 |
 
|
Codex Committees – Updated 30 October 2009
List of committees
Codex Alimentarius Commission and Executive Committee
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
The CAC was established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1961 and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963.
With a membership of 181 countries and one organisation (European Community) the CAC is the foremost decision-making body for the development of international food safety standards. It provides a forum for discussion and debate on all major food standards/safety issues of interest and concern to member countries. The CAC gained new recognition and status under, and is supported by the World Trade Organization Agreement of the Application of Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) by recognising Codex food safety standards as international benchmarks. The SPS Agreement and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) encourage international harmonisation of food standards and fair trade practices. All draft Codex texts must be adopted by the CAC to become official international standards.
The Statutes provide the legal basis for the Commission’s work and formally reflect the concepts behind and reasons for its establishment. Article 1 of the Statutes provides the Commission with its purposes, terms of reference and objectives.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission shall, subject to Article 5 below, be responsible for making proposals to, and shall be consulted by, the Directors-General of FAO and WHO on all matters pertaining to the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, the purposes of which are:
a. protecting the health of the consumers and ensuring fair trade practices in the food trade;
b. promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international government and non-government organisations;
c. determining priorities and initiating and guiding the preparation of draft standards through and with the aid of appropriate organisations;
d. finalising standards elaborated under (c) above and, after acceptance by governments, publishing them in a Codex Alimentarius either as regional or world wide standards, together with international standards already finalised by other bodies under (b) above, wherever this is practicable;
e. amending published standards, after appropriate survey in light of developments.
Codex Strategic Framework and Vision Statement
The Strategic Framework and Vision Statement sets out the priorities of the Commission.
Last Meeting: 32nd Session, 29 June – 04 July 2009, Rome, Italy
Full Report of the 32nd Session – ALINORM 09/31/REP
Next Meeting: 33rd Session, 5-9 July 2010, Geneva Switzerland
NZ Delegation Report 32nd Session
• Ractopamine standard was held at step 8 following intense debate. The CAC also agreed to the New Zealand proposal for JECFA to review its methodology for risk assessment to take account of dietary patterns so that risk assessment is more globally representative. JECFA is scheduled to undertake this work in early 2010;
• MRL for Melengestrol acetate was adopted at Step 8.
• The New Zealand proposal on Lactoperoxidase system was accepted as a basis for lifting the prohibition of milk treated by this system from entering international trade.
• New work on Animal Feeding - the Commission agreed to establish an electronic working group to be led by Denmark and the US to undertake work on review of existing risk analysis principles and their applicability to animal feed and two other work proposals. The electronic working group will also be asked to make recommendations on how to address proposals 4, 5 and 6 identified by the previous electronic working group; New Zealand actively contributed to the debate and was closely involved in achieving this outcome.
• The New Zealand/Australia proposal for developing a Codex business plan as a basis for promoting sustainable funding for Codex was endorsed and will now be refined for further for consideration of the 63rd session of the EXEC in December 2009.
• New Zealand successfully argued against ad hoc proposal to merge the CCMH and CCFH on the basis that reform of commodity work needs to be approached in a holistic and strategic way.
• Tonga was confirmed as Regional Coordinator for the North America and South West Pacific region for 2009-2011 and Australia was elected to the Executive Committee for the South West Pacific for the 2009-2011 period.
Codex Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of Codex is comprised of the Chairperson, three Vice Chairpersons and six elected regional representatives from the various geographical groupings of Codex. It is a strategic and standards management body that acts on behalf of the Commission.
Last Meeting: 62nd Session, 23 – 26 June 2009, Rome, Italy
Full Report of the 62nd Session – ALINORM 09/31/3A
Next Meeting: 63rd Session, 8-11 December 2009, Rome, Italy
General Subject Committees
General Committees are those that cover subjects that apply to all Codex bodies such as labelling provisions, general principles, etc.
The significance of the work of the general subject committees has increased as Codex has moved away from prescriptive commodity specific standards to those that have broader and more generic application.
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC)
This Committee has been disestablished and the work has been reassigned to the following two Committees.
Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA)
Renamed the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants by the 17th Session of the Commission; renamed again by the 29th Session of the Commission as Codex Committee on Food Additives, due to the creation of a Committee on Contaminants in Foods.
