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Codex Committees – Updated 26 February 2008
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 175 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.
Strategic Framework and Vision Statement
The Strategic Framework and Vision Statement sets out the priorities of the Commission.
Last Meeting: 30th Session, 2 - 7 July 2007, Rome, Italy
Major outcomes of interest to NZ were:
• Adoption of all 16 cheese standards as proposed by CCMMP and as endorsed by the CCFL (re Country of Origin Labelling). The Commission rejected the proposal of Switzerland to block adoption of the Standard for Emmental.
• Adoption of the Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Food Safety.
• Approval of a new work proposal on Campylobacter and Salmonella in chicken meat. This work is to be led jointly by New Zealand and Sweden.
• Approval of the revised Strategic Plan for 2008-2013.
• A strong message to parent bodies (WHO and FAO) to ensure adequate funding, and recognition of the need for Codex to provide a strong business case for funding.
• Approval of Malaysia's bid to host the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils.
These outcomes are consistent with New Zealand's strategic objectives in Codex and the priorities for the 30th Session.
Full Report of the 30th Session – ALINORM 07/30/REP
Next Meeting: 31st Session, 30 June – 4 July 2008, Geneva, Switzerland
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: 60th Session, 4 – 7 December 2007, Rome, Italy
Full Report of the 60th Session – ALINORM 08/31/3
Next Meeting: 61st Session, 24 – 27 June 2008, Geneva, Switzerland
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 as 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.
NZ Delegation Report
• The endorsement of food additives provisions for the revised Codex standard for infant formula.
• Agreement on principles for integrating Codex commodity standard food additive provisions into the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) and as an interim measure placing all these food additive provisions into a new Annex to the GSFA.
• Agreement on adoption of new sweetener provisions into the GSFA.
• Revision of the Codex Procedural Manual as a result of splitting food additives and contaminants into two committees and ensuring sufficient reference to processing aids.
• Discussion and progress on guidelines for flavourings and processing aids, presentation of the updated Inventory of Processing Aids.
Last Meeting: 39th Session, 24 – 28 April 2007, Beijing, China
Full Report of the 39th Session – ALINORM 07/30/12
Next Meeting: 40th Session, 21 – 25 April 2008, Beijing, China
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• The meeting considered proposals for progressing maximum levels for tin in foods arising from the use of tin-plated cans, and aflatoxins in various nuts, and chloropropanols which are formed during the processing and manufacture of a component of foods such as soy sauce.
• It also considered draft Codes of Practice for the reduction of a variety of contaminants in foods such as the fungal toxin ochratoxin A in wine, the chloroporpanols in liquid condiments such as soy sauce, acrylamide in carbohydrate-rich foods, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are found in smoke used in smoking various foods.
• Future work could result from the reduction of the WHO acceptable daily intake of aluminium compounds. While most aluminium gets into foods from the use of certain food additives, and this reduction will affect the Codex Committee on Food Additives more than the Contaminants Committee, some aluminium does get into foods from the use of aluminium cookware.
Last Meeting: 1st Session, 16 – 20 April 2007, Beijing, China
Full Report of the 1st Session – ALINORM 07/30/41
Next Meeting: 2nd Session, 31 March – 4 April 2008, The Hague, 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: 39th Session, 30 October – 4 November 2007, New Delhi, India
Full Report of the 39th Session – ALINORM 08/31/13
Next Meeting: 40th Session, 1 – 6 December 2008, TBA, Guatemala
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) work-in-progress on the proposed 'Draft Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella spp in Chicken Meat’
• Food Safety Risk Profile for Salmonella species in broiler (young) chickens
• Food Safety Risk Profile for Campylobacter species in broiler (young) chickens
The attached risk profiles for Campylobacter and Salmonella spp. in broiler chicken meat have been developed as a first step in guiding the development of the proposed 'Draft Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella spp in Chicken Meat.' The CCFH Working Group co-lead by New Zealand and Sweden acknowledge the importance of these risk profiles as an essential tool for risk managers developing the proposed guidelines.
It is recognized that the risk profiles need further work and data gaps are detailed in the risk profiles. The Working Group encourages all member countries and in particular, countries from those regions where data is lacking in the risk profiles, to review them and submit additional data where available to: judi.lee@nzfsa.govt.nz or lars.plym.forshell@slv.se
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: 16th Session, 26 - 30 November 2007, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Full Report of the 16th Session – ALINORM 08/31/30
Next Meeting: 17th Session, 24 – 28 November 2008, TBA, Australia
Codex Working Group on Equivalence
• New Zealand attended this Working Group to contribute to the development of international guidelines to extend the current principles of judgement of equivalence of different food safety standards. Further work in this area will need to be undertaken for consistency with the parent Codex guideline.
