These notes are designed to provide guidance to the FAO Joint Secretary, FAO Consultants, Members and sponsors relating their roles and responsibilities in dealing with the evaluation of food additives and contaminants. The guidelines outline the tasks of the FAO Joint Secretariat and its role in servicing JECFA, time schedules to be followed in preparing for meetings, the appropriate handling of data, and appropriate relationships with sponsors and other data providers. Supplemental material is included that outlines the procedures by which substances may be placed on the agenda (Annex 1) and procedures for issuing the call for data (Annex 2). Close adherence to these guidelines by everyone involved will ensure that the concerns and views of all interested parties are...