Packaging Materials for Food
534. The Delegation of Norway stated that, at various times, the question of the evaluation of packaging materials and health risks from chemicals migrating into foods from packaging materials had been raised in the Commission without any definite action being taken.
535. Norway considered that because different countries were adopting different approaches to this matter, and also because consumer concerns were being voiced to an ever increasing degree, it was now of importance that the Codex Alimentarius Commission take a good look at the situation.
536. The Delegation of Norway stated that some work had already been done in this area and that limited attention was to be given to some substances of concern in the CCFA. Nevertheless, Norway would like to propose that the Codex Secretariat be asked to investigate the possibilities of engaging a consultant to review the situation, including the various approaches adopted so far: health concerns; work already being done; and feasibility of Codex activities.
537. The Delegation of Norway suggested that a concise report could then be presented to the Commission at its next session, with recommendations as to the action which is appropriate, and as to work which should be done, and by whom. The Delegation of Norway added that Norway had always been in favour of international action on packaging materials, preferably within the Codex system.
538. Several delegations strongly supported the proposal of the Delegation of Norway. The Delegation of Thailand stated that it was important that the review or survey to be carried out by a consultant should cover everything from cans to flexible packaging. The Delegation of Switzerland stated that attention would need to be given to the work done in the Council of Europe in regard to plastic packaging materials. The Delegation of the United Kingdom wondered whether this work, which would cover cans, plastic packaging materials, etc., would be entirely appropriate for Codex to deal with. It was stated in reply that the situation was completely open at this stage, and that there would be ample opportunity for a full debate on the matter when all the material had been assembled by a consultant. The Observer from the EEC stated that a copy of the EEC Directive on Packaging Materials would be made available to the Secretariat.
539. The Commission agreed that a consultant should be engaged to prepare a report on packaging materials for foods along the lines suggested by the Delegation of Norway in paragraphs 535-536 above. The report should also review the legislative position of the different countries on this subject. It was agreed that the report should be sent out to Governments for their comments well in advance of the 16th Session of the Commission. The report together with Government comments on it should be considered by the Commission at its 16th Session.
540. The Commission had before it document ALINORM 83/28. The Commission noted that this document had been considered by the Executive Committee at its 30th Session (ALINORM 83/4, paragraphs 46-48). The Commission decided that for a number of practical reasons the present practice of holding sessions every twenty to twenty-four months should be maintained.
541. The Committee had before it document ALINORM 83/31. The Delegation of the United States of America advised the Commission that the Fourth Session of the Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes would be held from 24 to 28 September 1984, to be followed by the 20th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene to be held from 1 to 5 October 1984. The Delegation of Cuba recalled that Minister Rodes (Cuba) had been appointed Coordinator for Latin America and that it had become the established practice to hold sessions of the Coordinating Committees in the country of the Coordinator. The Delegation of Cuba indicated that it was the intention to convene the next (3rd) Session of the Coordinating Committee for Latin America in Havana in late March or during April 1984, the precise date to be fixed in consultation with the Secretariat. It was also the intention to hold the 4th Session of the Coordinating Committee in Havana at a suitable time, to be fixed with the Secretariat, during the first four months of 1985.
542. The Delegation of Switzerland informed the Commission that the next session of the Coordinating Committee for Europe would be held in Switzerland probably from 11 to 15 June 1984.
543. The Commission noted that there would be no need for the Codex Committee on General Principles to meet during the 1984/85 biennium. The Commission also noted that the Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate would not meet during the biennium, as it had adjourned sine die.
544. The Delegation of Mexico made an intervention in regard to Agenda Item 8 - “Report on Need for and Feasibility of Developing Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables of Particular Interest, from a Trade Point of View, to Developing Countries” (ALINORM 83/7). Although the Commission had concluded its discussions on this item, it was agreed that the statement of the Delegation of Mexico could be included in the record. The statement of the Delegation of Mexico was as follows:
“In the light of the contents of the report of the Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes, and specifically that of the document ALINORM 83/29 - 30(e) - sub-paragraph (ii); we consider that: The point to which we are referring also has to do with the postponement granted by this Commission with regard to Agenda Item 8; an agreement which, seen in the light of the positions expressed by the different delegations, appears to us disconcerting, since in principle there was common agreement in favour of the elaboration of Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables by those developing countries which are traditionally exporters of these products
Moreover, the arguments against presented, mainly, by the developed countries, refer more to the appropriate mechanism for their elaboration than to the decision itself on the need for their elaboration. We consider this a very fine point of argument at this time and of primary importance for us. We consider that, since the matter under discussion, as its name indicates, refers to products of particular interest for developing countries, the opinion of these countries should receive particular consideration in the taking of decisions in this specific case.
Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether at this point the position agreed by this distinguished Commission may be in any way reconsidered; however, if this is not possible, we wish to record our perplexity on this point. Bearing in mind what has been said previously on this subject by the Committee, and the Commission's mandate to promote the coordination of all work on food standards at international level, we do not think that this work should be postponed”.
545. The Delegation of Nigeria expressed its appreciation of the valuable work being done by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, especially for developing countries, which was complementary to the achievements of the goal of Health for All by the Year 2000. The Delegation of Nigeria referred to the recommendations of the recently held Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Safety and stressed the importance of technical cooperation in the field of food safety.
546. On the occasion of the attendance for the first time at a session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of a delegation from the People's Republic of China, the Delegation made a statement which is attached as Appendix VII to this Report.
OTHER BUSINESS
547. The Chairman recalled that this matter had come up for consideration earlier in the session (see paragraphs 101–103). The Chairman indicated that he had been advised that the number of Members of the Commission attending the session was not sufficient to constitute the required quorum. The Commission decided, therefore, to put the matter on the agenda of its next session.
