FAO - j0695e00

ALINORM 04/27/35

JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Twenty-seventh Session
Rome, Italy, 28 June - 2 July 2004

REPORT OF THE ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE
CODEX COMMITTEE ON FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Mexico City, Mexico, 8 - 12 September 2003

NOTE: This Report includes Codex Circular Letter CL 2003/35-FFV

CX 5/95.2 CL 2003/35-FFV
September 2003
TO: - Codex Contact Points
- Interested International Organizations
FROM: Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy
SUBJECT: Distribution of the Report of the Eleventh Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (ALINORM 04/27/35)
PART A: MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 27^th SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Draft Standards at Step 8 of the Procedure
1. Draft Codex Standard for Oranges (para. 18 and Appendix II)
Governments and interested international organizations in observer status with Codex wishing to propose amendments or to comment on the above draft standard should do so in writing in conformity with the Guide to the Consideration of Standards at Step 8 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards Including Consideration of Any Statements Relating to Economic Impact (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, 13^th Edition, pages 24-26) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission,
preferably by e-mail, Before 28 February 2004.
Proposed Draft Standards at Step 5 of the Procedure
2. Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes (para. 56 and Appendix IV)
Governments and interested international organizations in observer status with Codex wishing to submit comments regarding the implications which the proposed draft standards or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interest should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Step 5) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, 13^th Edition, pages 20-22) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, preferably by e-mail,
Before 28 February 2004.
PART B: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATION
1. Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Rambutan (para. 80 and Appendix V)
Governments and interested international organizations in observer status with Codex wishing to submit comments regarding the implications which the proposed draft standards or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interest should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Step 3) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, 13^th Edition, pages 20-22) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, preferably by e-mail,
Before 28 february 2004.
2. Proposal for a Standard Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (para. 92 and Appendix VI)
Governments and interested international organizations in observer status with Codex wishing to comment on the above Standard Layout should do so in writing to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, preferably by e-mail, Before 28 February 2005.
3. Proposals for Amendments to the Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (para. 90 and Appendix VII)
Governments and interested international organizations in observer status with Codex wishing to submit comments on the above matter are invited to do so in writing in conformity with the Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, 13^th Edition, pages. 69-70) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, preferably by e-mail, Before 28 February 2005.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The 11^th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables reached the following conclusions:
Matters for Consideration by the 27^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee agreed to:
• advance the draft Codex Standard for Oranges to the 27^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption at Step 8 (para. 18);
• advance the proposed draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes to the 27^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for preliminary adoption at Step 5 (para. 56);
• forward an amendment to delete the word “tropical” from the title of the Recommended International Code of Practice for Packaging and Transport of Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
(CAC/RCP 44-1995) (para. 54).
Other Matters of Interest to the Commission
The Committee agreed to:
• retain the draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes at Step 7 pending finalization of the proposed draft Section 2.1.1 (Maturity Requirements) and Section 3.1 (proposed draft Annex on Small-berry Varieties) which were returned to Step 2 for redrafting by a drafting group led by Chile, and subsequent circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 12^th Session of the Committee (paras. 30 and 37);
• retain the proposed draft Codex Standard for Rambutan at Step 3 for circulation, additional comments at Step 3, revision by a drafting group led by Thailand and further consideration at the 12^th Session of the Committee (para. 80);
• return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples to Step 2 for redrafting by a drafting group led by the USA. The revised Proposed Draft will be subsequently circulated for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 12^th Session of the Committee (para. 66);
• return the proposed draft Guidelines for the Quality Control of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to Step 2 for redrafting by a drafting group led by Canada and subsequent circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 12^th Session of the Committee (para. 86);
• amend the Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by including Avocados (revision) (para. 90);
• request comments on a Standard Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and consideration by the 12^th Session of the Committee (para. 92).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Paragraphs
Introduction ............................................................................................................................	1
Opening of the Session ...........................................................................................................	2
Adoption of the Agenda ........................................................................................................	3 – 4
Matters of Interest to the Committee arising from:
• The Codex Alimentarius Commission and Other Codex Committees .....................................................................................................	5 – 7
• Other International Organizations
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) ...................................................................................................	8
- Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) .............................................................................................	9
• UN/ECE Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ...........................................................	10
Consideration of Draft Codex Standard at Step 7
• Draft Codex Standard for Oranges ………………...............................................................	11 – 12
• Draft Section 2.1.3 – Maturity Requirements (draft Codex Standard for Oranges) ……………………………………………………….	13 – 18
• Draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes ...............................................................................	19 - 30
Consideration of Proposed Draft Codex Standards at Step 4
• Proposed draft Section 2.1.1 (Maturity Requirements) and proposed draft Annexes on Minimum Soluble Solids and Threshold Soluble Solids to determine Maturity Requirements in Table Grapes and Small-berry Varieties (draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes) ………………………………………………….	31 – 37
• Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes .....................................................................	38 – 56
• Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Apples .........................................................................	57 – 66
• Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Rambutan ...................................................................	67 – 80
• Proposed Draft Codex Guidelines for the Quality Control of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ...................................................................	81 – 86
Proposals for Amendments to the Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ............................................	87 – 90
Other Business and Future Work .......................................................................................
• Standard Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ................................................................	91 – 92
• Bio-terrorism in the Framework of the Work carried out by the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables …………………………………….	93
Date and Place of the Next Session ...................................................................................	94

LIST OF APPENDICES

	Pages
Annex ……………………………………………………………………………….	13
I - List of Participants .......................................................................................................	14 – 23
II - Draft Codex Standard for Oranges ..............................................................................	24 – 29
III - Draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes ......................................................................	30 – 34
IV - Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes ……....................................................	35 – 40
V - Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Rambutan ...........................................................	41 – 45
VI - Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ....................................................................................	46
VII - Standard Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables ......................................................	47 – 54