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Food safety and quality

Scientific advice

Introduction

The provision of scientific advice in support of setting international food standards is a foundational element of global food safety governance. For over 50 years, FAO in collaboration with WHO has been providing neutral and independent scientific advice as the basis for the international food safety standards, guidelines and codes of practice established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), and to support the development of modern food‑control systems by national authorities.

FAO/WHO scientific advice is provided on issues related to:

  • the safety assessment of chemicals in food
    (including food additives, veterinary‑drug residues, pesticide residues, contaminants and natural toxins);
  • the safety assessment of biological agents in food
    (such as microorganisms, fungi, parasites and prions);
  • the assessment of practices and technologies used in food production
    (including the safety assessment of foods derived from biotechnology); and
  • human nutrition (including probiotics, human nutrient requirements and food fortification).

 

Publications
FAO food safety foresight - Staying prepared in a changing world
2025

Global agrifood systems are complex and constantly evolving. Climate change, global trade patterns, population growth, migration, dietary shifts and...

Food safety foresight: approaches to identify future food safety issues
2025

Foresight approaches in food safety enable the proactive identification and management of emerging issues – including both risks and opportunities –...

Future on a plate - Chef’s foresight menu
2025

This foresight menu offers a glimpse into the future of food, featuring dishes inspired by emerging innovations still in the lab, early development,...

State of research on the interactions between food additives, the gut microbiome and the host – A food safety perspective
2025

A scientific literature review was conducted with a focus on food safety to critically assess the current research on the impact of selected food additives...

Are your supplements safe?
2025

This factsheet summarizes key insights from the FAO report, Food safety in personalized nutrition – A focus on food supplements and functional foods,...

Framework for the provision of scientific advice

FAO’s efforts follow the FAO/WHO framework for scientific advice on food safety and nutrition, designed to enhance transparency in food‑safety and nutrition guidance. The core principles of the framework include:

  • soundness: scientific excellence of experts and processes;
  • responsibility: accountability and integrity protection;
  • objectivity: neutrality of experts and advice;
  • fairness: respect for all participants and their views;
  • transparency: openness of process and advice;
  • inclusiveness: balanced skills, minority opinions and geographical diversity, without compromising excellence.

FAO and WHO provide scientific advice related to food safety and nutrition in response to specific requests from member countries, from Codex committees and, occasionally, from specific programmes within FAO and WHO, through different mechanisms. Mechanisms for the provision of scientific advice. FAO and WHO provide scientific advice through different mechanisms, expert bodies and meetings, and ad hoc consultations. These include:

  • The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (since 1956)
  • The Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) (since 1963)
  • The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) (since 2000)
  • The Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Specifications (JMPS) (since 2002)
  • The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Nutrition (JEMNU)

Ad hoc expert consultations and meetings organized in response to specific requests or emergency situations.

Sustainable funding for the provision of scientific advice

FAO and WHO activities related to the provision of scientific advice on food safety and nutrition are financed by both organizations separately, and extra‑budgetary resources are provided by national governments.

In order to meet the growing demand for scientific advice and to specifically address the issue of sustainability of the provision of scientific advice, FAO and WHO have established several mechanisms to facilitate the sustainable funding of the work on scientific advice for food safety and nutrition. To obtain more information, please contact [email protected].