Annual Public Appointment Plan

In addition to its Board and our Advisory Committees for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as stated, the FSA is currently responsible for six public bodies, all of which are advisory bodies. These are the

• Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
• the Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food
• Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
• General Advisory Committee on Science
• Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
• Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement

Where a committee is joint between the FSA and one or more other departments we divide the reporting between us.

This plan does not therefore include the

• Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
• Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
• Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment

These are already covered in the Department of Health's plan.

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee is included in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs plan.

Terms of reference for all the committees FSA report on can be found in the Public Bodies database at the link below.

The FSA Chair has responsibility for making appointments to its advisory committees and all of the appointments are made on merit. FSA appointments are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) however, we are, committed to follow the code as best practice. Advisory committees appoint OCPA-accredited Independent Assessors to oversee the recruitment of their public appointees.

The Agency's diversity statistics for the total number of public appointments in each of the last three years is shown in the following table:

Position to date (as at 31 March 2008)

Position to date (as at 31 March)
	2006	2007	2008
Total number of appointments	73	74	87
Women	23 (31.5%)	26 (35%)	30 (35%)
Ethnic Minorities	3 (4%)	5 (7%)	8 (9%)
Disabled People	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (1%)

The FSA conducts regular reviews of its advisory committees. As the FSA has a small number of committees, any changes, either to the total number of appointments it has, or any recruitment undertaken, can have a significant effect on the diversity statistics.

The majority of appointments in the six advisory committees require appointees with specialist scientific knowledge in the particular posts for which they are appointed. It should therefore be borne in mind that the scientific population from which we recruit does not necessarily mirror the general population.

The FSA advertises its public appointment vacancies in a range of ways, including the Cabinet Office Public Appointments vacancies website, in order to maximise opportunities to attract applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Appointments are usually made for a period of three years. Members may be re-appointed for two further terms. The maximum period they can serve on a committee is ten years.

The FSA expert advisory committees usually meet between three and six times a year. All of the FSA's advisory committees expect members time commitments to be one day attending each committee meeting and a time beforehand spent in preparation.

The majority of secretariats provide committees information (or welcome) packages to their new members about the FSA and the work of the committee. Other induction procedures may be used in addition, depending on the individual needs of new members, for example they may be offered the opportunity to attend relevant workshops.

Future targets (as at 31 March)

Future targets (as at 31 March)
	2009	2010	2011
Women	35%	35%	36%
Ethnic Minorities	8%	8%	9%
Disabled People	2%	2%	3%

The FSA expect to make seven new appointments and seven re-appointments to their advisory committees in 2008/09.

The Agency will continue to maximise opportunities to increase diversity amongst its committees membership. This will be achieved through a variety of ways including mentoring, coaching, and reviewing how and where adverts are placed/vacancies are advertised.

New members of advisory committees will continue to receive induction packages and training according to the needs of the individual.

The FSA will continue to keep under review the role of its central appointments unit in relation to the activities undertaken within FSA on appointments and re-appointments to advisory committees.