ALINORM 93/40 REPORT OF THE TWENTIETH SESSION OF THE JOINT FAO/WHO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION Geneva, 28 June - 7 July 1993 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Issued by the Secretariat of the
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome
Ref. No. ALINORM 93/40 1993

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M-83
ISBN 92-5-103379-x

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Summary and Conclusions

The Commission:

elected F.G. Winarno (Indonesia) as its Chairman and D. Gascoine (Australia), Pakdee Pothisiri (Thailand) and J. Race (Norway) as its Vice-Chairmen.

expressed concern that reductions in the Codex budgetwould have negative consequences on the Commission's work and requested the Secretariat to take steps as appropriate to reduce the number of direct costs to the budget, especially the costs of documentation.

expressed continued support to the objectives of theGATT Uruguay Round negotiations in relation to sanitary and phytosanitary measures and on technical barriers to trade.

invited governments to involve consumers more effectively in decision-making processes related to food standards and the Codex Programme.

discussed the incorporation of risk assessment procedures into the Codex decision-making processes and requested that a paper on the use of risk assessment procedures be transmitted to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues as well as to the Commission's subsidiary bodies primarily responsible for elaborating recommendations on food safety measures.

endorsed a series of Medium-Term Objectives for 1993-1998 and called for the development of a strategy whereby they would be implemented.

agreed to change the status of the FAO/WHO Committee of Government Experts on the Code of Principles on Milk and Milk Products operating under Rule IX.1(a) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure to that of a Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products operating under Rule IX.1(b)(i) and designated New Zealand as the Member responsible for appointing the Chairman of the Committee.

due to lack of a quorum, was unable to endorse proposed changes to its Rules of Procedure (Rule II - Officers) and requested the Legal Counsels of FAO and WHO to consider in detail the issues related to the amendment of the Rules of Procedure and to prepare proposals for future consideration.

adopted amendments to the General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius - Acceptances, to simplify the acceptance procedure and adopted new, uniform Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts which include provisions for accelerated elaboration procedures.

adopted Maximum Residue Limits for 18 pesticides and for 5 veterinary drugs in foods.

requested the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues to examine the relationship between draft Maximum Residue Limits proposed to the Commission for adoption and the conditions of Good Agricultural Practices, Acceptable Daily Intake and Estimated Maximum Daily Intake using risk assessment principles.

endorsed the establishment of a separate list of extraneous or environmental maximum residue limits for pesticides no longer in agricultural use, these limits to be based on contamination monitoring principles.

agreed to hold the maximum residue limits for Trenbolone acetate at Step 8 of its Procedure along with those for other growth-promoting hormones until such time as guidance would be obtained from the Committee on General Principles on the status of science in Codex policies and procedures.

adopted Terms of Reference for the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systemsand agreed that the Committee should continue to meet in the future with the understanding that it should exercise caution in setting its programme of work.

agreed to maintain the Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Tropical Fresh Fruit and Vegetables as currently drafted pending the outcome of further consultations between the Commission though its Executive Committee and the Secretariats of Codex, FAO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on future cooperation between Codex and the UNECE Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development.

endorsed proposals aimed at making a more effective distribution of Codex documents in developing countries and providing guidance for Codex Contact Points.

endorsed the view that Codex meetings should be open to the public and to the press to the greatest extent possible and asked for a revision of the Codex Guidelines governing public and press attendance at Codex sessions.

adopted 8 new Codex Standards, 6 new Codex of Practice, and 4 other guidelines and texts of an advisory nature.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Rome, © FAO 1993

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary and Conclusions

Introduction
Adoption of the Provisional Agenda and Timetable

Election of Officers of the Commission

• Appointment of Regional Coordinators

Report by the Chairman of the Commission on the 39th and 40th Sessions of the Executive Committee

Membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Progress Report on Acceptances of Codex Standards and Codex Maximum Limits for Pesticide Residues, and on the Implementation of the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food

Report on the Financial Situation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme for 1992/93 and 1994/5

