists of two parts. Part one (166 pages) comprises a main report, a list of references and membership of the Working Party and its working groups. Part 2 (265 pages) comprises 8 appendices: Glossary of terms, Report on exposure assessment, Report on quantitative risk assessment of chemicals in relation to human heath, Report on quantitative microbiological risk assessment for food and other contaminated products, Report on quantitative microbiological risk assessment for infectious diseases, Report on presentation of risk assessment findings, Legal framework for risk assessment activities for new and existing chemicals, Mandate of the Scientific Advisory Group.

The new Scientific Steering Committee endorsed the opinion and stressed the need to implement the recommendations in a timely manner.

In particular, the new SSC underlined the need to establish as soon as possible an Inter-Committee Task Force. This Task Force would be charged with promoting the harmonisation of risk assessment procedures across the EC Scientific Committees, while having regard to other international and national developments. The task force would report regularly to the SSC of the advances made.

The SSC agreed that the remit of the Inter-Committee Task Force include the following, as early activities:

- Suggestion for adoption of a common glossary of terms. Specifically, suggestions should be made for a common language to describe different degrees of risk, and to account of the uncertainties in risk characterisation.

- Scientific watch on, and review of, the advances in risk assessment methodologies. In particular, the SSC stressed the need to make explicit and contrast the related activities in the different Scientific Committees.

- Explore the potential for harmonisation of risk assessment between different categories of risk, i.e. chemical, biological and physical.

The SSC agreed that the draft of a detailed remit for the Inter-Committee Task Force will be presented for discussion on the meeting of the SSC in February 2001.

d. "Emerging health issues"

The opinion " Strategies for dealing with emerging and re-emerging scientific issues that have the potential to impact human health, directly or mediated through the environment", adopted at the meeting of 26-27 October 2000 was distributed to all new SSC members and introduced.

The preliminary and incomplete list of emerging and re-emerging scientific issues that have the potential to impact human health, as identified by individual SSC members, was discussed and revised. The SSC proposed the following issues, taken from its list adopted on 26-27 October 2000, to be further addressed in the near future by special ad-hoc working groups:

- Emerging viruses . This issue would also address the risk that certain viruses (suddenly) evolve into a pandemic (for example influenza) and the risk aspects of bio-terrorism. The SSC considered that national and European authorities are not prepared to deal with such issues should they suddenly arise. The WG would be animated by Prof.Osterhaus.

- Anti-microbial resistance . The SSC agreed to ask Prof.Jones to re-activate the working group on antimicrobial resistance to verify whether since the adoption in May 1999 of the SSC opinion on anti-microbial resistance, any new scientific evidence became available. If so, this would need to be evaluated and possibly incorporated in an update of the opinion.

- High-frequency electro-magnetic fields. The SSC proposed the Scientific Committee for Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of the Environment to verify whether since the adoption in June 1999 of the SSC opinion on Electro-magnetic waves, any new scientific evidence became available. If so, this would need to be evaluated and possibly incorporated in an update of the opinion. Special attention should be given to the scientific reasons why the UK authorities imposed a warning label on the GSMs sold in the UK. Special attention should also be given to the (intermediary) outcome of the research currently underway in the frame of EC (DG-RECH) and WHO programmes.

Two SSC members, Profs Klein and Silano, will join the SC-TEE's working group that already addresses this issue.

- Xeno-transplants . This issue is already being addressed by the SC-Medicinal Products and Medical Devices. The SC-MPMD (Prof. Löwer) will regularly report to the SSC.

- Endocrine disrupters. This issue is currently already being addressed within its environmental context by the Scientific Committee Toxicity and Ecotoxicity of the Environment (SC-TEE), with some members of the SC-Plants. The SSC agreed that members of the SCF, the SCVPH and, possibly, the SCAN would join the existing Working Group in order to cover also the broader scope of public health, food and (possibly) feed-related aspects.

