528. The Commission had before it document ALINORM 81/36 and Add. 1 giving a resume of events leading to the reconsideration of the above standard and containing comments from governments on (a) whether there is a need to amend the standard, (b) whether the standard should be a worldwide standard, and (c) what would be an appropriate body to handle the amendments. The Secretariat, in introducing the subject, informed the Commission that most countries that had replied had indicated that the standard needed revision and should be elaborated as a worldwide standard. This had been the view also of the Coordinating Committees for Latin America, Africa, and Europe. As regards the Committee which might undertake this work, the Secretariat had received suggestions for the Codex Committees on Sugars, Processed Fruits and Vegetables and the Coordinating Committee for Europe.
529. In connection with the question as to whether a regional body could elaborate worldwide standards, the Commission was informed that this was possible under the Rules, as the Procedure for the Elaboration of Worldwide standards would apply giving all participating countries equal status including voting rights should this prove necessary.
530. The Commission had detailed discussion on the issues mentioned above. All delegations which spoke were in favour of elaborating a worldwide standard. As regards the Committee which should undertake the task of amending the European standard with a view to converting it into a worldwide standard, the delegations expressed the view that either the Codex Committee for Sugars or the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables could undertake the work. The Delegation of Egypt suggested that it would be more appropriate to entrust the work to a specialized international body. The Commission was informed that it would be difficult for the United Kingdom to reconvene the Codex Committee for Sugars and, in any event, attendance by countries might be a problem considering that there would be one item only on the agenda.
531. The Commission agreed that there was a need to amend the European Regional Standard for Honey and decided that the standard be developed as a worldwide standard by the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables. On the advice of the Secretariat and WHO Legal Counsel, the Commission agreed that the Regional Standard should be sent to Governments at Step 3 with a request for technical comments which should be presented to the next session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables. The Secretariat was requested to ensure a timely issue of a Circular Letter requesting Government comments.
Question of Amending the Codex Standard for Table Olives
532. The Commission was informed by the Secretariat and by the Representative of the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) that the IOOC had recently amended the IOOC standard for table olives, in order to take account of the development of new processing techniques and present day market requirements and commercial practices. Whilst the IOOC Standard contained various quality grades, it also specified certain minimum quality requirements. As a result of the recent amendment, there were now some differences between the minimum requirements of the IOOC standard and the minimum requirements of the Codex Standard for Table Olives.
533. The Commission was also informed that the IOOC, by a unanimous decision in plenary session on 22 May 1981, had proposed that the Codex Alimentarius Commission be requested to initiate the amendment procedure with a view to amending the Codex standard. The Commission was also informed that the IOOC had indicated that it would be prepared to formulate, in collaboration with the Codex Secretariat, proposals aimed at harmonizing the IOOC and Codex standards for consideration at the next IOOC meeting from 23 to 27 November 1981 in Madrid.
534. The Commission decided to proceed as follows:
The Commission accepted with appreciation the offer of the IOOC Secretariat to formulate, in collaboration with the Codex secretariat, proposals aimed at harmonizing the IOOC and Codex standards at its meeting from 23 to 27 November 1981.
Following the above meeting, proposals of the IOOC for the amendment of the Codex standard would be sent to Member Countries of FAO and WHO for their views on whether, in the light of the amendments proposed, there was a need to amend the Codex standard.
The replies in response to (ii) above should be referred to the July 1982 session of the Executive Committee, which would be asked to decide, in the light of the replies, whether to authorize the setting in motion of the amendment procedure.
If the Executive Committee decided to initiate the amendment procedures, comments would be sought from governments at Step 3 on the proposed amendments.
Subject to agreement with the IOOC, the proposed amendments and the government comments thereon would be referred for examination to the IOOC at Step 4. In this connection the Commission decided, under Step 1 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of Worldwide Codex Standards, to designate the IOOC as an appropriate “other body” for the purpose of dealing with amendments to the Codex standard.
Invitations to attend the IOOC meeting at which the amendment of the Codex standard would be discussed should be sent to Member Countries of FAO and WHO, and the IOOC should provide for the working languages of the Commission at the meeting - French, Spanish, and English.
The IOOC would report to the Fifteenth Session of the Commission concerning progress on the amendment of the Codex standard.
