CODEX COMMITTEE ON SOUPS AND BROTHS
Matters arising from the Report of the Committee
379. The Chairman of the Codex Committee on Soups and Broths, Dr. E. Matthey of Switzerland, introduced the Report of the First Session of the Committee (ALINORM 76/9). He pointed out that the Committee had discussed several general matters concerning the products to be standardized. The Committee had then proceeded to consider both a proposed draft standard for soups and broths elaborated by Switzerland and the International Association of Soup Manufacturers (AIIBP) and a more detailed proposal submitted by the Codex Secretariat. In the course of the discussion it was recognized that such matters as nutritional value, compositional requirements (paragraphs 10 and 11 of ALINORM 76/9) and the quantity of characterizing ingredients would present some difficulties in setting up a standard to cover all soups and broths. It was noted that concrete figures for compositional requirements were already available for bouillons. The Committee had decided therefore to modify the standard for soups and broths in such a way as to cover only bouillons.
380. On the revised draft, as set out in Appendix II to ALINORM 76/9, government comments had been invited at Step 3 of the Procedure.
381. AIIBP had been requested to assist in the preparation of working documents for the next session of the Committee (including a review of the proposed list of additives for bouillons).
382. As regards continuation of work on soups and broths, the Committee had requested the AIIBP to prepare a basic document to establish the feasibility of elaborating provisions for the composition of the products and for prescribing quantitative requirements for the major ingredients.
383. The Commission recommended that both the National and the FAO Secretariats together with the International Association of Soup Manufacturers should participate in drafting the basic document on soups and broths.
Confirmation of Chairmanship
384. The Commission confirmed under Rule IX.10 that the Codex Committee on Soups and Broths should continue to be under the chairmanship of the Government of Switzerland.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FOOD CONTAMINANTS - SCOPE AND MAGNITUDE OF WORK
385. The Commission had before it document ALINORM 76/29 on the above subject, which had been prepared by Mr. L.M. Beacham (U.S.A.) in his capacity as consultant of FAO/WHO/ UNEP. The Commission also had before it document ALINORM 76/29-Corrdigendum, which had been prepared by the delegation of Japan.
386. Mr. Beacham stated, in introducing the document, that the UN Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972, in its Recommendation No. 82, had called for increased support to be given to the Codex Alimentarius Commission to develop international standards for pollutants in food. The document reviewed the current usage of different kinds of pesticides, occurrence of industrial chemicals, heavy metals, mycotoxins and other microbiological contaminants in the environment, and avenues and incidence of contamination of food with them. The attention of the Commission was especially drawn to the recommendations made in paragraph 9 of the document, for its consideration.
387. Several delegations complimented Mr. Beacham on the excellent review of the problems of contaminants in food within the framework of the Codex programme. A suggestion was made that the document might be issued with appropriate modifications, as an information booklet for wider circulation. Several delegations informed the Commission about the work being done in their countries on the complex problems of environmental contaminants and supported the need for priority to be given by the Commission to food contaminants. At the same time, it was pointed out that the differences in analytical methods, the questions of reliability of data and the need for increased food production and prevention of waste to feed the world population would call for a careful assessment and a cautious approach.
388. A reference was made to the WHO Environment Health Criteria Programme and a point was made about the inclusion of nitrates, nitrites, which were used as food additives and were also environmental contaminants, and N-nitroso compounds, in the list of priority contaminants to be studied. The WHO representative pointed out that the aim of the Programme was to compile relevant environmental, toxicological and epidemiological data and to establish, where possible, dose-effect and dose-response relationships. Some criteria documents, such as on mercury, cadmium, lead, PCB's, mycotoxins, and nitrates, nitrites and N-nitroso compounds were important from the point of view of food contamination. The first four criteria documents had been reviewed by task groups and were ready for publication. The last had been finalized by a task group in February and was being edited. The criteria document on mycotoxins would be reviewed by a task group later this year. He pointed out that these criteria documents constituted valuable data base for review by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives for establishing “tolerable intakes” for man. The precise mechanism to be used was subject to review and possible attention in the future. The WHO representative further informed the Commission that nitrites, as additives, were on the agenda of the next meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in April 1976, and would be reviewed in the light of new information on the N-nitroso compounds which could be formed under various in vitro and in vivo conditions.