5. Multidisciplinary matters relating to TSE/BSE

5.1. Report by the chairman of the TSE/BSE ad hoc group

No meeting of the TSE/BSE ad hoc Group was held since the last SSC of 27-28 November 2000.

5.2. Reports on specific issues:

a. Upcoming new questions.

At its meeting of 4 December, the Council of Ministers decided to submit the following additional BSE-related questions to the Scientific Steering Committee:

On vertebral column and T-bone-steaks. "If it is considered that the Community measures concerning the testing of bovine animals over 30 months of age and the feed ban are effectively implemented and carefully controlled, under which conditions the measures to ban bovine vertebrae for direct human consumption and as a raw material for the production of derived products such as tallow and gelatine, can be considered scientifically justified?

Can the SSC consider this question under the following two scenarios:

- Effective feed ban and testing of all of emergency and sick slaughtered animals over 30 months of age and random testing of dead animals

- Effective feed ban and testing of all animals over 30 months of age?"

On thymus and spleen. "In the light of the most recent scientific developments in this field, should bovine thymus and spleen be considered as specified risk material?

If yes, under which conditions of sourcing and/or age of animal?"

On rendered fats. "Is there any new scientific evidence with regard to BSE justifying banning the use of rendered fats produced in accordance with the SSC opinion of 26-27 March 1998, in the feed (including milk replacers) of some or all farmed animals, i.e. cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and rabbits?"

On hydrolysed proteins. "Can hydrolysed proteins derived from animal material other than hides and skins be considered as safe and be fed to farmed animals?

If not, under which conditions of sourcing of the material and/or of type of the material used and/or production process can they be considered as safe?

Is there any new scientific evidence with regard to BSE justifying banning the use of hydrolysed proteins produced in accordance with the SSC opinion of 22-23 October 1998, in feed for farmed animals?"

In addition, Commission services request the SSC to address the following questions:

On Mechanically Recovered Meat (MRM). "Under which conditions of sourcing of the material and/or of type of the material used and/or production process, can MRM derived from ruminant bones be considered as safe?"

On epidemiology. "In the light of the current TSE rapid testing possibilities and the recommendations of the individual country GBR reports adopted by the SSC in July 2000, what are the minimal requirements for intensive surveillance programmes improving the basis for future assessments of the GBR, or helping to verify the current risk assessments? More in particular:

The SSC had a very preliminary discussion on the scope of each of these questions. It decided to schedule an extra-ordinary meeting on 11 and 12 January 2001. The meeting would be prepared by an extra TSE/BSE ad hoc Group on 4 January 2001. The SSC made it quite clear that it would be almost impossible to address all the above 6 questions in one meeting. The Commission services therefore asked to give priority to the first 4 questions, which are the ones submitted by the Council.

The SSC asked the SSC secretariat to extract from the opinions adopted since 1997, those sections that already address some (parts) of the above questions or that are likely to be useful when addressing them.

b. Quantitative risk assessment applied to (i) the Residual TSE Risk in Gelatine and Tallow Derived from Bones (Report and opinion); (ii) the use of ruminant-derived tallow in bovine feed; (iii) the use of ruminant-derived tallow in milk replacers for calves; (iv) cross-contamination of animal feed with ruminant MBM (report from the working group)

The SSC agreed to further address this issue in the framework of the preparation of the above new question on rendered fats and to exploit the existing working-group reports in this context.

c. Geographical BSE-risk: update

The secretariat gave a short update on the GBR-assessment exercise and informed the SSC on the ongoing assessment of Third Countries:

27 Third Countries are currently undergoing the assessment and it is foreseen that the SSC adopts the 27 country reports on the GBR-assessment at its meeting of February 2001. Other Third Countries can be expected to follow in the future, depending on their interest to be exempt from the requirement to ensure that no SRM are exported to the EU (see Commission Decision on SRM 2000/248/EC of 29/June/2000).

A short discussion was held in which the SSC expressed its concern about the volume of routine work that the GBR-assessment represents. It was, however, agreed that the final adoption of the GBR-assessments by the SSC is unavoidable. The SSC called upon the Commission to provide adequate resources for an optimal preparation of these opinions.

