Criteria for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

When there is a proposal for the elaboration of a standard, code of practice or related text in an area not covered by the terms of reference of any existing subsidiary body[7], or the revision of standards, codes of practice or other texts elaborated by subsidiary bodies adjourned sine die, such a proposal should be accompanied by a written statement to the Commission explaining its justification in light of the Commission’s Medium-Term Objectives and containing, as far as practicable, the information contained in the Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities.

Should the Commission decide to establish a Subsidiary Body for the purpose of elaborating an appropriate draft standard or related text or for the purpose of revising an existing standard(s) or related text(s), first consideration should be given to the establishment of an ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force under Rule IX.1(b)(i) of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure under the following conditions:

1. Terms of Reference:

• the terms of reference of the proposed ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be limited to the immediate task at hand and normally shall not be subsequently modified;
• the terms of reference shall clearly state the objective(s) to be achieved by the establishment of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force;
• the terms of reference shall clearly state either (i) the number of sessions to be convened, or (ii) the date (year) by which the work is expected to be completed, which in any case shall not exceed five years.

2. Reporting:

The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall report to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to the Executive Committee on the progress of its work. The reports of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be transmitted to all Members of the Commission and interested international organization.

3. Operating Expenses:

No provision shall be made concerning the operating expenditures of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force in the estimate of expenditures of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, except insofar as costs involved in preparatory work are recognized as operating expenses of the Commission in accordance with Article 10 of its Statutes.

4. Host Government Arrangements:

The Commission, at the time of the establishment of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall ascertain that there will be appropriate host government arrangements adequate to ensure the functioning of the Task Force for the duration of its assignment[8].

5. Working Procedures:

Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces shall be open to all Members of the Commission and the Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts shall apply mutatis mutandis to ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.

6. Dissolution:

The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be dissolved after the specified work has been completed or when the number of sessions or the time limit allocated for the work has expired.