EFSA updates on its work on the TTC

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) informed the European Commission on 15 February that the Authority’s Scientific Committee did not formally adopt its opinion on the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) at its February 2012 meeting. This decision was taken pending further discussion with the non-food Scientific Committees of the European Commission, which are finalising an opinion on the same subject.

EFSA and the non-food Scientific Committees are working together in order to ensure a coherent approach to the use of TTC in assessing risks from chemicals. However, some areas of scientific divergence remain.

Both scientific bodies aim to reach a common understanding on the possible use of the TTC approach in the food and feed area, as well as in non-food consumer products, in particular cosmetics, following the process laid down in Article 30 of EFSA’s Founding Regulation on avoiding diverging scientific views.

• Letter to the European Commission: EFSA and Commission Scientific Committees Opinions on the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC)