Opportunities for Information Exchange and Collaboration in National Activities

2. Opportunities for the exchange of information and possible closer working on national activities Patrick Miller, Food Standards Agency, UK 3rd Food-NCP Meeting, 23 October 2003

3. The UK Food Standards Agency • UK-wide government department created in April 2000 • Responsible for protecting public health and consumers’ interests in relation to food • Three guiding principles: • Putting the consumer first • Being open and accessible • Being an independent voice

4. FSA research funding • The FSA aims to base its policies and advice on the best scientific evidence available • It spends about £27m (€38m) each year - about 25% of its total budget - on science to help to provide this evidence • It is one of the main public funders of research on food quality and safety in the UK.

5. FSA funding is focused on eight research themes that support its strategic aims

6. Collaborating with other research funders and performers • Why? Better science and policy, and value for money • Research calls open to all countries • Improving co-ordination with other UK funders • Joint funding in FP5 and - hopefully - FP6 • ERA-NET • Other joint projects and activities - e.g. acrylamide • Other opportunities - e.g. risk assessment of mixtures of pesticides?

7. Identifying opportunities for closer working in Europe • Identify relevant organisations and contacts • Exchange information on programmes and processes • Identify overlaps, mutually-supporting work, opportunities, barriers • Implement new activities for closer working where appropriate

8. NCP network • NCP network seems a ‘ready made’ structure to exchange information • Different organisations - but all linked to national science funding bodies • Added advantages: • an ‘outward looking’ structure • links with FP and ERA, and - not least - Commission • Complement primary role of Food-NCP network to support and promote opportunities in FP6

9. Exchanging information • What sort of information might be of interest? • Some suggestions: • national programmes (e.g. FSA Annual Report) • funding opportunities - for information and/or participation (e.g. FSA Research Requirements Documents) • other research news - reviews, workshops, (e.g. FSA consultations on pesticide mixtures) • research outputs

10. Relation to FP6 and ERA • For NCPs and Commission to consider, but some suggestions: • Exchanging information within NCP network maintains link with FP6 and with Commission • Activities in national programmes may also be relevant to FP6 and ERA • Identify where opportunities for closer working may be appropriate for possible support from FP6

11. Feedbackfrom NCP network • Initial views sought from NCP network May 2003 • Replies from 9 NCPs: all interested in idea in principle, further information and discussion • Suggest as next stages: • FSA to send info on its overall portfolio and on pesticides mixtures programme • Other NCPs could circulate similar information if interested • Open for NCPs or contacts to follow up in specific areas of interest • Exchange feedback at next NCP meeting?

12. Contact details • FSA website: www.food.gov.uk • Research pages: www.food.gov.uk/science/research patrick.miller@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk +44 (0) 20 7276 8277