OTHER BUSINESS AND FUTURE WORK (Agenda item 13)

(I) OTHER BUSINESS

63. The Committee was informed that the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products at its First Session in 1994 decided that in the future it would be appropriate to seek the endorsement of methods of analysis for milk products by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (ALINORM 95/11, para. 29). The Executive Committee at its 42^nd Session recommended that the Commission make the appropriate changes to the Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling to enable it to consider methods of analysis proposed by the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (ALINORM 95/4, para. 37).

64. On the basis of the above recommendations the Committee agreed to recommend that the Commission amend its Terms of Reference as indicated in Appendix III.

(II) FUTURE WORK

65. The Committee agreed to continue work on the following items:

- Proposed Draft Codex General Guidelines on Sampling;
- Criteria for evaluating acceptable methods of analysis for Codex purposes;
- Development of objective criteria for assessing the competence of testing laboratories involved in the official import and export control of food;
- Harmonization of reporting of test results corrected for recovery factors;
- Harmonization of analytical terminology in accordance with international standards;
- Report of the IAM on methods of analysis; and
- Endorsement of methods of analysis for Codex purposes.

66. The Committee agreed to propose that the following new work be undertaken by the Commission:

- Review of methods of analysis using ozone-depleting substances (See paras. 56-62); and
- Measurement uncertainty.
This new work was proposed by the Delegation of the United Kingdom, who expressed concern that a number of international organizations and accreditation agencies were developing recommendations and requirements regarding measurement uncertainty which were at variance with present practice of the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling. Other delegations requested that consideration of such recommendations and requirements be addressed by the Committee.

67. Several delegations were desirous that the Commission consider further amendment(s) to the Committee’s Terms of Reference to enable it undertake other related work, such as endorsement of microbiological methods to assess safety of food and the development of methods of analysis for the detection of foods produced by biotechnology.