Terms of Reference
• to establish or endorse permitted maximum levels for individual food additives;
• to prepare priority lists of food additives for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives;
• to assign functional classes to individual food additives;
• to recommend specifications of identity and purity for food additives for adoption by the Commission;
• to consider methods of analysis for the determination of additives in food; and
• to consider and elaborate standards or codes for related subjects such as the labelling of food additives when sold as such.
Last Meeting: 41st Session, 16 – 20 March 2009, Shanghai, China
Full Report of the 41th Session – ALINORM 09/32/12
Next Meeting: 42nd Session, 15-19 March 2010, TBA, China
NZ Delegation Report 41st Session
• Only part of the list of additives for the General Standard for Food Additives was considered and recommended by the Electronic Working Group due to time constraints after dealing with the remaining additives from last year’s session.
• CCFA agreed to seek further development of guidelines and principles for the use of processing aids lead by Indonesia (NZ to participate in eWG).
• New Zealand introduced the Updated IPA and highlighted changes.. CCFA accepted the changes and agreed to receive an update of the IPA based on the decisions relating to processing aids at the next CCFA session.
• NZ acted as Rapporteur in the JECFA priorities working group. Most of the existing priority list is or will be completed this year with only aluminium compounds remaining to be scheduled for evaluation.
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF)
Terms of Reference
• to establish or endorse permitted maximum levels or guidelines levels for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed;
• to prepare priority lists of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives;
• to consider methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed;
• to consider and elaborate standards or codes of practice for related subjects; and
• to consider other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed.
Last Meeting: 3rd Session, 23 – 27 March 2009, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Full Report of the 3rd Session – ALINORM 09/32/41
Next Meeting: 4th Session, 23-27 March 2010, TBA, Netherlands
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)
Terms of Reference
• to draft basic provisions on food hygiene applicable to all food;
• to consider, amend if necessary and endorse provisions on hygiene prepared by Codex commodity committees and contained in Codex commodity standards; and
• to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on hygiene prepared by Codex commodity committees and contained in Codex codes of practice unless, in specific cases, the Commission has decided otherwise, or
• to draft provisions on hygiene applicable to specific food items or food groups, whether coming within the terms of reference of a Codex commodity committee or not;
• to consider specific hygiene problems assigned to it by the Commission;
• to suggest and prioritise areas where there is a need for microbiological risk assessment at the international level and to develop questions to be addressed by the risk assessors;
• to consider microbiological risk management matters in relation to food hygiene and in relation to the risk assessment of FAO and WHO.
Last Meeting: 40th Session, 1 – 5 December 2008, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Full Report of the 40th Session – ALINORM 09/32/13
Next Meeting: 41st Session, 16 – 20 November 2009, Washington, USA
NZ Delegation Report 40th Session
• New Zealand had a high level of involvement in finalising standards on: the Annex II of the Hygienic Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children, and Microbiological Criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in Ready to Eat Foods.
• New Zealand and Sweden presented an update on and gained support for continued development of draft guidelines and the development of a risk-based web tool for the control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in chicken meat.
• New Zealand contributed significantly to discussions on the Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood.
• Through its involvement in the Working Group New Zealand helped to ensure that a genuine risk-based approach will be applied to the setting of international microbiological criteria (MC) in powdered follow up formulae (FUF) – namely that mandatory testing for E. sakazakii was not justified. This was eventually supported by the Working Group’s recommendations and also by the Committee. The Working Group recommended some additional wording in the preamble of Annex II to provide flexibility for competent authorities to apply additional control measures, including more stringent microbiological criteria, as appropriate. New Zealand worked with other delegations to reach consensus on this wording and to ensure that any additional measures were based on scientific evidence of a risk from E. sakazakii and the consumption of FUF in a national population.
• New Zealand (together with Sweden) reported on the progress that had been made on the proposed draft guidelines for the control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in broiler poultry meat. It was acknowledged that although the Committee had previously agreed to extend the scope of this work to include all chicken meat, the lack of data for birds other than broilers prevented the working group from effectively addressing this broader scope.
