Report of the Synthesis and Integration of Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence Subgroup (SETE) of the Committee on Toxicity and the Committee on Carcinogenicity

Abstract

There are a number of guidance documents and frameworks available on the use of epidemiological and toxicological information in chemical risk assessment, however the majority assesses these two evidence streams separately and subsequently bring them together qualitatively, using expert judgement. These frameworks and guidance documents generally provide little information on how toxicological and epidemiological data should be integrated in a transparent manner, giving appropriate weight to both. It was therefore proposed that a joint COT and COC subgroup be set up to review and make publicly available a pragmatic guidance document and a transparent reflection of how the Committees review such data and apply expert judgement.

Scientific Committee guidance on appraising and integrating evidence from epidemiological studies for use in EFSA's scientific assessments

“…Diekmann & Heesterbeek, 2000), and invasive species and entomology (e.g. Cock & Wittenberg, 2001). There is also a very strong focus on the environmental drivers of insect pest and pathogen populations in plant health, which are a major contributing factor to epidemics.…”