JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Twenty-second Session
Geneva, 23–28 June 1997

Note: This document incorporates Codex Circular Letter 1996/18-FL

A. MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 22nd SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISION

Draft Guidelines at Step 8 of the Procedure

1. Draft Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims (para. 28, Appendix II)

2. Draft General Guidelines for Use of the Term “Halal” (para. 31, Appendix III)

Governments wishing to propose amendments or comments on the above documents should do so in writing in conformity with the Guide to the Consideration of Standards at Step 8 (see Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission) to the Secretary, joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, via delle terme di Caracalla, 00100, Italy before 15 December 1996

B. REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATION

Proposed Draft Standard at Step 3 of the Procedure

3. Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods and Ingredients that can cause Hypersensitivity) (para. 39, Appendix IV)

Government and interested organizations are invited to submit comments on the Recommendations, especially on the foods and ingredients included in the list and the criteria, in the light of the recommendations of the FAO Technical Consultation on Food Allergies.

Comments should be sent in writing to the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Ron B. Burke, Deputy Director, Bureau of Food Regulatory International and Interagency Liaison, Food Directorate - Health Protection Branch, Health Canada, H.P.B. Building, Room 200, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OL2 Canada (Fax. No. 613.941.3537), with a copy to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy, before 15 December 1996.

Proposed Draft Amendment at Step 3 of the Accelerated Procedure

4. Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish Fingers) Fish Portions and Fish Fillets - Breaded or in Batter (CODEX STAN. 166-1989-Rev 1. 1995) (para. 5, Appendix V)

Subject to confirmation by the 22nd Session of the Commission, the Proposed Draft Amendment is hereby circulated for comments at Step 3 of the Accelerated Procedure, for consideration at Step 4 by the next session of the Committee. Government wishing to submit comments on all aspects of the Amendment, including possible implications for their economic interests should do so in writing to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy, before 15 December 1996.

Note

5. Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

A Circular Letter requesting additional comments at Step 6 on the Draft Guidelines will be circulated separately.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The summary and conclusions of the 24th Session of the Committee on Food Labelling are as follows:

Matters for adoption by the Commission:

The Committee:

• agreed to advance to Step 8 the Draft Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims (para 28, Appendix II)

• agreed to advance to Step 8 the Draft General Guidelines for the Use of the Term “Halal”, subject to the advice of the Executive Committee (para. 31, Appendix III)

• agreed to use the Accelerated Procedure for a Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Labelling Section) (para. 5, Appendix V)

Other Matters of Interest to the Commission

The Committee:

• returned to Step 6 the Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods for additional comments (para. 10)

• returned to Step 3 the Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods for additional comments (para. 39)

• agreed to ask the advice of the Executive Committee on the elaboration of Guidelines for the labelling of foods produced through biotechnology (para. 45)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Opening of the Session

Adoption of the Agenda

Matters referred to the Committee by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other Codex Committees

Consideration of Labelling Provisions in Codex Standards

Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

Draft Guidelines for Use of Health and Nutrition Claims

Draft Guidelines for Use of the Term “Halal”

Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods that can cause Hypersensitivity

Implications of Biotechnology for Food Labelling

Review of Government comments on Nutrition Labelling

Other Business, Future Work and Date and Place of the Next Session

LIST OF APPENDICES

I. List of Participants

II. Draft Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims

III. Draft Guidelines for Use of the Term “Halal”

IV. Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods that can cause Hypersensitivity

V. Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish Fingers) Fish Portions and Fish Fillets - Breaded or in Batter