• New Zealand was highly supportive of a proposed JEMRA consultation to independently evaluate data for the development of hazard and risk-based control measures. The current Codex work and the proposed JEMRA consultation are important scientific activities that will contribute to a scientifically robust document in an effective and timely manner and New Zealand highly values the offer of this additional scientific resource.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS)
Terms of Reference
• to develop principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems with a view to harmonising methods and procedures which protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trading practices and facilitate international trade in foodstuffs;
• to develop principles and guidelines for the application of measures by the competent authorities of exporting and importing countries to provide assurance where necessary that foodstuffs comply with requirements, especially statutory health requirements;
• to develop guidelines for the utilisation, as and when appropriate, of quality assurance systems to ensure that foodstuffs conform with requirements and to promote the recognition of these systems in facilitating trade in food products under bilateral/multilateral arrangements by countries;
• to develop guidelines and criteria with respect to format, declaration and language of such official certificates as countries may require with a view towards international harmonisation;
• to make recommendations for information exchange in relation to food import/export control;
• to consult as necessary with other international groups working on matters related to food inspection and certification systems;
• to consider other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to food inspection and certification systems.
Last meeting: 17th Session, 24 – 28 November 2008, Cebu, Philippines
Full Report of the 17th Session – ALINORM 09/32/30
Next Meeting: 18th Session, 1 – 5 March 2010, TBA, Australia
NZ Delegation Report 17th Session
• The Generic Model Official Certificate was recognised as a guide for official certificates (for all products) to based on this model. The Committee agreed to recommend the paper to 5/8 in the step process.
• It was agreed that the Foreign Audit guidelines would be an annex to the existing Guidelines on Design, Operation, Assessment of FICS; that the primary focus of the guidance was audit but that given the reality that inspections occur it was important that these be captured as well so that the principles of prior notice, purpose of visit, transparency etc could be seen to apply. The New Zealand suggestion for a definition of 'official inspection and certification systems' as including the existing definitions of official and officially recognised systems was accepted. The Committee agreed to hold the draft at step 2 and to hold a physical working group (US host June/July 09) - Australia continues to lead the work.
• The Committee agreed to accept the recommendation that the need for further guidance on traceability/product tracing be referred to Regional Co-ordinating Committees for discussion.
• The Committee did not support the initiation of new work on Intentional Contamination. It was noted however that it could be possible to consider those aspects related to the Codex mandate in the context of the proposed work on national systems.
• The Committee did support the initiation of new work on Guidelines for National Food Control Systems. A physical working group is to be held back-to-back with the foreign audit Working Group - the work will continue to be lead by Australia.
Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL)
Terms of Reference
• to draft provisions on labelling applicable to all foods;
• to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse draft specific provisions on labelling prepared by the Codex committees drafting standards, codes of practice and guidelines;
• to study specific labelling problems assigned to it by the Commission;
• to study problems associated with the advertisement of food with particular reference to claims and misleading descriptions.
Last Meeting: 37th Session, 4 – 8 May 2009, Calgary, Canada
Full Report of the 37th Session – ALINORM 09/32/22
Next Meeting: 38th Session, 3-7 May 2010, Quebec City, Canada
NZ Delegation Report 37th Session
• The list of nutrients that are always declared was amended to include two nutrients which New Zealand sought to be declared, namely saturated fat and sodium/salt, while those nutrients which New Zealand did not support listing are either in square brackets or not included.
• New Zealand will lead an electronic Working Group to consider the issues associated with the declaration of sodium/ salt.
• The proposed draft criteria/ principles for legibility of nutrition labels received significant support. With no consensus as to how they should be expressed the work has been retained at Step 3 for further work by the electronic Working Group to which New Zealand will continue to contribute.
• The scope of the Discussion Paper on Labelling Provisions dealing with the food ingredients identified in the Global Strategy chaired by Norway has been more clearly specified and the reconvened electronic Working Group will now be chaired by Norway and Canada. New Zealand did not support the continuation of work in this area in its previous scope but under its newly defined terms of reference sees it as complementary to the work on sodium/salt and will continue to contribute to the work of the electronic Working Group.
• The proposal to extend the use of ethylene beyond for ripening of kiwifruit and bananas was not supported due to a lack of adequate scientific justification at this time.
• Rotenone was retained in Table 2 of Annex 2 but with restricted use and an amendment of the conditions of use to read “the substance should be used in such a way as to prevent its flowing into waterways”. New Zealand supported the inclusion of that condition.
• The discussion paper on the need to amend the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods in line with OIML recommendations is to be redrafted for consideration at the next CCFL session (CCFL 38). New Zealand did not support the progression of this work in the form presented.
• The Discussion paper on Modified Standardised Common Names was deferred until CCFL 39, to enable advice from FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees. New Zealand supports initiatives that enable industry to introduce innovative, healthy, nutritious foods and supports progress of this work.
