214. The Delegate of Kenya, Mr. N.M. Masai, informed the Commission that for pressing reasons, it had not been possible for the Coordinator for Africa, Dr. J.K. Misoi (Kenya), to attend the present session of the Commission.
215. As regards the Sixth Session of the Coordinating Committee for Africa, the Commission noted that preparations were well in hand and that the session was scheduled to be held from 31 October to 5 November 1983, in Nairobi. The Delegate of Kenya invited members of the region and other members of the Commission to make an effort to attend the session.
216. On a proposal of the members of the region of Africa attending the session, the Commission, in accordance with Rule II.4(b) of the Rules of Procedure, re-appointed for a second term Dr. J.K. Misoi (Kenya) as Coordinator for Africa, to serve from the end of the Fifteenth Session to the end of the Sixteenth Session of the Commission.
217. The Commission had before it the Report of the 3rd Session of the Coordinating Committee for Asia (ALINORM 83/15) which had been held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in February 1982. The report was introduced by the Coordinator for Asia, Prof. A. Bhumiratana of Thailand, who emphasized the interest of the countries of the Region of Asia in the work of the Coordinating Committee and reviewed the topics which had been dealt with by the Committee.
218. The Commission noted that it had a lengthy discussion on this subject while discussing Agenda Item 4 (paragraphs 20–49) and, therefore, did not pursue the subject further at this time.
219. The Commission had before it document ALINORM 83/36, which had been prepared by India.
220. In introducing the paper, the Delegation of India expressed the opinion that quality criteria like styles, cuts, defects, etc., incorporated in certain Codex standards, especially those for processed fruits and vegetables and fish and fishery products, could possibly give rise to difficulties in international trade, which could be contrary to one of the main objectives of the programme. The quality criteria did not, in any way, pose a health hazard and should be made “optional”, subject to mutual agreement between the importer and exporter. The Delegation of India thought that the inclusion of more details in the standard, of a kind which were not health related, could possibly have an adverse effect on trade in commodities, especially exports from developing countries. All safety requirements like hygiene, food additives and contaminants should be made mandatory and the rest optional.
221. It was stated that, by not separating the criteria into mandatory and optional characteristics, international trade could be hindered.
222. The views expressed by the Delegation of India were, to a certain extent, shared by the Delegations of France and Switzerland.
223. The Commission agreed that the labelling aspects of a standard, though not health related, should be considered as an indispensable part of the standard, since they were essential for the protection of the consumer.
224. The Commission expressed the opinion that the problem raised by India was a fundamental issue, which needed to be considered in depth. The Commission decided, therefore, to take no decision on this matter at this time, and considered that the problem should be rediscussed as a general issue by the next (16th) Session of the Commission.
225. The Commission agreed that the subject should also be discussed by the Codex Committees on Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Fish and Fishery Products and expressed the view that it was important that there should be adequate representation from developing countries at these sessions.
226. The Commission suggested the following sequence of action:
The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Fish and Fishery Products should discuss the subject of whether too much detail by way of quality attributes in Codex standards could result in difficulties from an international trade point of view. The discussion should be on the basis of ALINORM 83/36 and on the basis of papers to be prepared by India highlighting the problems especially in trade with: (i) Processed Fruits and Vegetables and (ii) Fish and Fishery Products, and indicating the particular provisions in the Codex standards where there was a need for modification.
The midterm session of the Executive Committee was requested to discuss the subject in the light of views expressed by CCPFV and CCFFP and also in the light of a paper to be prepared by the Secretariat on this subject.
The Report of the Executive Committee and the paper prepared by the Secretariat should be sent to all Governments well ahead of the next (16th) session of the Commission for comments.
The subject would be discussed by the Commission at its next session.
227. The Commission noted that the amendments proposed by the Committee concerned: (i) certain Codex standards on processed fruits and vegetables (a) canned pineapple, (b) canned fruit cocktail and (c) canned peas; (ii) certain fruit juices, (a)pineapple juice, (b) canned apple juice and (c) canned grape juice; and (iii) canned sardines.
228. As regards amendments to certain clauses in the standard in order to make them optional, the Commission postponed action pending the outcome of discussions at its next (16th) session on the subject of whether some parts of standards should be optional.
229. As regards amendments to food additive provisions in processed fruits and vegetables, the Commission referred the amendments to the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables.
