Background
The Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) is an expert ad hoc body administered jointly by FAO and WHO in the purpose of harmonizing the requirement and the risk assessment on the pesticide residues
The JMPR has met annually since 1963 to conduct scientific evaluations of pesticide residues in food. It provides advice on the acceptable levels of pesticide residues in food moving in international trade. The JMPR consists of experts who attend as independent internationally recognized specialists who act in a personal capacity and not as representatives of national governments.
The current JMPR comprises the WHO Core Assessment Group and the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment. The WHO Core Assessment Group is responsible for reviewing pesticide toxicological data and estimating Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI), acute reference doses (ARfDs) and characterizing other toxicological criteria.
The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee are summarized in meeting reports that are published by FAO and WHO. Detailed monographs on the residue data are published in the Evaluations, part I - Residue, and detailed monographs on the toxicological data are published in Evaluations, part II - Toxicological.
WHO procedure for the selection of experts assure the excellence, independence, and transparency of the recommendations of its scientific committees. This process was developed to ensure that the pool of available experts includes a diversity of expertise and viewpoints and includes scientists from all geographic regions of the world.
The objective of this call is to identify scientists to serve as WHO experts to assist the Secretariat in the preparation of working papers.
Expertise and resources required
WHO seeks for experts in the relevant areas for the JMPR work, which includes toxicology, pharmacology, microbiology, microbiome, metabolism, pathology, epidemiology, applied statistics to risk assessment and mathematical modeling, developmental and reproductive neurotoxicology, and molecular biology. Scientists applying to the JMPR roster should be recognized within their scientific community through peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals or otherwise have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the components of the risk assessment process (hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, risk characterization) at national or regional level. An understanding of the risk analysis process would also be of advantage.
The selected experts must be able to work in such a multidisciplinary environment and should prepare their contribution to be integrated in the overall monograph and report to be produced by the Meetings. The scientific food safety risk assessment is a multidisciplinary exercise that involves specialists in biology, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, medicine and applied statistics. The mutual respect and understanding between scientists from various disciplines is a key element of success in reaching a consensus based on the best available science.
Qualified experts will be selected from the roster for each meeting depending on the expertise required and are then requested to review the literature and prepare background papers in advance. Meetings are conducted in English and participation is required for the whole duration, usually 10-12 days. Preparatory virtual meetings usually happen before in person joint meeting. Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) of in-person participation is covered by WHO but honoraria are not provided.
Successful candidates should meet most or all the following qualifications:
a. Hold an advanced university degree(s) in toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, epidemiology, molecular biology, microbiology, statistics or other relevant areas
b. Professional experience in pesticides or a related field
c. Scientific excellence evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed specialized journals
d. Practical experience in reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, and extrapolating experimental animal data on toxic chemicals to humans
e. Experience in delivering scientific opinions at the national or international level
f. Ability to converse and write documents in English
g. Ability to prepare documents and spreadsheets in electronic format
h. Familiarity with the risk assessment processes, in particular as it relates to JMPR and Codex Alimentarius
i. Ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds as well as with scientists from various disciplines
Application
Interested scientists are invited to submit their applications through the application form
Applicants will be requested to upload their Curriculum Vitae on the application form:
- The applicant should include a description of education, work experience, and a list of peer - reviewed publications in the application, including reference to two persons with knowledge of the professional qualifications.
- Scientists preparing background papers and draft evaluations should have hands-on experience in reviewing toxicological dossiers and in preparing evaluation reports.
Applicants will be also requested to upload their completed and signed declaration of interests form, available in the application form, following the guidance document available on the application form.
Process for selection of experts
WHO selects scientists on the basis of their expertise in the areas under consideration. Procedures for the selection of experts are applied to assure the excellence, independence, and transparency of the recommendations of its scientific committees.
The responses and documents submitted through the application form, will be reviewed by a selection panel, which will determine whether the applicant meets the essential requirements outlined in this call.
Complementarity of scientific backgrounds and representation from various geographic regions will be taken into account in the selection process, as well as gender balance.
The experts who are selected will be appointed to a roster from which experts for individual meetings are selected. Additional experts can be recruited if required to address specific questions at certain meetings.
Appointments to the roster will be for a period of 4 years. The names and affiliations of those scientists placed on the roster will be public information.
Before participating in meetings, candidates will be required to declare any potential interests associated with the substances according to the standard WHO process. Experts attend the Committee meeting as independent internationally recognized specialists who act in their personal capacities and not as representatives of their employers, governments, or other institutions.
Applications should be submitted at your earliest convenience. Selection of experts will begin on 30 November 2026.
Any questions regarding this call for exerpts shoud be sent to:
Julianne De Oliveira Mota
Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS)
World Health Organization
20 avenue Appia 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
Email: jmpr@who.int