• The Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods and Food Ingredients Obtained through Genetic Modification/Engineering Techniques is retained at Step 3.
Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP)
Terms of Reference
• To deal with such procedural and general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Such matters have included the establishment of the General Principles which define the purpose and scope of the Codex Alimentarius, the nature of Codex standards and the forms of acceptance by countries of Codex standards; the development of Guidelines for Codex Committees; the development of a mechanism for examining any economic impact statements submitted by government concerning possible implications for their economies of some of the individual standards or some of the provisions thereof; the establishment of a Code of Ethics for the International Trade in Food.
Last Meeting: 26th Session, 30 March – 3 April 2009, Paris, France
Full Report of the 26th Session – ALINORM 09/32/33
Next Meeting: 26th Session, 12-16 April 2010, Paris, France
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)
Terms of Reference
• to define the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis and Sampling;
• to serve as a co-ordinating body for Codex with other international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and quality assurance systems for laboratories;
• to specify, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are generally applicable to a number of foods;
• to consider, amend, if necessary, and endorse, as appropriate, methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity) Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of micro biological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of specifications for food additives, do not fall within the terms of reference of this Committee;
• to elaborate sampling plans and procedures, as may be requested;
• to consider specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to it by the Commission or any of its Committees;
• to define procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as qualify assurance systems for laboratories.
Last Meeting: 30th Session, 9 – 13 March 2009, Balatonalmadi, Hungary
Full Report of the 30th Session – ALINORM 09/32/23
Next Meeting: 31st Session, 8-12 March 2010, TBA, Hungary
NZ Delegation Report 30th Session
• The Guidelines for Settling Disputes over Analytical (Test) Results have been finalised. New Zealand has had substantial input to these guidelines throughout their development, the most notable being to include a procedure for re-analysis of split samples that will generally resolve a dispute effectively and quickly. The final revisions are acceptable for New Zealand.
• Revised methods of analysis for infant formula have been endorsed. The list of methods was developed by a working group, led by New Zealand, of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses.
• The Guidelines on Analytical Terminology have been finalised. New Zealand had concerns on the definition and estimation of some terms, such as limit of detection. Our points have been referred for consideration to the international standard-setting bodies that developed the definitions.
• The work item on guidelines for evaluation of acceptable methods has been discontinued. Instead arbitrary criteria for evaluation of methods have been developed for internal use by Codex. New Zealand can continue to develop its risk-based approach to evaluation of methods and propose guidelines and criteria at a later date.
• Proposed Draft Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty have been referred back to a working group for redrafting. New Zealand raised substantial concerns about the effects on compliance assessment of food in trade which must now be considered by the working group. New Zealand raised similar concerns on an extension to this work covering uncertainty arising from sampling, and this has been referred to a second working group.
• A New Zealand proposal for work to recommend sampling plans in the presence of significant measurement uncertainty has been referred to the second working group. This work will be carried out under terms of reference recommended by New Zealand.
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)
Terms of Reference
• to study specific nutritional problems assigned to it by the Commission and advise the Commission on general nutrition issues;
• to draft general provision, as appropriate, concerning the nutritional aspects of all foods;
• to develop standards, guidelines or related texts for foods for special dietary uses, in co-operation with other committees where necessary;
• to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on nutritional aspects proposed for inclusion Codex standards, guidelines and related texts.
Last Meeting: 30th Session, 3 – 7 November 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa
Full Report of the 30th Session – ALINORM 09/32/26
Next Meeting: 31st Session, 2 – 6 November 2009, Dusseldorf, Germany
NZ Delegation Report 30th Session
• NZ Delegation to Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses to participate in EWG on methods of analysis for dietary fibre and to co-ordinate response with input from other interested groups in NZ. NZ Delegation to Codex Alimentarius Commission should support the adoption of the definition of dietary fibre.
• NZ Delegation to Codex Alimentarius Commission should support the adoption of the provision on Gum Arabic at a level of 10mg/kg as a coating agent for inclusion in section D: Advisory List of food additives for special nutrient forms of the Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use in Foods for Special Dietary Uses Intended for Use by Infant and Young Children.
• NZ Delegation to Codex Alimentarius Commission should support the adoption of the draft Nutritional Risk Analysis Principles and Guidelines.
• NZ Delegation to Codex Alimentarius Commission should support the adoption at step 8 of the draft Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of Health Claims.
