Safety Evaluation Procedures for the Review of Food Additives

SAFETY EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR THE REVIEW OF FOOD ADDITIVES 

Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives 

The JECFA is a scientific committee administered by the FAO of the United Nations and the WHO. JECFA is a very important supranational organization responsible 

Many countries do not have the expertise and funds to conduct risk assessments of food additives and contaminants. JECFA performs a critical function in providing these risk assessments, and many countries use evaluations from JECFA to establish national regulatory programs for food additives and contaminants. 

WHO selects JECFA committee members (experts) to conduct the toxicological evaluation of food additives and contaminants and establishing an acceptable daily intake (ADI). FAO selects JECFA experts to establish specifications for the identity and purity of food additives and to assess their intake. Scientists are chosen for their expertise to serve on JECFA committees according to the types of compounds on the agenda, and membership is on an ad hoc basis using individual scientists from all regions of the world. 

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