Report on the Activities of FAO and WHO Relative to the Work of the Commission

• Report of Joint FAO/WHO Activities
  International Conference on Nutrition
  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR)
  International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICFI)
  Food Quality, Safety and Tourism
• Report on FAO Activities
• Report on WHO Activities

Report on Activities of Other International Organizations Working on Standardization of Food and Related Matters

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO)

Report on the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in Relation to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Agreement (1991) on Technical Barriers to Trade

Consumer Involvement in Decision-Making in Relation to Food Standards and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

Risk Assessment Procedures Used by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and its Subsidiary and Advisory Bodies

Conversion of Codex Regional Standards to World-Wide Standards-Progress Report

Medium-Term Programme of Work 1993–1998

Status of the FAO/WHO Committee of Government Experts on the Code of Principles Concerning Milk and Milk Products

Codex Committee on General Principles

• Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rule II - Officers)
• Proposed Amendments to the General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius (Acceptance Procedure)
• Status of the Proposed Amendments to the General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius
• Proposed Amendments to the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts
• Status of the Proposed Amendments to the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 10th Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa

• Proposed Draft African Regional Standard for Processed Couscous at Step 5 of the Procedure
• Status of the Proposed Draft African Regional Standard for Processed Couscous
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 10th Session of the Committee
• Appointment of Coordinator for Africa

Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia

• Matters Arising from the Eighth Session of the Committee
• Appointment of Coordinator for Asia

Codex Coordinating Committee for Europe

• Appointment of Coordinator for Europe

Codex Coordinating Committee for Latin American and the Caribbean

• Appointment of Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean

Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific

• Appointment of Coordinator for North America and the South-West Pacific

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

• Draft Maximum Residue Limits at Step 8 and 5/8 of the Codex Procedures
• Status of the Draft Maximum Residue Limits
• Proposed Draft Maximum Residue Limits at Step 5 of the Codex Procedure
• Status of the Proposed Draft Residue Limits
• Other Matters Arising from the Reports of the 24th and 25th Sessions of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods

• Consideration of Draft Maximum Residue Limits at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Maximum Residue Limits for Trenbolone Acetate
• Status of the Draft Maximum Residue Limits for Albendazole
• Consideration of Draft Maximum Residue Limits at Step 5 with Recommendations that Steps 6 and 7 be Omitted
• Status of the Draft Maximum Residue Limits for Closantel, Ivermectin, Benzylpenicillin, Oxytetracycline and Carbadox
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Maximum Residue Limits at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Maximum Residue Limits for Flubendazole, Thiabendazole, Triclabendazole, Isometamidium and Bovine Somatotropins
• Consideration of Draft Code of Practice for the Control and Use of Veterinary Drugs at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Code of Practice for the Control and Use of Veterinary Drugs
• Consideration of Draft Guidelines for the Establishment of a Regulatory Programme for the Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods, at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Guidelines for the Establishment of a Regulatory Programme for the Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods
• Consideration of the Draft Glossary of Terms and Definitions at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Glossary of Terms and Definitions
• Priority List of Veterinary Drugs Requiring Evaluation
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Food Labelling

• Draft Nutrient Reference Values (Draft Amendment of Section 3.3.4 of the of the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling)
• Status of the Draft Nutrient Reference Values (Draft Amendment of Section 3.3.4 of the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling)
• Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods
• Status of the Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 22nd Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants

• Proposed Draft Maximum Level for Aflatoxin M₁ in Milk
• Status of the Proposed Draft Maximum Level for Aflatoxin M₁ in Milk
• Consideration of Draft Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Specification for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives
• Draft Amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives
• Status of Amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives
• Consideration of the Draft Preamble to the Codex General Standard on Food Additives
• Status of the Proposed Draft Preamble to the Codex General Standard for Food Additives
• Proposed Draft Provisional Guideline Level for Aflatoxin B₁ in Supplementary Feedingstuffs for Milk-Producing Animals
• Status of the Proposed Draft Provisional Guideline Level for Aflatoxin B¹ in Supplementary Feedingstuffs for Milk-Producing Animals
• Guideline Levels for Methylmercury in Fish
• Status of the Guideline Levels for Methylmercury in Fish
• Proposed Draft General Standard for Contaminants in Foods
• Other Matters Arising from the Reports of the 24th and 25th Sessions of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