• The NZ Delegation to Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses will input into the work on the revision of NRVs in both the EWG and as part of the workshop prior to the next session.
• The NZ delegation to the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses will participate in the physical WG prior to the next session.
Codex Committee on Pesticides Residues (CCPR)
Terms of Reference
• to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food;
• to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in certain animal feeding stuffs moving in international trade where this is justified for reasons of protection of human health;
• to prepare priority lists of pesticides for evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR);
• to consider methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of pesticide residues in food and feed;
• to consider other matters in relation to the safety of food and feed containing pesticide residues; and
• to establish maximum limits for environmental and industrial contaminants showing chemical or other similarity to pesticides, in specific food items for groups of food.
Last Meeting: 41st Session, 20 -25 April 2009, Beijing, China
Full Report of the 41st Session – ALINORM 09/32/24
Next Meeting: 42nd Session, 19-24 April 2010, Xian, China
NZ Delegation Report 41st Session
• The Committee agreed to set up a new working group to review all new residue monitoring data for pesticide POPS and to develop proposals for revised or new MRLs.
• To continue the revision of the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds and the selection of representative crops.
• To continue the consolidation of the Risk Analysis Principles used by CCPR to incorporate current policies and procedures on JMPR priority-setting and on the periodic review procedure with specific reference to the data requirements for retaining unsupported CXLs.
• To continue the revision of guidelines on the estimation of measurement uncertainty in pesticide (multi-residue) analysis, for further consideration at the next session.
• To continue developing guidance on how to facilitate Codex MRLs for minor uses and speciality crops, for consideration at the next session.
• To confirm the existing CCPR policy to only set MRLs for processed foods that are important in trade and only when residues concentrate during processing.
• To support the continued JMPR use of an MRL Calculator as a tool, not a primary determinant for estimating MRLs, but to ask JMPR for more detailed non-statistical explanations on how each MRL was derived.
• To discontinue the pilot project on a parallel JMPR/OECD work-share evaluation, aimed at providing pre-registration guidance to national authorities on possible Codex MRLs.
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF)
Terms of Reference
• to determine priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary drugs in foods;
• to recommend maximum levels of such substances;
• to develop codes of practice as may be required;
• to consider methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of veterinary drug residues in foods.
Last Meeting: 18th Session, 11 – 15 May 2009, Natal (Rio Grande do Norte), Brazil
Full Report of the 18th Session – ALINORM 09/32/31
Next Meeting: 19th Session, 11-15 April 2011, TBA, United States
NZ Delegation Report 18th Session
• The MRL for Ractopamine was again forwarded to the Committee for adoption at step 8 after further reviewing additional data supplied.
• The Committee endorsed the recommendations to request that JECFA make available on its website a list of general topics for discussion and after implementing a change to its assessment process allowing the next session of CCRVDF to review the impact on recommended MRLs.
• The Committee agreed with that the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) was an improvement for the evaluation of risk from chronic exposure. It further supported more work to be done on acute and sub-acute exposure assessment to be addressed during the development of a "decision-tree" paper.
• A discussion paper will be prepared on reviewing the factors taken into account in connection with establishing ADI and the current process of recommending MRLs for consideration at the 19th session.
• The Committee endorsed the recommendation to request FAO/WHO to convene and Expert consultation on dietary exposure assessment as it relates to veterinary drug residues in food.
• The Committee agreed that a starter culture effect would no longer be need for consideration in the future.
• The Committee agreed to endorse the recommendation that it will append risk management recommendations to MRLs as footnote on a case by case basis.
• The new work proposal on risk management recommendations for vet drugs in which no ADI and MRL has been recommended has been put on hold pending the establishment of a working group. It is not clear how this work will be progressed.
Commodity Committees
There are currently five active commodity standards committees. Commodity Committees develop standards with regard to specific foods and their by-products. All Commodity Committees must follow guidelines established by general committees on their area of expertise.
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world wide standards for fats & oils of animal, vegetable and marine origin including margarine and olive oil.
Last Meeting: 21st Session, 16 – 20 February 2009, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Full Report of the 21st Session – ALINORM 09/32/17
Next Meeting: 22nd Session, 21-25 February 2010, TBA, Malaysia
NZ Delegation Report 21st Session
• The 21st session of CCFO, held in Malaysia, did not reach agreement on the linolenic acid provision in the olive oils standard. New Zealand successfully opposed moves to lower the level of linolenic acid in the Codex standard for olive oil from 1.5% to 1%. New Zealand offered a significant compromise solution by way of a footnote reference in the standard that would have recognized a higher level of linolenic acid (up to 1.2%) subject to verification of authenticity (based on analysis of certain critical fatty acid parameters but this solution was opposed unless the linolenic acid provision in the footnote was lowered to 1.1%.
