Q&A with CCMAS Chair Prof Árpád Ambrus

"Using appropriate up-to-date, reliable analytical and sampling methods is essential to establishing and maintaining control of food safety."

As CCMAS37 gets underway in Budapest, we spoke to Chairperson Prof. Árpád Ambrus

Q: We have known you as the Codex Chair of this committee since the 30th session in 2009 but what do you do outside of Codex?

A: I had a very interesting and complex work programme in 2015 including FAO/WHO work on pesticide residues, ongoing research, teaching duties for PhD fellows and writing and editing ’Food Safety Assessment of Pesticide Residues’ to be published by Imperial College Press UK in 2016

Q: This committee first met in 1965. How has it changed over the last 50 years?

A: The terms of reference of the Committee have not changed. However, the number of participating member states, international organizations and their delegates continuously increased until the 30th Session. Since then it has remained at the same level. The Committee has always carried out its tasks thoroughly incorporating the best scientific knowledge available. The major principles elaborated during the earlier sessions are still in effect, with some refinements and expansion reflecting the evolving scientific principles and practical experiences. It is a positive trend that more and more countries are actively participating in electronic working groups and sending comments on agenda items.

Q: What are the priorities of this Committee?

A: The first priority is to evaluate the performance of analytical methods and endorse those which are fit for testing, compliant with relevant Codex provisions and according to current quality criteria. Equally important is to elaborate guidance and information documents for facilitating fair international trade, possibly precluding dispute situations.

Q: How does the work of a scientific committee such as CCMAS relate to the wider Codex mandate of food safety and fair practices in food trade?

A: The work of CCMAS is directly related to the work of other committees and provides science based methods and guidance for verifying compliance with Codex standards and thus assuring safety of food. Using appropriate up-to-date, reliable analytical and sampling methods is essential to establish and maintain control of food safety and fair food trade practices.

Q: What will be the highlights of this session?

A: There are numerous methods to be assessed and we will be deciding if they are suitable for reliably determining the targeted provisions. We will also discuss suitability of conversion factors for correctly determining the protein content of soybean-based foods and other products. The reports and recommendations of five eWGs will be discussed and the Committee has to decide how the work should be continued.

Q: What advice would you give to delegates attending CCMAS for the first time?

A: Read the reports of the previous couple of meetings and the Procedural Manual to be familiar with the topics and operation principles and check the Codex website for documents related to the agenda items. Get access to the methods to be endorsed by the CCMAS and assess, together with practicing analysts, their applicability in their own country. Study the discussion papers prepared by the eWGs, seek the opinion of and consult with specialists in their countries concerning recommendations of the WGs

Q: How do you see CCMAS and Codex evolving over the next 10 years?

A: The Codex standards will get wider acceptance in international trade and will serve as reference in national legislation. The responsibility of all stakeholders along the food chain will be further recognised, and their internal quality criteria, which may be more stringent than Codex Standards, for incoming raw materials will be considered as a justified action to assure compliance of end-products with relevant Codex standards. The guidance documents elaborated or to be further developed by CCMAS will assist the parties involved in making sound decisions.

Thanks for your time. We hope you have a productive and engaging meeting.

For full details of the CCMAS Committee and all related meetings and standards developed, click here.

21/02/2016