FDA Risk Communication Advisory Committee

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced the formation of a new scientific advisory body to advise it on communicating risks to the public.

The Risk Communication Advisory Committee shall provide advice to the Commissioner or designee on strategies and programs designed to communicate with the public about both the risks and benefits of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated products so as to facilitate optimal use of these products. The committee also reviews and evaluates research relevant to such communication to the public by both FDA and other entities. It also facilitates interactively sharing risk and benefit information with the public to enable people to make informed independent judgments about use of FDA-regulated products.

Nominations to the committee are open until July 20, 2007. The criteria for expert members:

Persons nominated for membership must have scientific expertise or extensive experience in one or more of the following fields: Risk communication; risk perception; social marketing; communications; cognitive, social, health, behavioral, or other relevant specialties of psychology or sociology; decision analysis; qualitative or quantitative research methodology; health literacy; cultural competency; journalism; and/or biomedical ethics. [emphasis added]

For those who long for social marketers to take their seat at a policy table, be sure to check this out and get involved.

Comments

[e cigarette]

I am beginning to really lose all faith and credibility in the FDA. It seems to me that instead of focusing their efforts on protecting the general public they are in-turn being influenced by corporate agenda and special interest. I take everything they say with a grain of salt.