CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORK PRIORITIES
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 below.
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.
1 CRITERIA
Criteria applicable to general subjects
Consumer protection from the point of view of health and fraudulent practices.
Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant or potential impediments to international trade.
Scope of work and establishment of priorities between the various sections of the work.
Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field.
Criteria applicable to commodities
Consumer protection from the point of view of health and fraudulent practices.
Volume of production and consumption in individual countries and volume and pattern of trade between countries.
Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant or potential impediments to international trade.
International or regional market potential.
Amenability of the commodity to standardization.
Coverage of the main consumer protection and trade issues by existing or proposed general standards.
Number of commodities which would need separate standards indicating whether raw, semi processed or processed.
Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field.
CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
When there is a proposal for 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 body94, or the revision of standards, codes of practice or other texts elaborated by subsidiary bodies adjourned sine die, such a proposal should be accompanied by a written statement to the Commission explaining its justification in light of the Commission's Medium-Term Objectives and containing, as far as practicable, the information contained in the Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities.
Should the Commission decide to establish a Subsidiary Body for the purpose of elaborating an appropriate draft standard or related text or for the purpose of revising an existing standard(s) or related text(s), first consideration should be given to the establishment of an ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force under Rule IX.1(a) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure under the following conditions:
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
the terms of reference of the proposed ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be limited to the immediate task at hand and normally shall not be subsequently modified;
the terms of reference shall clearly state the objective(s) to be achieved by the establishment of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force;
the terms of reference shall clearly state either (i) the number of sessions to be convened, or (ii) the date (year) by which the work is expected to be completed, which in any case shall not exceed five years;
REPORTING:
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall report to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to the Executive Committee on the progress of its work. The reports of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be transmitted to all Members of the Commission and interested international organization.
OPERATING EXPENSES:
No provision shall be made concerning the operating expenditures of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force in the estimate of expenditures of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, except insofar as costs involved in preparatory work are recognized as operating expenses of the Commission in accordance with Article 10 of its Statutes.
HOST GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS:
The Commission, at the time of the establishment of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall ascertain that there will be appropriate host government arrangements adequate to ensure the functioning of the Task Force for the duration of its assignment.95
WORKING PROCEDURES:
Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces shall be open to all Members of the Commission and the Rules Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts shall apply mutatis mutandis to ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.
DISSOLUTION:
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be dissolved after the specified work has been completed or when the number of sessions or the time limit allocated for the work has expired.
95 This may involve Host Government arrangements with one or more Members of the Commission.
AMENDMENT TO THE FOOD HYGIENE PROVISIONS IN “RELATIONS BETWEEN COMMODITY COMMITTEES AND GENERAL COMMITTEES”
Replace the current provisions on Food Hygiene with the following text:
Food Hygiene
Commodity Committees should use in the commodity standards the following text:
It is recommended that the products covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in accordance with the appropriate sections of the Recommended International Code of Practice-General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969, Rev 3-1997), and other relevant Codex texts such as Codes of Hygienic Practice and Codes of Practice.
The products should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with the Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997).
AMENDMENT TO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE CODEX COMMITTEE ON MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS
Replace the existing Terms of Reference with the following:
To elaborate world-wide standards, codes and related texts for milk and milk products.
DEFINITIONS OF RISK ANALYSIS TERMS RELATED TO FOOD SAFETY
Risk Communication
The interactive exchange of information and opinions throughout the risk analysis process concerning risk, risk-related factors and risk perceptions, among risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, industry, the academic community and other interested parties, including the explanation of risk assessment findings and the basis of risk management decisions.
Risk Management
The process, distinct from risk assessment, of weighing policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control options.
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORK OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
1 PURPOSE
The purpose of collaboration with International Non-Governmental Organizations is to secure for the Codex Alimentarius Commission, expert information, advice and assistance from international non-governmental organizations and to enable organizations which represent important sections of public opinion and are authorities in their fields of professional and technical competence to express the views of their members and to play an appropriate role in ensuring the harmonizing of intersectoral interests among the various sectoral bodies concerned in a country, regional or global setting.
Arrangements made with such organizations shall be designed to advance the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission by securing maximum cooperation from International Non-Governmental Organizations in the execution of its programme.
2 TYPES OF RELATIONSHIP
Only one category of relationship shall be recognized, namely “Observer Status”; all other contacts, including working relations, shall be considered to be of an informal character.
3 ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR “OBSERVER STATUS”
The following shall be eligible for Observer Status:
International Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status, specialized consultative status or liaison status with FAO;
International Non-Governmental Organizations having official relations with WHO; and
International Non-Governmental Organizations that:
are international in structure and scope of activity, and representative of the specialized field of interest in which they operate;
are concerned with matters covering a part or all of the Commission's field of activity;
have aims and purposes in conformity with the Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and
have a permanent directing body, authorized representatives and systematic procedures and machinery for communicating with its membership in various countries. Its members shall exercise voting rights in relation to its policies or action or shall have other appropriate mechanisms to express their views.
4 PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING “OBSERVER STATUS”
4.1 International Non-Governmental Organizations having status or official relations with FAO and WHO
“Observer status” shall be accorded to those International Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative status, specialized consultative status or liaison status with FAO or International Non-Governmental Organizations having official relations with WHO that inform the Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of their desire to participate in the work of the Commission and/or any or all of the Commission's subsidiary bodies96 on a regular basis. They may also request invitations to participate at specific sessions of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies on an ad hoc basis.
4.2 Non-Governmental Organizations not having status or official relations with FAO and WHO
Before any form of formal relationship is established with a Non-Governmental Organization, such Organization shall supply the Secretary of the Commission with the information outlined in the Annex to these Procedures. The Secretary shall transmit this information to the Directors-General of FAO and WHO.