Further discussions on appropriate and efficient procedures will be held.

d. Update of the opinion of May 1999 on the evolution of the BSE epidemic in the UK.

Following detailed discussion and amendment of a report prepared by the TSE/BSE ad hoc Group, the SSC adopted the opinion on Monitoring Some Important aspects of the evolution of the Epidemic of BSE in Great-Britain. It is attached as Annex 4. The opinion also addresses a number of ancillary questions related to surveillance and to the possibility of collecting information relevant for tracing the origin of "Born After the Real Ban - BARB" cases in the UK.

h. Pre-emptive opinion on risk scenarios, should BSE in sheep be found under natural conditions. Monitoring of research results on experimental BSE in small ruminants.

The Secretariat reported that the meeting of the Working Group originally scheduled for 28 November 2000, had to be postponed because of the extra-ordinary SSC meeting held on 27 and 28 November. The Working Group will now meet again in the second half of January 2000. This implies that a draft opinion will only be available for the SSC meeting of 8-9 February 2001 at the earliest.

6. Organisational matters.

Apart from the aspects discussed under item 3.c, no other organisational matters were discussed.

7. Co-ordination: Reports of the Chairmen of the 8 Scientific Committees

The chairmen of all Scientific Committees provided written reports on the activities of their committees since the last SSC meeting (see annex 5)

8. Information by the Commission services on matters related to consumer health

This point was not addressed.

9. Any other business.

The meeting ended on Friday 8 December 2000, at 13h00

Annex 1: List of participants in the Scientific Steering Committee meeting on 7-8 December 2000

List of presence

Members of the SSC :

Ing. Georges Bories, Prof. James W. Bridges (excused for 7 December 2000), Prof. Johanna Fink-Gremmels, Prof. Anthony R. Hardy, Dr Keith Jones (excused for 8 December 2000), Prof. Werner Klein, Dr Ada Knaap, Dr Ib Knudsen (excused for 8 December 2000), Dr Pierre Le Neindre, Prof. Johannes Löwer, Prof .Albert Osterhaus, Prof. Gérard Pascal, Prof. Pere Puigdomenech, Prof. Vittorio Silano, Prof. Staffan Skerfving, Dr Ian White (excused for 8 December 2000)

Participants from the Commission :

DG SANCO: B. Carsin, C. Berlingieri, P. Vossen, J.Kreysa, J.L. Jouve, S. Abildgaard, I. Rollier, G. Morrison, V. Van Haeperen, A. Somogyi, A. Wilhelm.

JRC- ISPRA: C. Von Holst

Annex 2: Agenda of the Scientific Steering Committee Meeting of 7-8 December 2000

1. Welcome, apologies, introductory remarks, declaration of interest.

2. Approval of the agenda

2.1 Procedural matters:

a. Installation of the Committee and related matters

b. Planning: dates of next meetings in 2001 and 2002

c. Composition of BSE/TSE ad hoc group

3. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 27-28 November 2000

4. Multidisciplinary matters:

a. Safety of cotton (draft mandate)

5. Multidisciplinary matters relating to TSE/BSE

5.1. Report by the chairman of the TSE/BSE ad-hoc group

5.2. Reports on specific issues:

a. Upcoming new questions

Production systems and products.

b. Quantitative risk assessment applied to (progress report) (i) the Residual TSE Risk in Gelatine and Tallow Derived from Bones (Report and opinion); (ii) the use of ruminant-derived tallow in bovine feed; (iii) the use of ruminant-derived tallow in milk replacers for calves; (iv) cross-contamination of animal feed with ruminant MBM (report from the working group)

Geographical BSE-risk.

c. Update

d. Update of the opinion of May 1999 on the evolution of the BSE epidemic in the UK.

Other issues:

e. Pro-active opinion on risk scenarios, should BSE in sheep be found under natural conditions. Monitoring of research results on experimental BSE in small ruminants (progress report).

