SCRI Director and Chief Executive, Professor Peter Gregory, has been appointed Chair of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).

The ACNFP is the independent body of scientific experts that advises the Food Standards Agency on any matters relating to novel foods (including genetically modified foods) and novel processes (including food irradiation).

Professor Gregory was appointed following a national recruitment exercise and will take up his appointment on 1 December 2009. A new expert committee member, Professor Peter Meyer, Professor of Plant Genetics at the University of Leeds Centre for Plant Sciences has also been appointed.

A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997. Read more about the committee’s work on the ACNFP website.

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560044 (direct line), Mobile: 07810 860 701 or

Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 562731 (switchboard).