Memorandum 47
Submission from the Food Standards Agency
PUTTING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE HEART
OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
The Food Standards Agency was established in
2000 in a climate of public loss of confidence in government
policy and advice on food issues, following the BSE crisis. The
FSA was established as a non-Ministerial UK Government Department
at arms' length from Government, headed by a Chair and a Board,
who are appointed to act in the public interest. The FSA reports
to Parliament and to the devolved administrations in Scotland
Wales and Northern Ireland through Health Ministers. The FSA
has its own budget, negotiated directly with the Treasury, of
which some £20 million is allocated to research. The
FSA is empowered to publish its advice to government.
The primary aim of the FSA is to "protect public
health from risks which may arise in connection with the consumption
of food and otherwise protect the interests of consumers in relation
to food." (Food Standards Act 1999).
The Agency is responsible for:
— assessing, managing and communicating
risk in relation to food; and
— developing and implementing policy in
the UK on issues affecting safety, composition, labelling and
nutritional value of food.
In all of this work to deliver our vision of
"safe food and healthy eating for all", we are guided
by a set of core values:
— putting the consumer first;
— openness and independence;
— science and evidence based.
The FSA's independence and open and transparent
policy making processes are key to our success in maintaining
public confidence. Good science and evidence are at the heart
of the FSA's work
THE GOVERNANCE
OF SCIENCE
Science is fundamental to helping the Agency
meet its strategic objectives to make food and drink safer and
healthy eating easier. It provides the evidence base on which
the assessment of risk is based. The FSA has given priority to
developing robust governance of science processes within the organisation
to ensure that scientific evidence is being sought, obtained,
interpreted, used and communicated appropriately and effectively.
The key components of the FSA's science governance are:
Scientific expertise:
46% of the FSA staff have a background in science and of these
more than 67% have postgraduate qualifications. The FSA's Chief
Scientist is the Head of Profession. This internal expertise
not only helps ensure that the research and surveillance programmes
undertaken are sound but also helps to frame the questions at
the beginning of the risk assessment process to take into account
what consumers will want to know. The FSA establishes independent
ad hoc working groups to provide advice on specific issues. Individual
experts evaluate research proposals and review programmes. Where
appropriate, our research is peer reviewed.
Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs):
The FSA is advised by ten Scientific Advisory Committees, including
a recently formed Social Science Research Committee, made up of
approximately 140 independent and eminent scientists. The
FSA has also established an Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement
to provide the FSA Board with an independent assessment of the
extent to which the FSA is engaging effectively with consumers
and to offer advice to FSA staff on how best to engage consumers
on particular issues.
General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS):
This overarching Committee (whose membership comprises the chairs
of each of the SACs) is newly established under the chairmanship
of Professor Colin Blakemore. The overall purpose of GACS is to
provide independent challenge and advice to the Chief Scientist
and to the FSA Board on the Agency's governance and use of science.
Science Checklist: A tool that relates
primarily to the risk assessment process that makes explicit the
points to be considered by FSA staff and by the SACs in the preparation
of papers on science-related issues for consideration by the FSA
Board. The SACs have also developed Good Practice Guidelines
which complement the checklist and ensure that the operation of
the SACs is consistent with the remit and values of the FSA.
Horizon scanning: Both FSA staff and
the SACs have an important part to play in the process of identifying
the potential impact of emerging science and technologies on food
safety and consumer health issues. In addition, GACS has a role
in identifying new issues and potential gaps as well as advising
on sources of advice that cut across the remits of the individual
SACs.
FSA Chief Scientist: In recent years
the role of the Chief Scientist has been strengthened. The Chief
Scientist has the responsibility of ensuring that the FSA's science
governance processes are used and that the SACs have been fully
consulted.
As a result of the FSA's reliance on robust
science governance, when the FSA Board meets in public to make
decisions on food policy, it is reassured that the information
before it is the best available scientific evidence and advice
on the issue. In addition, the relevant Chairs of the SACs join
FSA Board at the table during Open meetings when issues within
their remits are being discussed and the FSA's Chief Scientist
always sits at the board table to provide advice and assurance
to the Board on scientific issues.
The FSA's Chief Scientist publishes an Annual
Report, which, as well as providing a public account of the FSA's
scientific activities, provides an opportunity to summarise in
a single, coherent document the many and varied ways in which
the FSA uses and promotes science and contributes to scientific
progress. The Chief Scientist also publishes a Research Report
annually. The FSA's Chief Scientist is a member of the network
of Chief Scientific Advisors in Government led by Professor John
Beddington.
How we handle and deliver science?
The FSA's practical experience has led us to
adopt an integrated model of risk assessment, management and communication
where two way communication with stakeholders and consumers takes
place throughout the policy process. (see annex)
Much of the FSA's reputation depends on the way we
handle uncertainty. Science is fundamental to reducing uncertainty
and providing consumers with the clearest possible advice. The
weight of evidence is usually sufficient to enable SACs to so
define risks and uncertainties that the FSA Board can make a judgement
about managing the risk. However, sometimes science is unable
to offer that assurance. Under those circumstances we acknowledge
that uncertainty, whilst taking proportionate action. In reaching
decisions on risk management, the Board considers wider economic,
social and environmental influences, including the attitudes and
risk appetites of the public, the costs and benefits of different
options, and the practicalities of delivery and enforcement.
Communication is integral throughout the process,
being open with what we know and when we know, if there is a potential
risk to public health, even when there are uncertainties.
We aim to communicate proactively with the public
on science issues. The FSA website has won awards for its accessibility
and the Chief Scientist's blog is widely quoted in the media,
as well as followed online. However, the FSA is always looking
to find more, and better, ways to engage the public in dialogue
about science.
Weblink to Chief Scientists' Annual Report:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/chiefscientist0908.pdf
March 2009
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