230. The Commission agreed with the views of CCFA, as regards the Coordinating Committee's wish to: (i) have the endorsement status for the provision of tin (250 mg/kg) in canned pineapple, canned fruit cocktail, canned peas and canned pineapple juice, changed from “temporarily endorsed” to “endorsed”, that actions should not be taken until health related problems due to excessive intakes of tin were clarified by JECFA.
231. As regards the amendment to the standard for canned fruit cocktail to extend the list of fruits to include certain tropical fruits, the Commission noted that the CCPFV at its 16th Session did not agree with the amendment since canned fruit cocktail is a well established product of well known composition (see paragraphs 302 and 303 for further discussion on the subject).
232. The Commission agreed that there was a need and referred the amendment proposed by the Coordinating Committee for the maximum level for tin in canned apple juice and canned grape juice to be increased from 150 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg to the joint ECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on Standardization of Fruit Juices.
233. The Commission referred the proposal of the Coordinating Committee that the clause on organoleptic properties in the standards for pineapple juice, apple juice and grape juice, all preserved by physical means, be amended to read as “Natural volatile pineapple juice/apple juice/grape juice components may be restored to any of the juices, from which only the natural volatile juice components have been lost during processing” to the Joint ECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on Standardization of Fruit Juices in order to determine whether there is a need for such an amendment.
234. The Commission noted the action taken by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products which agreed to consider the proposal of the Coordinating Committee to include the species Sardine Sardinella (Sp) in the product definition in the standard on canned sardines, when the required information, as outlined in para. 111 of ALINORM 79/18, was provided to it by the Committee. The Delegation of India agreed to make the required information available to the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (see also paragraphs 342–343).
235. The Commission postponed the discussion of the agenda item to Agenda Item 21 (see paragraph 281).
Other Matters Arising from the Report of the 3rd Session of the Coordinating Committee
236. Nil.
237. On the proposal of the Coordinating Committee for Asia, the Commission, in accordance with Rule II.4(b) of the Rules of Procedure, re-appointed Prof. A. Bhumiratana (Thailand) as Coordinator for Asia, to serve for a second term from the end of the 15th Session to the end of the 16th Session of the Commission.
238. The Commission had before it the report of the 13th Session of the Coordinating Committee for Europe (ALINORM 83/19) and additional information on matters which required action as contained in ALINORM 83/21.
239. The Coordinator for Europe and Chairman of the Committee, Professor Dr. H. Woidich (Austria) introduced the report and outlined the most important items which had been discussed at the 13th Session. The Committee had appreciated the arrangements made by the Committee on Foods for Special Dietary Uses to enforce Codex work on nutritional aspects. The Committee was satisfied that work was commencing in the Committee on Food Additives on certain aspects of migrating agents from packaging materials.
240. The Chairman informed the Commission that the Committee had deferred further work on a possible amendment of the Codex Standard for Fruit Cocktail and on Size Grading of Peas until further data on these matters were forthcoming.
241. He also stated that the Committee had discussed in detail the Draft European Regional Standard for Vinegar at Step 7 with special emphasis on scope, raw materials, types of vinegar, additives and contaminants. In order to give non-European members of the Commission an opportunity to have their comments fully discussed, the standard was returned to Step 6 of the Procedure.
242. A draft of a European Regional Standard for Mayonnaise had been before the Committee which had taken a fundamental decision that the standard should cover at present high fat content products. A Working Group had met during the present session of the Commission and had elaborated a revised text. The Chairman expressed his gratitude to the members of that group and informed the Commission that the revised text was being sent out at Step 3 to governments for comments.
243. The Commission noted that already for some time the Committee had worked very actively on acceptances of Codex standards in the European Region, with the aim of achieving better harmonization of European food legislation. Indeed the Committee looked upon itself as a forum for discussing difficulties arising in connection with acceptances of Codex standards. Comparative studies had been prepared and continued to be prepared for standards elaborated by UNECE, EEC, CMEA and OECD.
244. The Chairman expressed his appreciation of the initiative taken by the WHO European Regional Office and Hungary in providing comprehensive information on food control, monitoring and coordination of food legislation in countries of the region.
Matters arising from the Report of the 13th Session of the Coordinating Committee for Europe
245. The Committee had complied with the request of the 14th Session of the Commission to give further consideration to Clause (d) of its proposed terms of reference, which reads: “develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or almost exclusively in intra-regional trade”. The Committee had held the view that the following wording was more suitable for the particular situation in Europe: “develops regional standards for food products of particular interest for intra-regional trade”. In view of the fact that the Commission had been requested by the 29th Session of the Executive Committee to consider amending Rule VI.3 which was related to the problem, The Committee had decided to await the outcome of the Commission's decision on Rule VI.3
246. The Chairman of the Committee recalled that the Commission had not yet decided on the amendment of Rule VI.3 (Item 10) and proposed therefore that the Committee should be advised to defer further consideration of clause (d) of its terms of reference until the Commission had decided on the amendment of Rule VI.3. The Commission agreed with the Chairman's proposal.
