FAO and WHO are issuing an open call for experts and data in relation to the future work of ad hoc Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – guidance for qualitative risk assessment.
Background
At the request of Codex1 , FAO and WHO held a series of expert meetings on the risk assessment of food allergens since 2020 and published the meeting reports, including Part 1: Review and validation of Codex Alimentarius priority allergen list through risk assessment2; Part 2: Review and establish threshold levels in foods for the priority allergens3; Part 3: Review and establish precautionary labelling in foods of the priority allergens4; Part 4: Review and establish exemptions for the food allergens5; Part 5: Review and establish threshold levels for specific tree nuts (Brazil nut, macadamia nut or Queensland nut, pine nut), soy, celery, lupin, mustard, buckwheat and oats6.
In response to the recent request from Codex for scientific advice on guidance for qualitative risk assessment and to address the concerns on the burden to small food business operators to conduct risk assessment7, FAO and WHO are convening an expert consultation to provide recommendations on qualitative risk assessment.
The meeting will be convened in FAO Rome Italy from 16 to 20 June 2025.
Scope and objectives of the meeting
Create guidance to help implement food allergen risk assessment, control measures, mitigation, and other activities based on the risk assessment methodology previously employed in the five reports listed above.
The objectives of the meetings will include:
- To review publicly available literature and guidelines from competent authorities and industry associations (e.g. compliance guidelines, code of practices, etc.) to assess the current state of the knowledge in guiding qualitative and/or quantitative risk assessment of food allergens.
- To develop qualitative risk assessment strategies and frameworks that include when and how qualitative risk assessment can be used, with the goal of facilitating and harmonizing the international trade of foods affected by with food allergen issues.
Call for experts
FAO and WHO are currently in the process of identifying experts to participate in future work of FAO and WHO in the area of food allergens. All applicants should meet the following general criteria:
- advanced University/College degree in food science, food technology, immunology, epidemiology, public health, or related fields
- experience in food safety/risk analysis related to food allergens
- at least five years of experience in relevant fields, including clinical experience on allergen, production and processing control for cereals containing gluten or gluten, assessment and application of relevant interventions in this sector, etc.
- scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, in particular, relevant publications within the last 10 years
- good knowledge of the English language, both written and oral
- evidence of leadership or invited participation in national or international scientific bodies, committees, and other expert advisory bodies pertinent to the scope of this work
Selection of experts
Applicants' curricula vitae (CV) will be reviewed based on the criteria listed above by a selection panel appointed by FAO or WHO. A small number of accomplished individuals will be invited to participate in the proposed upcoming meeting on food allergens. Selected experts may be required to assist in the preparation of background papers and report drafts (in English). In selecting experts, FAO and WHO will consider, in addition to scientific and technical excellence, diversity and complementarities of scientific backgrounds, and balanced representation from geographic regions, including developing and developed countries, as well as gender. Unsuccessful candidates are not routinely notified.
Appointment of experts
Selected experts will be invited to contribute to the meetings only in their individual scientific capacity. An expert will not represent the government of the country of which he or she is a citizen, or the institution with which he or she is associated. The experts designated will not receive any remuneration, however, where a physical expert meeting is held, travel costs and a subsistence allowance will be the exclusive responsibility of FAO and WHO.
Applications
Interested applicants should submit their curriculum vitae (CV) by email to FAO and WHO Secretariat to the addresses below.
The CV should include a description of education, relevant work experience, and evidence of national or international expertise on the topic, including a list of peer-reviewed publications relevant to the factors indicated above (please do not include reprints in your submission unless specifically requested at a later date). Applicants must have a good working knowledge of English as correspondence and meetings will be in English only.
Before participating in any related activity, all the selected experts will be required to declare any potential interests associated with the topic of the meeting. Experts will be asked to indicate, in writing, all interests (financial and intellectual) on their part or that of their spouse that may affect, or be perceived to affect, their scientific independence as experts, including one or more of the following conditions: employment (past or present) by any commercial enterprise or private or civil sector association; receipt of research or other study grants from such enterprises or associations; shareholdings in commercial enterprises active in fields related to food safety.
Identification of an interest does not necessarily indicate a conflict nor automatically exclude an individual from participation. For example, as an expert, it is expected that many, if not all, will be employed in some capacity related to the subject matter. These declarations must be completed and evaluated before a formal invitation will be issued. Declaration documents will be retained by the Joint Secretariat and a summary of declarations will be included in the report of the work. In addition, a confidentiality undertaking must also be completed prior to appointment to ensure proper handling of dossiers and proprietary information.
Deadline
Please submit nominations and CVs at your earliest convenience. Selection of participants will begin on 24 March 2025 and continue until suitable candidates are identified.
Submissions in response to the call for experts should be sent to both:
Kang Zhou
Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153, Rome, Italy
Telephone: + 39 06 570 50319
Email: kang.zhou@fao.org
Akio Hasegawa
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, World Health Organization
20, avenue Appia 1211, Geneva 27 Switzerland
Telephone: +41 79 367 62 03
Email: food_allergens@who.int
*As we are having two Calls on the Risk Assessment of Food Allergens, please specify which one or both you are responding to.
1 https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/ae0817e6-6507-481e-ad8f-5bfaf849f817/content and https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/ad-hoc-joint-fao-who-expert-consultation-on-risk-assessment-of-food-allergens
2 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/94f20662-e4cb-4836-a1ac-9985b24b5268 and https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240042391
3 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/ef22e408-e924-4ac1-9b19-3e7caa7a651c and https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240065420
4 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/2ed0849b-cd11-4c94-881f-d1b41dbc215f and https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240072510
5 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/2674e59c-59ce-484c-9b57-cbaa32275778 and https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088924
6 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/163bd3e3-da95-4ad1-b724-7b2e7c5b76dd and https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240083332