• Draft General Provisions Relating to Food Hygiene in Codex Standards
• Status of the Draft General Provisions Relating to Food Hygiene in Codex Standards
• Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Pre-Cooked and Cooked Foods in Mass Catering
• Status of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Pre-Cooked and Cooked Foods in Mass Catering
• Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Aseptically Processed and Packaged Low-Acid Foods
• Status of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Aseptically Processed and Packaged Low-Acid Foods
• Draft Guidelines Procedures for the Visual Inspection of Lots of Canned Foods
• Status of the Draft Guidelines Procedures for the Visual Inspection of Lots of Canned Foods
• Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Application of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System
• Status of the Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Application of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System
• Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Spices and Condiments
• Status of the Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Spices and Condiments
• Terms of Reference of the Committee
• Other Matters Arising from the Reports of the 25th and 26th Sessions of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling

• New Terms of Reference of the Committee
• Draft Codex General Guidelines on Sampling
• Checklist of Information Required and Guidelines to Evaluate Methods of Analysis
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 18th Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems

• Terms of Reference of the Committee
• Consideration of Draft General Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
• Status of the General Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
• Future Programme of Work of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Standard for Formula Foods for Use in Very Low Energy Diets for Weight Reduction at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Standard
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 18th Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of the Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene

• Consideration of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat at Steps 5 and 8
• Status of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice
• Consideration of the Draft Code of Practice for the Ante- and Post-Mortem Inspection of Slaughter Animals and for Ante- and Post-Mortem Judgement of Slaughter Animals and Meat at Steps 5 and 8
• Status of the Draft Code
• Consideration of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Game at Steps 5 and 8
• Status of the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice
• Other Matters Arising from the Reports of the 6th and 7th Sessions of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

• Consideration of Draft Codex Standards for Pineapple, Papaya and Mango at Step 8
• Status of the Draft Codex Standards for Pineapple, Papaya and Mango
• Consideration of Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Nopal, Prickly Pear and Carambola at Steps 5/8
• Status of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Nopal, Prickly Pear and Carambola
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Litchi and Baby Corn at Steps 5/8
• Status of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Litchi and Baby Corn
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Banana and Avocado at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Banana and Avocado
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Packaging and Transport of Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Packaging and Transport of Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Glossary of Scientific and Common Names for Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• Status of the Proposed Draft Glossary of Scientific and Common Names for Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• Other Matters Arising from the Reports of the 3rd and 4th Sessions of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products

• Consideration of the Draft Standard for Dried Shark Fins at Step 8
• Status of the Standard
• Consideration of a Number of Proposed Draft Revised Standards at Step 5
• Status of the Standards
• Consideration of the Proposed Amendments to the Codex Standard for Canned Crab (EDTA) at Step 5
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 20th Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes

• Consideration of Proposed Draft Guideline Levels for Aflatoxins in Peanuts at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Guideline Levels for Aflatoxins in Peanuts
• Consideration of the Proposed Draft Standards for Rice, Wheat and Durum Wheat, Peanuts and Oats at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Codex Standards for Rice, Wheat and Durum Wheat, Peanuts and Oats
• Consideration of a Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Wheat Flour at Step 5
• Status of the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Wheat Flour
• Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 8th Session of the Committee
• Confirmation of Chairmanship of the Committee

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Sugars

• Proposed Draft Standard for Sugars
• Proposed Draft Standard for Honey
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Soups and Broths

• Revised Proposed Draft Standard for Bouillons and Consommes
• Status of the Proposed Draft Standard
• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Edible Ices

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Processed Meat and Poultry

• Confirmation of Chairmanship

Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters

• Status of the Draft Amendments to the Standard for Natural Mineral Waters
• Confirmation of the Chairmanship of the Committee

Future Work

Provisional Timetable of Codex Sessions 1994-95

Other Business

• A. The Need for More Effective Mechanisms to Distribute Codex Documents in Developing Countries
• B. Press Participation at Codex Sessions

APPENDICES