Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP)
The ACP was established under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) to give independent scientific advice to Ministers on all matters relating to pesticides. There are currently 18 Members on the Committee. Members serve an initial term of three years and the Committee meets up to seven times a year in York. The position of Chair and eight ACP Members’ positions will become available between Summer 2011 and January 2012.
Subject to the successful Parliamentary passage of the necessary legislation, the ACP is expected to be reconstituted as an Expert Committee, probably in 2012. All Members will be invited to transfer to the reconstituted Committee.
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides requires a Chair, and up to eight new members to provide scientific advice to Government and the devolved Administrations on the safe and effective use of pesticides and other pest control methods. The Committee’s work involves evaluation of data on specific pesticides as well as providing generic advice on relevant issues
Appointments
ACP Chair (one post, appointment effective 1 January 2012)
Ref: ACP 11001
Experience in managing complex interdisciplinary discussions, preferably of health or environmental issues. Dealing with the press, public and stakeholders. Experience chairing scientific committees. Knowledge of regulatory procedures relevant to the assessment of human health and/or environmental impacts would be advantageous. Strong analytical skills are required, together with an ability to draw together high level scientific advice and articulate the conclusions clearly to a range of audiences.
ACP Food Standards Agency nominee
ACP Food Safety / Risk Assessment (one post, appointment effective 1 July 2011) one post
Ref: ACP 11006
The successful candidate will be the Food Standards Agency (FSA) nominee on the Committee. Candidates should be enthusiastic and share FSA’s aims of putting the consumer first, being open and accessible and being an independent voice. We are not necessarily looking for experts on pesticides. Applications are sought from those who have considerable scientific experience of food chemical safety issues, and the assessment of risks to consumers, who can provide independent advice on these issues to the Committee.
ACP Members
The ACP is specifically seeking expertise for the vacancies in the following areas:
ACP Toxicologist (up to four posts, three appointments effective 1 July 2011, one effective 1 January 2012)
Ref: ACP 11002
Expertise in toxicology and in experimental toxicology, with experience of a range of mammalian toxicity study types and their interpretation and an ability to relate experimental findings to human risk. Knowledge of risk assessment and risk management procedures relevant to human exposure to chemicals. Within this field expertise in specialisms such as carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity and reproductive/developmental toxicity or public health aspects would be valued.
ACP Ecology / Ecotoxicology (one post, appointment effective 1 July 2011)
Ref: ACP 11003
Expertise in ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment is required. Experience in experimental ecotoxicology would be advantageous. The post requires a breadth of expertise since the ACP deals with issues related to potential pesticide effects on birds, mammals, aquatic life, terrestrial non-target invertebrates and non-target plants
ACP Agronomy and plant pathology including conventional and alternative techniques (two posts, appointments effective July 2011)
Ref: ACP 11004
Expertise in agronomy or plant pathology and an understanding of scientific methods for assessing the efficacy of pesticides. Expertise in conventional, organic and/or alternative farming systems, and/or commercial horticulture.
ACP Pesticide Residues (one post, appointment effective 1 January 2012)
Ref: ACP 11005
Expertise in pesticide residues, and their metabolism in plants and livestock. Experience of relevant studies and their interpretation in the context of consumer risk assessment.
Application Information
Potential applicants will need to be able to demonstrate their ability to contribute to detailed technical discussions. Applicants should have considerable experience and have gained recognition in their field.
The posts are part-time and voluntary, although modest travel and subsistence costs are met and attendance and preparation fees paid. Applicants should be aware that the work can generate a considerable amount of both public and media interest. Travel and subsistence costs will be met for attendance at interviews for these posts.
Appointments will be based on merit, with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. The Government and devolved administrations are committed to the principles of equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the Community regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion or disability. Women, representatives of ethnic minority communities and people with disabilities are currently under-represented on government committees and applications from these groups are therefore particularly welcome.
If you are interested in serving and have the necessary qualifications and experience, an information pack and application form are available from the following page: Recruitment of a Chair and up to 8 Scientific Members of the ACP
Closing Date:
12.00 Noon, 3rd May 2011
