From November 2004, the Health Protection Agency became responsible for advising UK Government Departments and Agencies on human health effects of chemicals in water, soil and waste. This advice contributes to the development of Government policy. Some of the principal interactions are with:

• Department of Health
  (on fluoridation of drinking water)
• Drinking Water Inspectorate
  (on the quality of drinking water)
• Environment Agency and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
  (on water sources, contaminated land, Health Criteria Values and waste)
• Cabinet Office
  (on Soil Guideline Values)
• World Health Organization
  (on Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality)

Good working relationships with a range of other regulatory agencies such as the Food Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Executive are also important.

The HPA is an adviser on the Drinking Water Inspectorate committee concerned with statutory approval of products and processes used in public water supplies.

HPA is an assessor on the following committees:

• Committee on Toxicity (COT)
• Committee on the Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM)
• Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC).

These independent advisory committees provide expert advice to Government Departments and Agencies on all aspects relating to the potential toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of chemicals.

HPA is an observer on the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP); this independent advisory committee provides expert advice to UK Government Health Departments on the effects on health of both outdoor and indoor air pollutants.