• A compromise proposal proposed by New Zealand to advance the proposals for adoption but revisit the issue after 5 years was also not accepted by several other members.
• The Chair returned the draft proposals for further consideration by members at the next meeting. If this matter is not resolved at the next meeting the Chair recommended that the Committee discontinue further work.
• New Zealand’s overriding interest has been to ensure that the provision for Linolenic acid in the Codex standard reflects global variability as required under its strategic framework. To this end New Zealand will be proposing at the next session of the Executive Committee urging the Fats and Oils committee to resolve this issue in a manner that is consistent with the mandate and strategic considerations of Codex. If no consensus is achieved at the next session New Zealand will be supporting the discontinuation of this work.
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP)
• To elaborate world wide standards for fresh, frozen (including quick frozen) or otherwise processed fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
Last Meeting: 30th Session, 28 September – 2 October 2009, Agadir, Morocco
Full Report of the 30th Session – ALINORM 08/31/18
Next Meeting: 31tstSession, April/May 2011, TBA, Norway
NZ Delegation Report 30th Session
• The use of the generic certificate elaborated by CCFICS was supported, provided features of the model fish certificates could be incorporated where required. This will require further work by CCFFP to identify items that might require incorporation into the generic certificate.
• The inclusion of a standard for Salmonella in the bivalve shellfish standard was discussed following a report from WHO/FAO on the subject. Some delegations wanted more work on the topic while others including New Zealand were satisfied that the data provided by member countries essentially showed that the use of indicator organism for monitoring shellfish harvesting areas provided sufficient protection from salmonella outbreaks without having to undertake additional monitoring for Salmonella. Because there was no agreement on this a risk assessment was requested from FAO/WHO.
• The draft code of practice sections on processing of lobsters and crabs were advanced to step 8 for adoption following removal of the section relating to use of chlorinated water to the pre-requisite section of the Code for further consideration. The use of chlorine is a generic matter affecting food processing generally and both CCFH and CCCF need to consider the matter before it could be finalised in the fisheries Code.
• The appendix to the bivalve shellfish standard relating to marine biotoxin methods is to be reframed in terms of performance criteria for methods (if required). Canada will chair an electronic working group on the appendix and New Zealand will participate. This reflects that there are numerous methods under development but many are not at a stage where they could be adopted as reference methods or other methods in the Codex process.
• New Zealand focused efforts on ensuring the flexibility of the smoked fish standard wording to permit both use of liquid smoke and hygiene controls to reflect New Zealand’s Clostridium botulinum status. The wording in the draft standard is now sufficiently flexible and New Zealand supported advancement to step 5. The companion Code of Practice section on smoked fish was not able to be considered sufficiently due to time constraints and will be the subject of a physical working group prior to the next session.
• The draft standard on abalone remains at step 3 and will be redrafted to reflect a number of countries’ concern that abalone not be treated as a bivalve mollusc.
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV)
Terms of Reference
• to elaborate world wide standards and codes of practice as may be appropriate for fresh fruits and vegetables;
• to consult with the UN/ECE Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce in the elaboration of world wide standards and codes of practice with particular regard to ensuring that there is no duplication of standards or codes of practice and that they follow the same broad format;
• to consult, as necessary, with other international organisations which are active in the area of standardisation of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Last Meeting: 15th Session, 19 – 23 October 2009, Mexico City, Mexico
Full Report of the 14th Session – ALINORM 10/33/35
Next Meeting: 16th Session, TBC
NZ Delegation Report 15th Session
• New Zealand attended the meeting of CCFFV held in Mexico City from 19 to 23 October, along with delegates and observers from 54 member countries and organisations. This committee drafts grade standards for fruit and vegetables, used as a benchmark by countries that apply quality inspection to imported products.
• The standard for apples was finalised. This was a pleasing culmination to the work New Zealand has put into committee and working group discussions on the standard since 2000. Several final amendments were made to resolve points of disagreement, such as the tolerances for decayed apples, all of which were satisfactory for New Zealand. There are a few remaining reservations from India and Thailand. The standard will be referred to the Commission for adoption next June.
