FCC Revision Leadership

USP's transparent and public standards-setting process relies on the interaction of industry, regulatory bodies, academia, and other stakeholders to ensure that the ongoing application of credible, science-based analysis is in the best interest of public health. A crucial factor is for food industry chemists, as well as all other stakeholders, to have a say in the revision of standards that they may later need to observe.

The USP's Food Ingredients Expert Committee (FIEC) is the official decision-making body charged with revising FCC standards, composed of expert volunteers from science, academia, and industry. FIEC members meet regularly by phone or in person to review revisions generated by public requests; submissions to the FCC Forum; and information from the FDA or the public domain, USP staff, or the FIEC itself.

The work of the FIEC includes

• Approval of new monographs
• Approval and/or instigation of revisions of existing monographs; this may include updating to more modern analytical procedures (e.g., introduction of chromatographic methods) with maintenance of existing methods where needed
• Consideration of special science and technical challenges (e.g., enzymes)
• Updating of general tests and assay methods, as appropriate
• Consideration of general topics related to the public health regarding food additives and their use in foods

If you are interested in learning more about the FIEC and how you can participate, please contact fcc@usp.org.

View FIEC’s current work plan (i.e., details on what standards the committee is working on.)

Stakeholder Forum

Each year, USP holds the Food Ingredients Stakeholder Forum to provide stakeholders and leaders from academia and industry an opportunity to meet with the FIEC and discuss industry concerns, as well as to receive updates on FCC activities. View summaries on the latest Food Ingredients Stakeholder Forum meetings.