389. As regards the recommendation, contained in the document before the Commission, to consider the possibilities of setting up a new Codex Committee to deal with industrial chemicals and heavy metals in food, it was the general opinion in the Commission that the existing Committees, even though they had heavy workloads, should deal with the contaminants and that no new Committee was necessary. The Commission agreed that at this point in time the best way to proceed would be for the data on levels of contaminants in food to be submitted to the appropriate Codex Commodity Committees, which should make proposals on the limits of the contaminants in various foods for further consideration and endorsement by the General Subject Committees, i.e. the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues for residues of pesticides, including similar environmental contaminants such as PCB's, dioxins, etc., the Codex Committee on Food Additives for heavy metals and other elemental contaminants, and the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene for mycotoxins and other microbiological contaminants. It was further decided that appropriate changes in the terms of reference of the three General Subject Committees should be prepared, if necessary, and be submitted to the next session of the Executive Committee for consideration.
390. The Commission was informed of the fact that only one Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues was provided for during the 1976/77 biennium (see also paras 51, 132, 159 and 160 of this Report) and agreed to request FAO and WHO to examine ways to strengthen and accelerate the work of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues - that is the FAO Working Party on Pesticide Residues and the WHO Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues - which provides important inputs to the Commission.
391. The attention of the Commission was drawn to the work of the Council of Europe referred to in the document ALINORM 76/34-Part II, which also dealt with contaminants in food. The representative of the Council of Europe briefly informed the Commission about the recent activities of the Sub-Committee on the Health Control of Foodstuffs and the Working Group on Microbiology, and indicated the Council's willingness to share its data and the results of its studies with the Commission. The Commission welcomed this offer and agreed that close liaison continue to be maintained with the Council of Europe.
392. The Commission had before it a paper entitled “Views of Governments on Standards for Vinegar” (ALINORM 76/30, Part I) prepared by the Secretariat.
393. At its Tenth Session, the Commission had discussed a basic document on vinegar and had decided to request the Secretariat to obtain more information from governments on production, trade, types of vinegar, vinegar, used as ingredients in other foodstuffs and other technical matters. A questionnaire CL 1974/39 had been sent to governments inviting also their comments on whether vinegar should be standardized and if so in which form, i.e. one standard or a number of standards. The Codex Secretariat had collated the information received from 24 countries.
394. The discussion on the paper reflected the opinions expressed in writing by the Member Governments. The majority of delegations stated that standards for one or more types of vinegar could be elaborated, but they would not favour standardization at present and would place a low priority on the subject. It was pointed out that careful consideration should be given to any decision to embark on new work, taking into account the budgetary constraints of the Programme.
395. The delegation of Nigeria further pointed out that the products appeared to be of greater importance in certain regions than in others. The delegation of Italy stressed that within the region of Europe there already existed great divergence in national legislation on vinegar, which does impede trade in vinegar and those products for which vinegar is used as a packaging media.
396. A considerable number of delegations from European countries expressed themselves in favour of commencing work on the standardization of vinegars on a European basis and the Coordinator for Europe suggested that the subject of vinegar might be considered at the next meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe. Several other delegations stated that if there were to be standards for vinegar they should be elaborated on a world-wide basis.
397. It was noted that many of the various types of vinegar were produced in Europe and exported to other regions. The Coordinating Committee for Europe therefore could cover nearly all types of raw materials and technological processes involved in the manufacture of vinegars.
398. In conclusion the Commission decided not to establish a Committee to elaborate standards for vinegar, in view of the low priority which governments in general attached to the subject, and in the light of budgetary constraints of the Programme. It was agreed that the Coordinating Committee for Europe should discuss at its next session the questions related to vinegar and consider whether it would be feasible to standardize the various types of vinegar. The Coordinating Committee should then report on the results of its deliberations to the Twelfth Session of the Commission.