Upon confirmation that the Directors-General are satisfied that the applicant Organization is in a position to make a significant contribution in advancing the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Observer Status shall be granted to the applicant Organization.
Observer Status at specific meetings will not normally be granted to individual organizations that are members of a larger organization authorized and that intends to represent them at these meetings.
5 PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS
International Non-Governmental Organizations in Observer status shall have the following privileges and obligations:
5.1 Privileges of International Non-governmental Organizations in “Observer Status”
An Organization in Observer Status:
shall be entitled to send an observer (without the right to vote) to sessions of the Commission, who may be accompanied by advisers; to receive from the Secretary of the Commission, in advance of the session, all working documents and discussion papers; to circulate to the Commission its views in writing, without abridgement; and to participate in discussions when invited by the Chairperson97;
shall be entitled to send an observer(without the right to vote) to sessions of specified Subsidiary Bodies, who may be accompanied by advisers; to receive from the Secretaries of the Subsidiary Bodies, in advance of the session, all working documents and discussion papers; to circulate to these Bodies its views in writing, without abridgement; and to participate in discussions when invited by the Chairperson97;
may be invited by the Directors-General to participate in meetings or seminars on subjects organized under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme which fall within its fields of interest, and if it does not so participate it may submit its views in writing to any such meeting or seminar;
will receive documentation and information about meetings planned on subjects agreed upon with the Secretariat;
may submit, under the authority of its governing body, written statements on matters before the Commission, in one of the languages of Commission, to the Secretary, who may communicate them to the Commission or the Executive Committee as appropriate.
5.2 Obligations of International Non-governmental Organizations in “Observer Status”
An Organization in Observer Status shall undertake:
to cooperate fully with the Codex Alimentarius Commission for the furtherance of the objectives of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme;
in cooperation with the Secretariat, to determine the ways and means of co-ordinating activities within the scope of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programmes, with a view to avoiding duplication and overlapping;
to contribute, as far as possible, and at the request of the Directors-General, to the promotion of a better knowledge and understanding of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme through appropriate discussions or other forms of publicity;
to send to the Secretary of the Commission on an exchange basis, its reports and publications concerned with matters covering all or part of the Commission's field of activity;
to keep the Secretary of the Commission informed of changes in its structure and membership, as well as of important changes in its secretariat.
6 REVIEW OF “OBSERVER STATUS”
The Directors-General may terminate arrangements for Observer Status which are no longer considered necessary or appropriate in the light of changing programmes or other circumstances, and will report such action to the Commission. However, the international non-governmental organization concerned may appeal the termination of Observer Status.
An international non-governmental organization in Observer Status which has not shown any interest and has not attended any meetings during a period of four years may be deemed not to have sufficient interest to warrant the continuance of such relationship.
The Secretary shall report to the Codex Alimentarius Commission on the relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and international non-governmental organizations established in accordance with the present Procedures and shall provide a list of organizations granted Observer Status, with an indication of the membership that they represent.
The Commission shall periodically review these principles and procedures and shall consider, as necessary, any amendments which may seem desirable.
ANNEX: INFORMATION REQUIRED OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING “OBSERVER STATUS”
Official name of the organization in different languages (with initials)
Full postal address, Telephone, Telex address, Facsimile and Email as appropriate.
Aims and subject fields (mandate) of organization, and methods of operation. (Enclose charter, constitution, by-laws, rules of procedures, etc.)
Member organizations (name and address of each national affiliate, method of affiliation, giving number of members where possible, and names of principal officers. If the organization has individual members, please indicate approximate number in each country)
Structure (assembly or conference; council or other form of governing body; type of general secretariat; commissions on special topics, if any; etc.)
Indication of source of funding (e.g., membership contributions, direct finding, external contributions, or grants)
Meetings (indicate frequency and average attendance; send report of previous meeting, including any resolutions passed) that are concerned with matters covering all or part of the Commission's field of activity.
Relations with other international organizations:
UN and organs (indicate consultative status or other relationship, if any)
UN Specialized Agencies (indicate consultative status or other relationship, if any)
Other international organizations
Expected contribution to the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
Past activities on behalf of, or in relation to, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (indicate any relationship by national affiliates with the Regional Coordinating Committees and/or the National Codex Contact Points or Committees)
Area of activity in which participation as an observer is requested (Commission and/or Subsidiary Bodies). If more than one organization with similar interests is requesting observer status in any field of activity, such organizations will be encouraged to form themselves into a federation or association for the purpose of participation. If the formation of such a single organization is not feasible, the application should explain why this is so.
Language (English, French or Spanish) in which documentation should be sent to the international nongovernmental organizations
Name, Function and address of the person providing the information
Signature and date
CORE FUNCTIONS OF CODEX CONTACT POINTS
The operation of Codex Contact Points will differ in each country depending on national legislation, government structures and practices.
Codex Contact Points:
Act as the link between the Codex Secretariat and Member countries;
Coordinate all relevant Codex activities within their own countries;
Receive all Codex final texts (standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other advisory texts) and working documents of Codex sessions and ensure that they are circulated to those concerned within their own countries;
Send comments on Codex documents or proposals to the Codex Alimentarius Commission or its subsidiary bodies and/or the Codex Secretariat;
Work in close cooperation with the national Codex committee, where such a committee has been established. The Codex Contact Point acts as the liaison point with the food industry, consumers, traders and all other concerned to ensure that the government is provided with an appropriate balance of policy and technical advice upon which to base decisions relating to issues raised in the context of the Codex work;
Act as a channel for the exchange of information and coordination of activities with other Codex Members;
Receive the invitation to Codex sessions and inform the relevant chairpersons and the Codex Secretariat of the names of participants from their own countries;
Maintain a library of Codex final texts; and
Promote Codex activities throughout their own countries.
