71. The Commission had before it two papers on food standards needs in Asia and Latin America, prepared by the Secretariat, as requested by the Commission at its Fifth Session. The Commission agreed that these papers, and the paper on Africa prepared for the Fifth Session of the Commission, should be sent to the countries of the regions concerned requesting information and suggestions for amendments, so that a more complete and up-to-date report could be put before the next session of the Commission.
72. Some delegations were of the opinion that the information contained in these papers stressed the need to consider the pattern of trade between countries, before embarking on new work. The delegation of Perú stated that there was a need for increased collaboration between the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and COPANT (Comisión Panamericana de Normas Técnicas), a body which assumes responsibility for recommending food standards for adoption by the countries of the Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA), and that greater publicity should be given to the work of the Commission in the region of Latin America. The delegation of Perú further stated that it would be useful if these countries set up national Codex Committees.
73. A representative of the FAO Nutrition Division informed the Commission that FAO was at present undertaking about 430 projects in approximately 97 developing countries and that some of these projects involved food quality analysis, standardization and government food control. It was further stated that some regional activities were emerging in Africa in the field of food standardization, such as those carried out by the Regional Food and Nutrition Commission of the Organization for African Unity. It was suggested that all these activities were closely connected with the work of the Commission and that it might be desirable if the Commission were to assist these activities to a greater extent on a regional basis.
74. The delegation of Ghana stressed the need for the establishment of internationally accepted Codex standards, since, in their opinion, such standards were needed urgently by countries which did not have a sufficiently developed food industry or trained personnel with proper facilities to assist in the development of food legislation. They further stated that it was possible at present to avoid balkanization of food standards. The delegation of Ghana proposed that the DirectorsGeneral of FAO and WHO should be requested to consider how to intensify and coordinate work on food standards and food control in field projects of both Organizations. They further proposed that support should be given by FAO and WHO in the setting up of a Coordinating Committee for Africa, and the appointment of a Coordinator. They further requested the Commission to support the recruitement of competent consultants and short term attachments by nationals of developing countries to FAO and WHO for Codex matters.
75. The Commission agreed to review again the food standards needs of the regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America at its next session.