399. The Commission had before it ALINORM 76/30, Part II which was prepared and introduced by the Secretariat.
400. The Commission at its Ninth Session had considered the proposal of the Coordinating Committee for Europe that regional standards be developed for salt (para 25, ALINORM 72/19A), in view of the significant European trade in salt, although the possibility of world-wide standards should not be excluded.
401. The Codex Committee on Food Additives had, at it Eighth Session, agreed that a specification of identity and purity should be elaborated for food grade salt and had adopted a draft specification (ALINORM 72/12, Appendix VI) which had been prepared by the delegation of the Netherlands. Even if it was decided not to proceed with the elaboration of a Codex standard or standards for salt, the Codex Committee on Food Additives was of the opinion that it would be desirable to continue the elaboration of a specification for food grade salt and had asked for approval of further work on the specification.
402. It had been pointed out that several commodities in international trade would require the establishment of a standard, such as table salt intended for direct consumption and food grade salt, used mainly by the food industry. Other products such as curing salts might also have to be considered. Opinion had differed on the issue of whether a standard or standards be elaborated on a European regional or world-wide basis. The opinion had been expressed that it would be appropriate to develop a European regional standard for table salt, but that food grade salt appeared to be more suitable as the subject of a world-wide standard.
403. It had been decided that a working paper should be prepared concerning the need or otherwise for regional or world-wide standards after taking into account the views of the Comité européen d'Etude du Sel (European Committee on Salt). As a result, a questionnaire had been distributed to governments covering production and trade in salt, the kind of products consumed or used in food preparation, existing legislation, methods of analysis and the opinions of governments on the need for standardization. The replies of 23 governments had been received and formed the basis of the paper.
404. Several delegations at the present session of the Commission considered that the elaboration of standards for salt had low priority but were not opposed to standardization of food grade salt.
405. Other delegations pointed out the great importance of salt in developing countries and thought that world-wide rather than regional standards should be elaborated.
406. The delegation of the Netherlands was of the opinion that the standardization was especially important with regard to food additives and contaminants and suggested that further work on salt might be undertaken by the Codex Committee on Food Additives.
407. The Commission noted that there was some measure of support for the development of a standard or standards for food grade salt and, bearing in mind that 15 of the 23 countries replying to the questionnaire were in favour of either regional or world-wide Codex standards, agreed that the Codex Committee on Food Additives should develop a standard for food grade salt based on the work it had already done and taking into account, in particular, the remarks made in the previous paragraph. The delegation of France was in favour only of determining limits for additives and contaminants and not of the standardization of salt grades.
408. For the consideration of Tea, the Codex Secretariat prepared a document entitled “Government Comments on ISO Standards for Black and Instant Tea and on International Trade in Tea Products” (ALINORM 76/31, Addenda I and II and Conference Room Document No. 2 containing comments received from Sweden).
409. The Tenth Session of the Commission had discussed a background paper on tea and had concluded, as set out in paragraph 355 of ALINORM 74/44, that the ISO Draft Standard for Black Tea and the ISO working document on a specification for Instant Tea should be adapted to the Codex format and sent to governments for comments. Furthermore, information had been requested by the Secretariat on production and trade in instant tea and tea products to enable the Commission to decide whether standards for these products were needed.
410. Appendix I to CL 1975/29 contained an adapted version of the ISO Draft Standard for Black Tea, supplemented by notes from the Secretariat which drew attention to those sections which differed substantially from the usual Codex format. Appendix II to CL 1975/29 contained an adapted version of the ISO working paper on instant tea. The Secretariat, recognizing the early stage this ISO working paper was at, did not add to Appendix II any suggestions for provisions normally included in Codex standards.
411. Comments had been received on sections concerning scope, description, essential composition and quality criteria, food additives and labelling provisions.
412. The view was expressed that sections on sensoric evaluation should be included in the standards and that the section on essential composition should contain provisions for moisture content, caffein content and crude fibre content.
413. The delegation of Norway pointed out that ISO and Codex standards normally differed considerably, especially as far as labelling provisions were concerned.
