9 February 2004
Dear Sir or Madam
VACANCIES ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PESTICIDES
This letter invites you to suggest candidates to fill six positions on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP), representing toxicology, reproductive toxicology, organic farming and alternative pest control, application techniques/horticulture, ecotoxicology, and agricultural economics. All positions are for members of the committee and details are to be found below.
The positions on the ACP are due to be filled on 1 January 2005. Detailed information on the committee, the positions to be filled and the selection procedure to be followed is set out in the attached information pack. However, the following paragraph summarises the key points.
The ACP provides the Government and the devolved administrations for Scotland and Wales with impartial advice on all matters relating to the safe and effective control of pests. Ministers are required by statute to consult the committee on proposals relating to regulations and pesticides approvals. The ACP’s recommendations to Ministers are extremely important. As with any other aspect of food safety, Government policy is that decisions on pesticides must be based on sound science. The ACP is the key advisor to Ministers on scientific aspects of these issues.
The Government needs to find six new Members. Applicants should have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Toxicologist (Job reference ACP/01)
Expertise in clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology mechanisms of toxicity, experience of the range of regulatory mammalian toxicity study types and their interpretation, and knowledge of risk assessment and risk management procedures relevant to human exposures to chemicals.
Toxicologist (Job reference ACP/02)
Expertise in reproductive toxicology and in experimental reproductive toxicology with an ability to relate experimental findings to human risk.
Organic farming and alternative pest control (Job reference ACP/03) Expertise in the design and operation of organic farming systems and with experience of alternative methods of pest control.
Application Techniques/Horticulture (Job reference ACP/04)
Extensive knowledge of commercial horticulture required. An understanding of scientific methods for assessing the efficacy of pesticides would be valuable.
Ecotoxicology (Job reference ACP/05)
Expertise to cover non-target arthropods, birds (especially indirect effects) or biodiversity.
Agricultural economics (Job reference ACP/06)
Expertise required particularly related to crop (not livestock) production.
Members serve an initial term of up to three years. The ACP meets up to nine times a year mainly in York. These posts are not full time employment. Reasonable travel and subsistence costs are met and modest preparation and attendance fees are paid to ACP members.
Appointments to the committee are made by Ministers following a selection process in accordance with the principles set out in the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ guidance. The overriding principle is appointment on merit. Members are appointed for their individual qualifications and the expertise they can bring to the committee and not to represent any particular organisation or interest.
All candidates must make their own application and go through the full selection procedure. However, organisations such as your own can play a valuable role in stimulating applications from high calibre candidates. If you have any possible candidates in mind, please feel free to approach them direct and sound out their interest in applying. Alternatively, if you prefer you may provide suggestions to me and I will then contact the person. I can be reached at Room 312, Mallard House, Kings Pool, 3 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PX, UK, Tel 01904 455707, email kathy.wood@hse.gsi.gov.uk. I will also be able to answer any further questions that you may have.
The closing date for applications for all posts is 16 April 2004and the interviews are to be held in Yorkat the end of June/beginning of July 2004.
Yours faithfully
KATHY WOOD
Pesticides Registration and Enforcement Policy
