The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have put out a call for experts for the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption.

The purpose of the consultation is to review new evidence and update a 2010 report on the health benefits and risks associated with fish consumption, in response to a request from the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Specifically, FAO/WHO wish to conduct a comparison between the health benefits of fish consumption and the health risks associated with ingesting chemical contaminants methylmercury and dioxins, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), as well as dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The three main objectives of the consultation are to:

1. Review the results of recent systematic literature reviews on the risks and benefits of fish consumption
2. Draw conclusions regarding the health benefits and risks associated with fish consumption
3. Recommend a series of steps that UN Member States should take to better assess and manage the risks and benefits of fish consumption, and to more effectively communicate such risks and benefits to the public.

The deliberations of the consultation, including all the relevant data, conclusions, and recommendations will be consolidated into a report with contributions from all participating experts. The consultation is planned to take place on October 9–13, 2023 in Rome, Italy.

FAO/WHO are asking experts with advanced relevant degrees and applicable experience and knowledge in certain areas to apply by April 7, 2023 through WHO’s application portal.