International experts convene for the 98th Meeting of JECFA
The 98th meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is taking place from 20-29 February 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome. This session brings together international experts to assess residues of veterinary drugs in food.
Vittorio Fattori, FAO Food Safety Officer, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), noted that “As an independent scientific expert committee, JECFA has been meeting since 1956 to evaluate the safety of food additives, contaminants, naturally occurring toxicants and residues of veterinary drugs in food. The scientific advice provided by JECFA has been and continues to be the international point of reference on chemical risk assessment, ensuring that food safety and quality measures and standards are steered by sound scientific principles.”
In his opening remarks, Divine Njie, Deputy Director, ESF, highlighted the growing recognition of the importance of sustainable agrifood systems amid challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanization, which are putting pressure on land and water resources and limiting the accessibility of food that is both safe and nutritious.
“To navigate such challenges, we need to operate in a systemic manner by involving aspects from production to consumption and everything in between in an integrated manner. Food safety is a fundamental element of this integrated approach and an essential outcome of how agrifood systems operate”, said Njie.
The meeting will conclude with recommendations from the expert group to the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF).
Read more about JECFA on the FAO website and WHO website, and CCRVDF.
Photo credit: ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.