414. The representative of ISO, emphasizing the wish for cooperation, informed the Commission that the working group for tea had been converted into a sub-committee of Technical Committee 34. He elaborated further on the work currently undertaken by the sub-committee and invited interested governments to comment on the relevant ISO documents. It was noted that the sub-committee would meet in September 1976 and would then deal with all comments received on the ISO Draft Standard for Black Tea and on the ISO Specification for Instant Tea.
415. The Commission, taking into account the budgetary constraints, decided not to embark on standardization work for tea and tea products at the present time. It was agreed that the Secretariat should follow closely the work undertaken by ISO on the subject and submit the adapted versions of the two tea standards (Appendices I and II of CL 1975/29) and the comments as set out in the above-mentioned documents to the sub-committee on tea, to be considered at the September meeting of that Committee.
416. The Commission further agreed that the Commission should postpone further discussions on tea and tea products until the ISO sub-committee on tea had finalized its standardization work on black tea and instant tea.
417. The delegation of Brazil stated that its position had not altered from that expressed at the Ninth and Tenth Sessions of the Commission that Codex standards for coffee and coffee products should be elaborated (see para 333 of the Report of the Tenth Session of the Commission).
418. The Commission had before it a background document on “Cereals, Cereal Products, Tubers and Starches” (ALINORM 76/32).
419. At previous sessions, the Commission had stressed the importance it attached to cereals and cereal products, tubers and starches. At its Tenth Session the Commission had considered an information document on cereals (ALINORM 74/33). The Commission had concluded that, in order to come to a final decision as to whether standardization of these products was feasible, more data were required on production, trade and local consumption of the products, with special emphasis on those products which were consumed and traded on a regional basis, including data on hygienic and legislative aspects. The Secretariat had prepared a questionnaire, as contained in CL 1974/52, requesting also data for products of regional importance based on the food composition tables of the different regions of the world.
420. Appendix I of the paper contained a tabulation of the data received on export, import and local consumption according to main groups such as basic grains, starchy roots and tubers, processed cereals, cereal-based products and starches. The Appendix also contained a summary on fraudulent and objectionable practices as well as details of national legislation on the products.
421. The Secretariat paper gave an overall picture of basic grains, grains, starchy roots and tubers of regional importance, processed cereals and cereal-based products, covering main products, their characteristics and special problems related to them.
422. During the discussion the representative of the International Association of Cereal Chemistry supplied additional information on the analytical work carried out by ICC in cooperation with ISO and corrected some information given in paragraphs 8 and 13 of the paper concerning soft wheats and hard wheats especially in the French version of the paper. He pointed out that the grading systems under paragraphs 14–17 applied only to Triticum aestivum. The representative of ISO gave information on the work done by Technical Committee 34 of ISO and indicated that Sub-Committee 4, “Cereals and Pulses” of TC 34 would be ready to examine the measures to be taken regarding specifications, etc., after the Commission had come to a decision regarding its future intentions concerning Codex work on cereals and cereal products.
423. The delegation of Senegal reiterated its opinion, as expressed at previous sessions of the Commission, that cereals and cereal products should be Standardized. Several delegations, while recognizing the importance of the products, were however, of the opinion that their standardization would be too complex to be undertaken at the present time.
424. The delegations of Thailand and Japan stated that for important products for their countries, such as rice, in the case of Thailand and rice, wheat and other products in the case of Japan, legislation already covered those provisions which were designed to protect the consumer.
425. The Coordinator for Africa recalled that the 2nd Session of the Coordinating Committee for Africa had emphasized the important role of tubers and tuber products in the diet of that region. In his opinion, standardization work on starchy roots and tubers should commence as soon as possible. However, nothing that very few countries had submitted data for tubers either to the Codex Secretariat or to the Coordinating Committee for Africa, he suggested that the regional Coordinating Committees should collect data on tuber products of importance to their regions and survey the intraregional trade, thus commencing work on a regional level. His view was supported by the delegations of the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The delegation of France drew the attention of the Commission to the fact that the UNECE had already elaborated a standard for ware potatoes.
