NEW WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY EXISTING SUBSIDIARY BODIES
NEW WORK WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW SUBSIDIARY BODY
1. When a Codex Committee proposes to elaborate a standard, code of practice or related text within its terms of reference, it should first consider the priorities established by the Commission in the Medium-Term Plan of Work, any specific relevant strategic project currently being undertaken by the Commission and the prospect of completing the work within a reasonable period of time. It should also assess the proposal against the criteria set out in paragraph 4, below.
2. If the proposal falls in an area outside the Committee's terms of reference the proposal should be reported to the Commission in writing together with proposals for such amendments to the Committee's terms of reference as may be required.
3. When a Member wishes to propose 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, it should accompany its proposal with a written statement to the Commission referring to the Commission's Medium-Term Objectives and containing, as far as practicable, the information required by the appropriate section of paragraph 4, below.
4. CRITERIA
A. Criteria applicable to commodities
(i) Consumer protection from the point of view of health and fraudulent practices.
(ii) Volume of production and consumption in individual countries and volume and pattern of trade between countries.
(iii) Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant impediments to international trade.
(iv) International or regional market potential.
(v) Amenability of the commodity to standardization.
(vi) Number of commodities which would need separate standards indicating whether raw, semi processed or processed.
(vii) Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field.
(viii) The type of subsidiary body envisaged to undertake the work.
B. Criteria applicable to general subjects
(i) Consumer protection from the point of view of health and fraudulent practices.
(ii) Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant impediments to international trade.
(iii) Scope of work and establishment of priorities between the various sections of the work.
(iv) Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field.
(v) Type of subsidiary body envisaged to undertake the work.
