#Japan #Tokyo #Food Safety #Prion Committee #BSE Guidelines

Prion Specialized Investigation Committee 135th Meeting Announcement

The Food Safety Commission (FSC) is set to hold its 135th meeting of the Prion Specialized Investigation Committee on May 29, 2023. This meeting aims to discuss critical topics surrounding food safety and the implications of prion diseases. Here are the essential details regarding the upcoming meeting:

Meeting Details

• - Date and Time: May 29, 2023 (Thursday), from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (tentative)
• - Location: FSC, Middle Conference Room, 22nd Floor, Akasaka Park Building, 5-2-20 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The meeting will also be accessible via a web conferencing system.

Agenda

The meeting will cover several important topics:
1. 2023 Fiscal Year Operation Plan: Discussion on the operational strategies for the FSC, which will include outlining research priorities and engagement strategies for food safety communications.
2. Review of Domestic Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Measures: The committee will evaluate the current health impact assessments associated with BSE and assess the scope of specified risk materials (SRMs) in the context of food safety. This is critical given recent findings and ongoing research in the field.
3. Other Matters: There will be an open forum for discussing additional issues related to prion diseases and food safety.

Public Participation

The meeting will be streamed online, allowing broader access for those unable to attend in person. If you wish to observe the meeting either through the online stream or in person, registration is required:

• - Registration Deadline: By 12 PM on May 28, 2023. You can register through the Cabinet Office Common Opinion Registration System at the specified link.
• - For those registering for online viewing, URLs necessary for streaming will be sent to the registered email addresses by 8 AM on the day of the meeting.

The number of seats for in-person attendance is limited, and participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Notifications will be sent by 6 PM on May 28, 2023, to those granted in-person access. Please arrive early, as the registration period at the meeting location will be from 9:30 AM to 9:50 AM, and latecomers will not be admitted.

Important Notices

• - Participants are kindly asked to refrain from recording or photographing during the online viewing.
• - Media representatives wishing to cover the meeting must adhere to the same registration process and indicate their media affiliation along with any special requests for video coverage.

For additional information and the materials to be shared during the meeting, please check the FSC website before the meeting date for any documents related to the agenda topics.

This meeting represents an essential effort to enhance food safety protocols and discusses measures to address prion diseases effectively. As prion diseases continue to pose significant risks to public health, the ongoing work of the Prion Specialized Investigation Committee is crucial in safeguarding food safety in Japan.