426. The Commission concluded that standardization of cereals and cereal products was too complex a subject to be undertaken at the present time. However, noting the views which had been expressed by the Coordinating Committee for Africa, the Commission recommended that regional Coordinating Committees interested in certain products, such as tubers in Africa, should gather background information, determine priorities and submit their proposals for standards together with full documentation on the products to the Commission for consideration.
Provisional Timetable of Codex Sessions in 1976/77
427. The Commission had before it ALINORM 76/38, containing a provisional timetable of Codex sessions for 1976/77. As had been indicated earlier during the Commission's deliberations, a full session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling was to be added to the list of 27 sessions.
428. At the outset of the discussion on this item, the delegation of the U.S.A. expressed its concern at the increasing period of time elapsing between sessions of various Codex Committees and more especially, elapsing between sessions of the Commission. It recalled that, at an earlier session, it had reluctantly agreed to a period of 18 months elapsing between sessions of the Commission, as a temporary measure. It was, therefore, concerned that the period would now be 2 years. This concern was shared by other delegations.
429. As regards 1976, it was noted that the 18th Session of the Milk and Milk Products Committee would be held in Rome from 13 to 18 September. The 12th Session of the Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate would be held in Biel (Fr. Bienne) from 1 to 5 November.
430. As regards 1977, it was noted that the 3rd Session of the Coordinating Committee for Africa would be hosted by the Government of Ghana in Accra from 17 to 21 January 1977.
431. The delegation of Mexico indicated, with regard to the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Regional Conference for Latin America which had been scheduled to be held in Mexico, with the tentative date 17–24 January, that it was not possible for him, at this stage, to give firm and precise information concerning the arrangements for the Conference.
432. The delegation of the Netherlands indicated that the Ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues would probably be an 8 day session (Monday to Monday). The dates 14 to 21 February were still subject to confirmation and should be left in square brackets.
433. The delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany indicated that the Tenth Session of the Codex Committee on Foods for Special Dietary Uses would be held from 28 February to 5 March.
434. The delegation of the Netherlands indicated that the Eleventh Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives would probably be held from 31 May to 6 June, but this date was subject to confirmation by the Netherlands authorities.
435. It was noted that the 9th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils would be held from 28 November to 2 December.
436. As regards the 1st Session of the Coordinating Committee for Asia, the Coordinator for Asia indicated that the place and date of this session would be discussed by the ad hoc working group of delegates from the region on 8 April 1976.
437. The delegation of Hungary proposed that the Tenth Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, which had been listed provisionally by the Codex Secretariat for 17–21 October 1977, should be brought forward to the end of May or early June 1977 and if possible linked with the Tenth Session of the Coordinating Committee for Europe, which had been scheduled for June 1977. It was agreed that, for operational reasons affecting the Codex Secretariat, it would be necessary to leave a period of at least two weeks between the session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and a session of either of the two Committees mentioned above. The delegation of Austria agreed that the Session of the Coordinating Committee for Europe could be held later in June and the delegation of Hungary agreed to leave the session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling in October, where it had been tentatively scheduled.
438. As regards the scheduling of the three Codex Committees which normally meet in North America, it was noted that, for operational reasons, it would be difficult for these three Committees (Processed Fruits and Vegetables, Food Hygiene and Food Labelling) to be held consecutively. It would be possible to have two of these meetings consecutively in North America, but not three. The delegation of Norway considered that sessions of the Committee on Food Hygiene and Food Labelling should be held consecutively. Other delegations considered that the Codex Committees on Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Food Labelling should be held consecutively. It was pointed out that the delegates who attended the Food Labelling Committee were usually those who attend the Processed Fruits and Vegetables Committee and not, in the main, those who attended the Food Hygiene Committee. In the circumstances, there was a strong case for linking the sessions of the Processed Fruits and Vegetables Committee and the Food Labelling Committee. Because of overloading of Codex sessions in May/June 1977, it was proposed that the sessions of the Food Labelling Committee and the Processed Fruits and Vegetables Committee be postponed to September 1977. The delegations of Canada and the USA undertook to examine this request sympathetically and also to consult among themselves on the matter and with the Codex Secretariat.
439. The delegation of Switzerland indicated that if it would be of help concerning the schedule of meetings in 1977, the 2nd session of the Codex Committee on Soups and Broths could be held in September 1977 instead of April 1977.
440. It was agreed that the Secretariat should proceed to schedule the sessions for 1976/77, taking into account the remarks above.
Provisional List of Codex Sessions in the 1978/79 Biennium
441. The Commission took note of the provisional list of Codex sessions in the 1978/79 biennium, set out below, which had been drawn up by the Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the Executive Committee at its 22nd session (see ALINORM 76/4, para 4). The list took into account the views which had been expressed by the Executive Committee concerning the need for no loss of momentum, more especially in the work of the Codex Committees on Pesticide Residues, Food Additives, Food Labelling and Food Hygiene (see ALINORM 76/4, para 9).
1978/79
Date and Place of the Twelfth Session of the Commission
442. The delegation of the Netherlands stated that, as a matter of principle, the Commission should hold at least some of its sessions in Geneva, in view of the fact that the work of the Commission was sponsored jointly by WHO and FAO, even though it was noted that certain additional expenses would be involved for WHO. The representative of WHO indicated that he would report back on this matter to WHO.
443. The delegation of Senegal indicated that, at its request, during the Second Session of the Coordinating Committee for Africa, its Government had given its agreement to host the Twelfth Session of the Commission in Dakar and that it had conveyed its interest in this matter to the Codex Secretariat. It was noted that this had taken the form of an exchange of correspondence between Dr. Ndoye (Senegal) and the Codex Secretariat, and that the Secretariat had conveyed information concerning the requirements for a session of the Commission and the additional costs to the Programme, more especially travel costs, involved. The Commission noted the statement of Dr. Ndoye who, neverthless expressed thanks to the Commission, on behalf of the Government of Senegal. The Commission wished to place on record its appreciation of the interest and importance which the Government of Senegal attached to the work of the Commission.
444. The delegation of Austria informed the Commission that the Government of Austria wished to extend an official invitation to the Commission to hold its Twelfth Session at the Kongresshaus, Innsbruck. The delegation of Austria indicated that the Conference Hall and local facilities would be available free of charge to the Commission.
445. The delegation of the U.S.A. indicated its interest in the Commission giving consideration to developing standards for vegetable proteins. The Secretariat was asked to follow up, as necessary, in order to bring the matter before the Commission at its Twelfth Session for consideration.
Possible Relocation of the Joint Office of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
446. One delegation, in drawing attention to the fact that communication between the Secretariat of the Programme and Members of the Commission had encountered frequent and protracted difficulties, especially concerning the receipt of government comments and working documents for Codex sessions, enquired whether FAO and WHO had given any thought to the possible relocation of the Joint Office of the Programme to another UN centre. In response to the question of this delegation, the delegation of Austria informed the Commission that a large UN Office complex with full meeting facilities would be completed by 1978 in Vienna. This information was known at the UN Headquarters and consideration was being given in the UN System as to how best to utilize the facilities.
447. The Government of Austria, in view of its long association with the work of the Codex Alimentarius and its forerunner, the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus, would be willing to host, if this should be the wish of the bodies of FAO and WHO which, according to the Statutes of FAO and WHO, have to take this decision, and would be in a position to provide excellent facilities to the Codex Secretariat to ensure the smooth running of the Programme from Vienna. The Commission noted this offer and agreed that the Codex Secretariat should examine this possibility and approach the Austrian authorities concerning what would be its needs.
1 To be held only if work programme not completed in 1976/77 biennium
448. The Secretariat indicated that it would be necessary to place this matter before the Directors-General of FAO and WHO as it would obviously involve administrative and financial considerations. The Commission requested that the Executive Committee should be kept fully informed of any developments concerning this matter.
449. Mr. E. Kimbrell (U.S.A.) expressed, on behalf of the Codex Alimentarius the appreciation of the Commission and of its Members to the retiring Chairman, Dr. D.G. Chapman (Canada), for his leadership and guidance as Chairman and his long and active support of the Commission as a delegate over the years. The Commission gave Dr. Chapman a standing ovation.
