51 ALINORM 97/21, Part 11
PROPOSALS TO ELABORATE NEW STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS
REVOCATION OF EXISTING STANDARDS AND PROPOSALS FOR DELETION OF WORK ITEMS
52 Proposals were summarized in Appendix I of ALINORM 97/21, Part II.
122. The Commission agreed that in the matter of "Sports" or "Energy" drinks, the primary problem might relate to the claims being made for such products and assigned the work to the Committee on Food Labelling. It noted that certain aspects of the composition of these products would be taken up by the Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants in the context of the General Standard for Food Additives, and that elements relating to nutrition might need to be considered by the Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses. It requested the Committee on Food Labelling to coordinate its work with these Committees as required.
123. A proposal on the elaboration of guidelines for the determination of equivalence was withdrawn from the list in view of the preparatory studies which were being undertaken by the Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems to establish whether or not to make a firm proposal in this area.
124. The Commission noted the proposal to elaborate Maximum Residue Limits for Porcine Somatotropin (PST). Without prejudice to the timely scientific evaluation of this substance by JECFA, the Commission requested that the matter be taken up by the Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods concurrently with the discussion by the Committee on General Principles of the matter of Bovine Somatotropins (BST) and PST as a related substance within the context of the four Statements of Principle concerning the Role of Science in the Codex Decision-making Process and the Extent to which Other Factors are Taken into Account.
125. The Commission agreed with a proposal that the Committee on General Principles should address the question of improving procedures aimed at obtaining a better consensus of opinion at Commission and Committee sessions. The Delegation of Chile noted that such a matter was closely linked to the need to guarantee effective participation of me full membership of the Commission. It was noted that the Chairpersons of Codex Committees, in an informal meeting, had agreed to meet again immediately before the Committee on General Principles in an effort to facilitate discussion on these, and related, matters.
126. The Commission agreed that the Committee on General Principles should consider the issue of providing special or differential treatment to developing countries in the application of Codex standards and make recommendations as appropriate.
127. The Commission agreed to request the Committee on Fish and Fishery Products to give consideration to the elaboration of standards for tropical fresh water fish and fishery products.
128. The Commission requested the Committee on Soups and Broths to commence work revising the Standard for Bouillons and Consommés.
129. The Commission noted the outcome of the FAO Consultation on Animal Feeding and Food Safety, and agreed to consider the Draft Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding. It assigned this work to the Committees on Food Hygiene, Food Additives and Contaminants, Pesticide Residues, and Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods, with the co-ordinating role to be taken by the Executive Committee.
130. The list of approved new work is contained in Appendix IV to this report.
53 ALINORM 97/21, Part II, Appendix II
Revocation of the Standard for Edible Ices and Abolition of the Codex Committee on Edible Ices
131. The Commission agreed to revoke the Standard for Edible Ices, recognizing that it was not needed for international trade, and to abolish formally the Committee on Edible Ices. The Commission expressed its appreciation to the government of Sweden for hosting the Committee since its creation and for its work on the revision of the standard.
Guidelines on the Inclusion of Provisions on Nutritional Quality in Food Standards and Other Texts
132. The Commission concurred with the proposal of the Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses to formally withdraw the Guidelines currently included in the Procedural Manual.
Revocation of Certain Obsolete Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides
133. The Commission revoked certain obsolete MRLs as proposed by the Committee on Pesticide Residues following its regular review of MRLs.
Discontinuation of Work on Dioxins and Other Contaminants
134. The Observer from Consumers International expressed opposition to the discontinuation of work on PCB's, dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and hydrogen cyanide.
Standard for Specified Vegetable Fat Products and Standard for Specified Mixed Animal and Vegetable Fat Products
135. The Commission concurred with the proposal of the Committee on Fats and Oils to revoke both standards as these products were not traded internationally.
Individual Cheese Standards
136. The Commission agreed to revoke the following individual standards:
· Individual Cheese Standard for Danablu (C-2)
· Individual Cheese Standard for Gruyere (C-10)
· Individual Cheese Standard for Gudbrandsdalsost (C-19)
· Individual Cheese Standard for Norvegia (C-23)
· Individual Cheese Standard for Esrom (C-26).
The Commission deleted Danablu and Adelost from the General Standard for Blue-Veined Cheeses (C-32). The Delegation of France pointed out that Blue Cheese should not be deleted from the General Standard for Blue-Veined Cheeses as proposed. The Commission agreed that the Committee on Milk and Milk Products should consider this question at its next session.