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• The Committee agreed to advance the amendments for the labelling requirements for the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products to Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure for final adoption by the 3oth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
• Labelling provisions in the draft cheese standards were endorsed by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling and will be considered by the 30th CAC for adoption at Step 8. New Zealand reiterated its opposition to the general development and adoption of mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) in international standards but supported the advancement of the standards to Step 8 in the spirit of consensus, noting a number of qualifiers refer, including that the cheese standards are unique in relation to CoOL.
• Some additives were advanced to Step 8. Nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates will be further considered. Work on natural sodium nitrate (NSN) as a fertiliser has been discontinued.
• The proposed Draft Amendment to Annex 1 on addition of ethylene for ripening kiwifruit has been recommended for adoption at Step 5.
• The Committee was unable to reach any conclusions as a result of a GM Labelling Working Group's work in Feb 2006, and this work is to be revisited at a further GM Labelling Working Group meeting that will take place in Ghana in February 2008.
• Text has been further developed on Quantitative Ingredient Declaration of the General Standard for Prepackaged Food and the amendment will be forwarded to CAC for adoption at Step 5.
• A draft definition on advertising in relation to health and nutrition claims will be forded to CAC for adoption at Step 5.
• An electronic working group has been established to develop principles on the use of modified common names.
Last Meeting: 35th Session, 30 April – 4 May 2007, Ottawa, Canada
Full Report of the 35th Session – ALINORM 07/30/22
Next Meeting: 36th Session, 28 April – 2 May 2008, Ottawa, Canada
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• The draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis for guidance of governments was finalised with minimal changes and recommended for adoption at steps 5/8;
• Amendments to the procedural manual covering the roles of regional representatives and regional coordinators were endorsed without changes;
• The committee agreed to continue with the development of a revised code of ethics and agreed on a preliminary draft text which will be circulated to members for comment at step 3;
The NZ/UK paper on Risk based standards remains on the agenda for detailed discussion at the next session in 2009.
Last Meeting: 24th Session, 16 – 20 April 2007, Paris, France
Full Report of the 24th Session – ALINORM 07/30/33
Next Meeting: 25th Session, TBA
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• A working group is to develop guidelines on measurement uncertainty and begin consideration of uncertainty arising from sampling, in which New Zealand should participate.
• The draft guidelines on evaluating acceptable methods of analysis had a cool reception. The working group is suspended, and New Zealand is to progress publication of papers on the subject.
• The draft guidelines on settling disputes over analytical (test) results were partly discussed and have been referred back to step 6 for further comments and consideration.
• Guidelines on analytical terminology will be redrafted by an electronic working group led by the US.
• One test method for a biotoxin (saxitoxin) in molluscs was endorsed.
• Test methods for infant formula were referred back to CCNFSDU, and the nitrogen to protein conversion factor for soy protein was corrected.
• Procedures for converting test methods to criteria will be developed, using heavy metals as a model.
• A guideline on methods for detection and identification of foods derived from biotechnology is to be developed.
Last Meeting: 28th Session, 19 – 23 March 2007, Budapest, Hungary
Full Report of the 28th Session – ALINORM 07/30/23
Next Meeting: 29th Session, 10 - 14 March 2008, Budapest, Hungary
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: 29th Session, 12 – 16 November 2007, Bad Neuenahr, Germany
Full Report of the 29th Session – ALINORM 08/31/26
Next Meeting: 30th Session, 3 – 7 November 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• To request information from countries on national practices in assessing and regulating pesticide residues in subsequent crops (e.g. boscalid) and on national analytical practices in measuring residues in whole milk and milk fat for further consideration at the next session.
• To continue the work on revising the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds and to develop a companion document relating to the selection of representative crops for residue assessment purposes.
• To consider a paper on the Estimation of Uncertainty of Analytical Results at the next session.
• To request comments from JMPR on the proposed refinements to the ‘alternative GAP’ procedure (for resolving acute dietary intake concerns) and on the proposed options for setting MRLs and/or processing factors for processed foods for discussion at the next session.
• To refer the discussion paper on the trade implications arising from the lack of national recognition of Codex MRLs for imported food to the Commission for guidance on to proceed.
Last Meeting: 39th Session, 7 – 12 May 2007, Beijing, China
Full Report of the 39th Session – ALINORM 07/30/24
Next Meeting: 40th Session, 14 – 19 April 2008, Hangzhou, China
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.
NZ Delegation Report
• The draft Codex Guidelines for the Establishment of Regulatory Programme for the Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods remain at step 6 but are likely to advance at the next meeting given there is greater acceptance by the Committee.
• Regarding the strategic discussion on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and their relevance for health protection and trade, progress has been slow in advancing the concept that MRLs should not be used as accept/reject food standards. However, core concepts in this regard have been maintained in the above guide.
• It was agreed that a request for information be sent out by circular letter asking for information on current practices and suggestions for the scope of further work by CCRVDF on: i) use of the EDI, ii) utilisation of the full ADI, iii) starter cultures, and iv) appending risk management recommendations to MRLs.
