Food Additives. FAO Guidelines on the Structure and Content of the Document called "Chemical and Technical Assessment (CTA)". Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Rome, February 2003

Abstract

During its 59th meeting, the Committee discussed the usefulness of the Technical Data Sheet and the role of specifications as part of the risk assessment process and concluded that the development of specifications is an integral part of the risk assessment of food additives; -drafting of specifications require data on the manufacture and the composition of an additive at all steps of its development and safety testing; - information on the technological functions and the current and intended us es is needed; the output from the risk assessment includes the specifications which relate to the material that was evaluated and to the product to be marketed; - specifications should be continuously reviewed to account for changes in the manufacturing process, the use, and consumer intake of the additive. Considering these conclusions, the FAO Joint Secretariat has adapted the format and structure of the Technical Data Sheet and renamed it as the Chemical and Technical Assessment (CTA) with t he intention of making this document publicly available. The CTA will reflect and emphasise the role chemical characterization plays in the risk assessment of food additives. The guidelines are addressed to sponsors, experts participating in meetings of JECFA, users of specifications and any other interested party.