6. Co-ordination: Reports of the Chairmen of the 8 Scientific Committees.

a. Info on the follow-up given to the opinions adopted at the previous SSC meeting.

7. Information by the Commission services on matters related to consumer health.

8. Any other business.

Annex 3: Planning of plenary meetings 2001 and 1 ^st half of 2002

The following is the meeting schedule of the SSC until mid-2002 :

Thursday-Friday 11-12 January 2001

Thursday-Friday 8-9 February 2001

Thursday-Friday 29-30 March 2001

Thursday-Friday 10-11 May 2001

Thursday-Friday 28-29 June 2001

Thursday-Friday 6-7 September 2001

Thursday-Friday 18-19 October 2001

Thursday-Friday 29-30 November 2001

Thursday-Friday 10-11 January 2002

Thursday-Friday 21-22 February 2002

Thursday-Friday 4-5 April 2002

Thursday-Friday 16-17 May 2002

Thursday-Friday 27-28 June 2002

Annex 4

Opinion and Report on: Monitoring Some Important aspects of the evolution of the Epidemic of BSE in Great-Britain

Update providing an epidemiological commentary on BSE projections for Great Britain (GB) and on surveillance, as well as on the occurrence of "Born After the Real Ban - BARB" cases

(Distributed separately)

Annex 5: Reports from the secretariats of Scientific Committees on the major activities and milestones since the SSC meeting of 26-27 October 2000.

Scientific Committee on Food (SCF)

The following is the list of opinions recently adopted by the SCF:

On contaminants:

- Opinion on the Risk Assessment of Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs in Food (expressed on 22 November 2000)

- Opinion on Fusarium Toxins Part 41 : Nivalenol (expressed on 19 October 2000) 

- Opinion on Fusarium Toxins Part 31 : Fumonisin B1 (FB1) (Expressed on 17 October 2000)

On nutrition/dietetic foods:

- SCF Guidelines for the development of Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamins and minerals (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the upper level for vitamin B ₂ (expressed on 22 November 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of beta carotene (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of folate (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of vitamin B ₆ (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of vitamin B ₁₂ (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of selenium (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of manganese (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of molybdenum (expressed on 19 October 2000)

Food Contact Materials:

- Opinion on guidelines on the presentation of an application for assessment of the safety of a substance to be used in food contact materials prior to its authorisation (expressed on 22 November 2000)

- Opinion on a survey on dietary intake of the food contact material di-2-(ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) (expressed on 19 October 2000)

- Opinion on the 11th additional list of monomers and additives for food contact materials (expressed on 19 October 200o

Novel Food:

- Opinion on a Dextran preparation, produced using LEUCONOSTOC MESENTEROIDES, SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE and LACTOBACILLUS Spp,as a novel food ingredient in bakery products (expressed on 18 October 2000)

Scientific Committee for Plants

During the period October - December 2000, the SCP has adopted 10 opinions.

In October, the Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants on the invocation by Germany of Article 16 ('safeguard' clause) of Council Directive 90/220/EEC regarding the genetically modified Bt-maize line CG 00256-176 notified by Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis), notification C/F/94/11-03 was adopted by written procedure, following the SCP meeting of 22 September.

The SCP held a plenary meeting on 30 November, under the new mandate. 19 members amongst which are 15 former members under the first mandate have been appointed.

On 30 November, the following eight opinions were adopted by the SCP:

1. Opinion regarding the evaluation of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus in the context of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (Opinion expressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 Nov. 2000)

2. Opinion regarding the evaluation of flupyrsulfuron-methyl in the context of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (Opinion expressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 Nov 2000)

3. Opinion regarding the evaluation of sulfosulfuron in the context of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (Opinion expressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 November 2000)

4. Opinion regarding the evaluation of cyclanilide in the context of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (Opinion expressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 Nov 2000)

5. Opinion of the SCP regarding the draft guidance document on relevant metabolites (Opinion expressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 Nov 2000)

6. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants on the invocation by Austria of Article 16 ('Safeguard' clause) of Council Directive 90/220/EEC regarding the genetically modified maize Line T25 notified by AgrEvo (now Aventis CropScience, ref. C/F/95/12-07). (Opinion adopted by the Scientific Committed on Plants on 30 November 2000)

7. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on plants on the submission for placing on the market of genetically modified insect resistant and glufosinate ammonium tolerant (Bt-11) maize for cultivation - NOTIFIED BY NOVARTIS SEEDS SA COMPANY (NOTIFICATION C/F/96/05-10) (Adopted by the Scientific Committee on Plants on 30 November 2000)

The draft opinion on the submission for placing on the market of glufosinate ammonium tolerant oil seed rape transformation event Liberator PHOE 6/AC notified by AgrEvo (now Aventis CropScience) (notification C/DE/98/6) will be adopted by written procedure.

Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (SCAN)

The 7th SCAN met for the last time of its mandate (1997-2000) on 20 October 2000. This extraordinary plenary was dedicated to the discussion on the draft opinion on dioxins in feed. The Committee discussed the draft opinion in detail and agreed to adopt it using the Written Procedure, after inclusions of the modifications requested by Committee members. The final opinion was adopted on 06 November.

The SCAN was renewed by the Commission at the end of November, met on 06 December, elected during this meeting its chairpersons: Mr Bories (Chairman), Mr Chesson (First Vice-Chairman) and Mr Wester (Second Vice-Chairman), adopted its rules of procedures and agreed on the plenary meetings' dates for the year 2001. The Working Groups continue their work. New questions to the Committee are expected for early 2001.

Scientific Committee Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health

A report on cysticercosis has been adopted and published.

The new Committee was designated on 27 November and met for its first plenary on 30 November. The chairman and two vice-chairman were elected. The rules of procedure were discussed and adopted. Due to the renewal of the Committee two new rapporteurs have been appointed for the WGs on Trichinella and Vibrios.

The different working groups of the SCVPH continued their works and some of them finalised the drafts, which will be discussed at the next plenary.

Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare

Because of major unavailability of members for the originally proposed date, the Committee has not yet met but will do so on 19 January 2001.

However work has continued in working groups, in particular two groups that are dealing with large reports in the animal welfare area.; the welfare of animals kept for fur production and the welfare of cattle kept for beef production.

These are large comprehensive reports which are on schedule for adoption by the Committee in the first half of 2001.

New issues put to the Committee include an examination of the 'Dutch wasting cattle' syndrome which could be classed as a possible emerging risk.

Scientific Committee for Cosmetics and Non-Food Products

Since the last SSC plenary meeting, only the inaugural meeting of the renewed scientific committee took place on 6 December 2000.

According to the rules of procedure, the members of the SCCNFP elected from among its members Dr. Ian White as the Chairman of the SCCNFP. At the same time Dr. White becomes a member of the Scientific Steering Committee.

Prof. Fritz Kemper and Prof. Nicola Loprieno were elected Vice-Chairmen of the SCCNFP.

Dr. White commented on the work done during the past mandate. He also presented the work programme for the coming months, according to which a series of Working Parties were set up.

The following dates for plenary meetings were fixed : 13 March, 12 June, 25 September and 11 December 2000.

Scientific Committee for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices

The new Committee was constituted on 4 ^th. December 2001. It elected Dr. Löwer, Prof. Williams and Prof. Preziosi as Chairman, Vice-Chairman 1 and Vice-Chairman 2, respectively.

The new Committee decided that for the future work the following Working Groups will be maintained or created:

• MRLs of veterinary medicines
• Xenotransplantation
• Tissue Engineering
• Blood and vCJD"

Scientific Committees Scientific Steering Committee (former MDSC) Outcome of discussions
FOOD SAFETY | PUBLIC HEALTH | CONSUMER PROTECTION | DIRECTORATE GENERAL "HEALTH & CONSUMER PROTECTION"