Skip to main content

Terms of reference

COT and its subgroups provide independent scientific advice on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals.

COT

1. To advise at the request of:

  • Department of Health.
  • Food Standards Agency.
  • Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
  • Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
  • Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
  • Health and Safety Executive.
  • Health Protection Agency.
  • Chemicals Regulation Directorate.
  • Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
  • Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
  • Home Office.
  • Scottish Executive.
  • National Assembly for Wales.
  • Northern Ireland Executive.
  • Other Government Departments and Agencies.

2. To assess and advise on the toxic risk to man of substances which are:

  • Used or proposed to be used as food additives, or used in such a way that they might contaminate food through their use or natural occurrence in agriculture, including horticulture and veterinary practice or in the distribution, storage, preparation, processing or packaging of food.
  • Used or proposed to be used or manufactured or produced in industry, agriculture, food storage or any other workplace.
  • Used or proposed to be used as household goods or toilet goods and preparations.
  • Used or proposed to be used as drugs, when advice is requested by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
  • Used or proposed to be used or disposed of in such a way as to result in pollution of the environment.

3. To advise:

  • On important general principles or new scientific discoveries in connection with toxic risks, to co-ordinate with other bodies concerned with the assessment of toxic risks and to present recommendations for toxicity testing.

4. To report:

  • Reverend Professor Lesley Stanley Chair will report to the FSA CSA biannually via the FSA SAC Chair’s meeting.
  • Members of the SAC who wish to raise concerns regarding the CSA’s oversight of the committee have the right to do so via the FSA Chair or FSA Chief Executive.

Joint Expert Groups (JEG)

Subgroups and working groups

  • PFAS

  • COT guidance

  • SETE

ToR for the joint COT and COC Synthesis and Integration of Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence subgroup [ARCHIVED CONTENT] SETE Committee on Toxicity is available from the National Archives.

Contents