• New Zealand flagged the need to amend the standard in future to allow for apples that have been bred for specific characteristics outside the prescribed norms. This is to ensure that the standard does not act as a disincentive to development and a barrier to trade in innovative varieties.
• The committee made good progress on revising the standard for avocados and developing a new standard for tree tomatoes (tamarillos), and redrafted the preparation instructions in the standard for bitter cassava. The proposed draft standard for chilli peppers was returned for redrafting. The committee decided to begin work on a new standard for pomegranate.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world-wide standards for all types of processed fruits and vegetables including dried products, canned dried peas and beans, jams and jellies, but not dried prunes, fruit and vegetable juices. The Commission has also allocated to this Committee the work of review of standards for quick frozen fruits and vegetables.
Last Meeting: 24th Session, 15 – 19 September 2008, Washington DC, United States of America
Full Report of the 24th Session – ALINORM 09/32/27
Next Meeting: 25th Session, 27 September – 1 October 2010, TBA, United States
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world-wide standards, codes and related texts for milk and milk products.
Last Meeting: 8th Session, 4 – 8 February 2008, Queenstown, New Zealand
Full Report of the 8th Session – ALINORM 08/31/11
Next Meeting: 9th Session, 1-5 February 2010, Auckland, New Zealand
NZ Delegation Report 8th Session
• The committee’s meeting in Queenstown, from 4 to 8 February, was successful. All the specific objectives for the session were achieved, except for lack of progress on the Proposed Draft Standard for Processed Cheese. The committee:
• Finalised the Model Export Certificate and recommended its adoption at Step 8.
• Agreed on a draft amendment to the standard for fermented milks to include drinks based on fermented milk, recommended for adoption at step 5.
• Agreed that further work should be undertaken on the Proposed Draft Standard for Processed Cheese by a working group to be co-led by New Zealand and France.
• Fast-tracked the amendment to the list of additives in the Standard for Creams and Prepared Creams.
• Finalised the additive listings for the Standard for Fermented Milks (flavoured fermented milks).
• Recommended that proposed work on the development of guidelines on sampling plans for milk products in the presence of significant measurement uncertainty should be referred to the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) to consider whether it can be handled in a horizontal manner.
• Agreed to an update of IDF/ISO methods of analysis and sampling, which is referred to CCMAS for endorsement
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (CCMH)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world-wide standards and/or codes of practice as may seem appropriate for meat hygiene.
The Committee has adjourned sine die as no further work was identified.
Last Meeting: 11th Session, 14-17 February 2005, Christchurch, New Zealand
Full Report of the 11th Session – ALINORM 05/28/16
Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (CCCPC)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world wide standards for cocoa products and chocolate.
The Committee has adjourned sine die as no further work was identified.
Codex Committee on Sugars (CCS)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world wide standards for all types of sugars and sugar products.
The Committee has adjourned sine die as no further work was identified.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces are similar to commodity and general subject committees but they are generally established to deal with a specific issue or subject area and have a clear timeline for completion of work. The Commission has previously established five Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces dealing with Fruit and Vegetable Juices, Foods derived from Biotechnology, Animal Feeding, Antimicrobial Resistance and Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods. Currently only the Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force is in operation.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding
With the aim of ensuring the safety and quality of foods of animal origin, the Task Force should develop guidelines or standards as appropriate on Good Animal Feeding practices.
Terms of Reference
• to complete and extend the work already done by relevant Codex Committees on the Draft Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding;
• to address other aspects which are important for food safety, such as problems related to toxic substances, pathogens, microbial resistance, new technologies, storage, control measures, traceability, etc.
• to take full account of and collaborate with, as appropriate, work carried out by relevant Codex Committees, and other relevant international bodies, including FAO, WHO, OIE and IPPC.
Dissolved by the 27th Session of the Commission (2004) upon completion of its mandate.
Note: The Commission has agreed that new work will commence on Animal Feeding. An electronic Working Group is developing recommendation on how to progress the work.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
Objectives
To develop standards, guidelines or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived from biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by biotechnology, on the basis of scientific evidence, risk analysis and having regard, where appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant to the health of consumers and the promotion of fair practices in the food trade.
Time Frame
The Task Force shall complete its work within four years.