• Ractopamine was advanced to step 8.
• Dexamethasone, tylosin, avilamycin, malachite green, tilmicososin, monensin, narasin, triclabendazole and melegestrol acetate were placed on the priority list for evaluation by JECFA.
• A new work proposal has been accepted by the Committee for guidelines on risk management recommendations for veterinary drugs for which no ADI and MRL has been recommended by JECFA due to specific human health concerns.
Last Meeting: 17th Session, 3 - 7 September 2007, Breckenridge, Colorado, USA
Full Report of the 17th Session – ALINORM 08/31/31
Next Meeting: 18th Session, TBA
Commodity Committees
There are currently nine 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.
NZ Delegation Report
• A proposed draft amendment to the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils was developed that allows for levels of linolenic acid above 1.0% (up to 1.1 or 1.3%) due to climatic, geographic and varietal influences. The higher levels would be permitted on condition that the oil conforms to stricter limits for other parameters (stigmastadiene up to 0.05 mg/kg, ∆ECN42 up to a suggested 0.1, and possibly campesterol up to 3.5% total sterols), and that there is evidence of natural variation. Comments will be invited on the proposal.
• The remaining sections of the Draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads, dealing with food additives and methods of analysis, were finalised, and the standard was recommended for adoption. The existing standards for margarine and minarine will be revoked.
• A draft amendment to the standard for named vegetable oils, to include rice bran oil, was not progressed, to allow for further data on production and trade volume.
• Similarly an amendment to the level of carotenoids in unbleached palm oil was held up pending further data.
• It was agreed to begin work on new standards for palm kernel stearin and palm kernel olein, and to consider whether further work is needed on the composition and labelling of fatty acid modified vegetable oils.
Last Meeting: 20th Session, 19 – 23 February 2007, London, United Kingdom
Full Report of the 20th Session – ALINORM 07/30/17
Next Meeting: 21st Session, TBA
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: 28th Session, 18 – 22 September 2006, Beijing, China
Full Report of the 28th Session – ALINORM 07/30/18
Next Meeting: 29th Session, 18 – 23 February 2008, Trondheim, Norway
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: 13th Session, 25 - 29 September 2006, Mexico City, Mexico
Full Report of the 13th Session – ALINORM 07/30/35
Next Meeting: 14th Session, 12 - 17 May 2008, Mexico City, Mexico
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: 23rd Session, 16 – 21 October 2006, Arlington VA, United States of America
Full Report of the 23rd Session – ALINORM 07/30/27
Next Meeting: 24th Session, 15 – 19 September 2008, TBA, United States of America
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
Next Meeting: 9th Session, TBA
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.
Last Meeting: 11th Session, 14-17 February 2005, Christchurch, New Zealand
NZ Delegation Report
• The Committee noted the definitions on risk analysis for food safety objective, performance objective, and performance criterion had been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and recommended these to the Codex Committee on General Principles for final adoption.
• The section titled Codex General Principles of Meat Hygiene was incorporated into the text.
• The section on Recall Systems was renamed Systems for Removing Products that are in Circulation, and a number of changes made to the text.
• The Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat replaces the six current texts relating to meat hygiene.
• The Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat was recommended to Step 8 of the Codex process, for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
• The Committee has been adjourned sine die as no further work was identified.
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.
Codex Committee on Sugars (CCS)
Terms of Reference
• To elaborate world wide standards for all types of sugars and sugar products.
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 established three 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.
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.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
Objectives (2004-)
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 (2004-)
The Task Force shall complete its work within four years. The Task Force should submit a full report in 2009.
Terms of Reference (2004-)
• 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
• 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
Next Meeting: 8th Session, TBA
rDNA Animals 2nd Working Group of the Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
NZ Delegation Report
• The Working Group made good progress and produced a complete draft of the Guideline for the Food Safety Assessment of Foods derived from rDNA animals, which was started at the first meeting in Tokyo. The current draft is more succinct than the previous draft and less disputed text. It has been circulated for comments by 1 October 2006 (CL2006/27-FBT). There are two issues outstanding in the scope of the document. These are the exclusion of 'other legitimate factors' and food from animals modified primarily for non-food purposes.
• Further questions needed answering in relation to marker and reporter genes, and non-heritable applications in relation to new developments, demonstration of safety for use in human foods, availability of reliable and safe techniques for the removal of DNA sequences, and food safety in relation to animals with heritables traits.
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: 1st Session, 23 – 26 October 2007, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Full Report of the 1st Session, ALINORM 08/31/42
Next Meeting: 2nd Session, 20 – 24 October 2008, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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.
Next Meeting: 1st Session, 25 – 29 February 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
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: 9th Session, 10 – 13 October 2006, Apia, Samoa
Full Report of the 9th Session – ALINORM 07/30/32
Next Meeting: 10th Session, 27 – 30 October 2008, TBA, Tonga
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
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