247. The Commission was informed that the Committee had concluded that the carry-over principle appeared to be not relevant to the standards elaborated so far by the Committee.
248. The Commission noted the decision by the Coordinating Committee for Europe and agreed that a relevant note be included in Volumes of the Codex Alimentarius concerned (Volumes II and XII).
249. The Chairman informed the Commission that the European Regional Standard for Natural Mineral Waters had been published in Volume XII of the Codex Alimentarius. The sections on Hygiene (Section 5.2 - Microbiological Criteria) and on Methods of Analysis and Sampling had to be completed. A provision for microbiological specifications had been elaborated and would be submitted to the Committee on Hygiene for endorsement. In view of the substantial nature of the amendment, it had been proposed to develop Section 5.2 (Microbiological Specifications) in the Step Procedure for the Amendment of Codex Standards.
250. The Commission approved that the Amendment Procedure should be set in motion and the proposed amendment as contained in para. 34 be considered to be at Step 3 of the Procedure. The Commission noted that in the French version the term “bottling” had been erroneously replaced by “boiling” and instructed the Secretariat to correct the error.
251. The Commission was informed that the Coordinator for Europe, Professor Dr. Woidich (Austria), having served two terms, was not eligible for re-election. The Committee at its 13th Session had discussed this matter with a view to nominating a new Coordinator for appointment by the Commission.
252. Mr. P. Rossier (Switzerland) and Mr. O. Riedl (Austria) had been proposed. Both Austria and Switzerland had expressed their willingness to host sessions of the Coordinating Committee for Europe. The Committee had decided that the members of the Region of Europe would, during the 15th Session of the Commission, decide on a proposal for the next Coordinator for Europe to be appointed by the Commission. Mr. Riedl had indicated, in the meantime, that he would prefer to see Mr. Rossier nominated. All members of the European Region attending the session of the Commission, supported a nomination of Mr. P. Rossier.
253. The Commission appointed Mr. P. Rossier (Switzerland) in accordance with Rule II.4(b) Coordinator for Europe to serve from the end of the 15th Session to the end of the 16th Session of the Commission. Mr. Rossier accepted the appointment and expressed the hope that he would be able to assure continuity in the high quality of work which had been carried out under the many years of Professor Dr. Woidich's tenure of office. Mr. Rossier indicated that the next meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe would be held in Switzerland and the exact date and venue would be communicated in due course after consultation with the Commission's Secretariat.
254. The Commission was informed that there had been no meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Latin America between the 14th and the 15th Sessions of the Commission. The Third Session was to have taken place in Montevideo in December 1982, but due to circumstances advised by the Government of Uruguay the session had to be postponed and later had to be cancelled.
255. The Secretariat reported briefly on the programme of work before the Coordinating Committee and informed the Commission that, in order to maintain the frequency of CCIA sessions, tentative arrangements had been made by the Secretariat with the FAO Regional Office for Latin America in Santiago, Chile, to hold the Third Session on the premises of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America in Santiago, Chile.
256. The Commission was informed that the present Coordinator, Dr. E.M. Brivio (Uruguay) did not wish to stand for a second term of office and that the countries of the region should therefore consider the nomination of a candidate for this position.
257. The Delegation of Nicaragua, as Acting Chairman of the Latin American Group of FAO, informed the Commission that engineer Ramon Darias Rodés, Minister President of the State Committee for Normalization of the Republic of Cuba had offered to stand as Codex Coordinator for Latin America and that he had the full support of the Latin American Group of FAO. The Delegation of Argentina and Mexico informed the Commission that they also supported the nomination of Minister Darias Rodés. The Commission appointed Minister Darias Rodés as Coordinator for Latin America, to serve from the end of the 15th to the end of the 16th Session of the Commission.
258. In expressing his appreciation to the Commission on his appointment, Minister Darias Rodés pointed out that the normal practice was for sessions of the Codex Coordinating Committees to be hosted in the country of the Coordinator. He, therefore, asked the Commission to defer a firm decision on the date and place of the Third Session of that Committee until such time as he had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Government of Cuba.
259. The Commission agreed to defer further discussion on the point until later in the Session (see also paragraph 541).