Terms of Reference
• to elaborate standards, guidelines, or other principles, as appropriate for foods derived from modern biotechnology, taking account, in particular, of the Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods derived from Modern Biotechnology;
• to co-ordinate and closely collaborate, as necessary, with appropriate Codex Committees within their mandate as relates to foods derived from modern biotechnology; and
• to take account of existing work carried out by national authorities, FAO, WHO, other international organisations and other relevant international fora.
Last Meeting: 7th Session, 24 – 28 September 2007, Chiba, Japan
NZ Delegation Report 7th Session
• The Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals, was advanced at Step 5/8, for adoption at the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
• The Proposed Draft Annex on Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants Modified for Nutritional or Health Benefits, was advanced at Step 5/8, for adoption at the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
• The Proposed Draft Annex on Food Safety Assessment in Situations of Low-level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food, was advanced at Step 5/8, for adoption at the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Full Report of the 7th Session – ALINORM 08/31/34
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Fruit and Vegetable Juices
Terms of Reference
The ad hoc Task Force shall:
• revise and consolidate the existing Codex standards and guidelines for fruit and vegetable juices and related products, giving preference to general standards;
• revise and update the methods of analysis and sampling for these products;
• complete its work prior to the 28th Session of the Commission (2005).
Dissolved by the 28th Session of the Commission (2005) upon completion of its mandate.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
Objectives
To develop science based guidance, taking full account of its risk analysis principles, and the work and standards of other relevant international Organisations, such as FAO, WHO and OIE. The intent of this guidance is to assess the risks to human health associated with the presence of food and fee of including aquaculture and the transmission through food and feed of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms and antimicrobial resistance genes and to develop appropriate risk management advice based on that assessment to reduce such risk.
Terms of Reference
To develop guidance on methodology and processes for risk assessment, its application to the antimicrobials used in human and veterinary medicine as provided by FAO/WHO through JEMRA, and in close cooperation with OIE, with subsequent consideration of risk management options. In this process work undertaken in this field at national, regional and international levels should be taken into account.
Timeframe
The Task Force shall complete its work within four sessions, starting in 2007.
Last Meeting: 3rd Session, 12 – 16 October 2009, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Full Report of the 3rd Session, ALINORM 10/33/42
Next Meeting: 4th Session, TBC, Korea
NZ Delegation Report 3rd Session
• The Task force advanced the guidance for antimicrobial resistance to Step 5.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods
Objectives
To finalise the International Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods.
Terms of Reference
To resolve all outstanding issues including quality and safety provisions with a view to the advancement of the code to Step 8.
Timeframe
The Task Force shall complete its work within two (2) years, with one (1) session of the Task Force.
Last Meeting: 1st Session, 25 – 29 February 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
Full Report of the 1st Session, ALINORM 08/31/25
Regional Co-ordinating Committees
The six Codex Co-ordinating Committees have an important role in the Codex system by providing a mechanism for addressing food standards issues and priorities from a regional perspective.
FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific (CCNASWP)
Membership
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and/or WHO which are members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, within the geographical locations of North America and the South West Pacific.
The current members are: Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Federates States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, United States, and Vanuatu.
Terms of Reference
• defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control;
• promotes within the Committee contacts for the mutual exchange of information on proposed regulatory initiatives and problems arising from food control and stimulates the strengthening of food control infrastructures;
• recommends to the Commission the development of world wide standards for products of interest to the region, including products considered by the Committee to have an international market potential in the future;
• develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
• draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s work of particular significance to the region;
• promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organisations within the region;
• exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
• promotes the acceptance of Codex standards and maximum limits for residues by member countries.
Last Meeting: 10th Session, 27 – 30 October 2008, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Full Report of the 10th Session – ALINORM 09/32/32
Next Meeting: 11th Session, TBA, Tonga
NZ Delegation Report 10th Session
• New Zealand led the revision of the CCNASWP Strategic Plan and facilitated its endorsement in the plenary. New Zealand will be working closely with Tonga as Regional Coordinator and the Quads in supporting its effective implementation.
• The meeting decided further scientific information was needed to address some of the health and safety concerns before the matter of new work proposals can be considered further.
• The meeting also agreed the current Terms of Reference were sufficiently broad to facilitate regional coordination on issues of particular interest to the region and that there was no need to amend them.
• Tonga was nominated by consensus to continue as the Regional Coordinator for a second and final two year term covering the 2009-20011 period.
There are similar regional coordinating committees covering the regions of Europe, Africa, Asia, Near East, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
Contact
NZFSA about this page