The 27th session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food (CCRVDF) has opened in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States of America. Jason Hafemeister, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, of the United States Department of Agriculture delivered welcome remarks on behalf of the Government of the United States of America. “Codex is essential in our increasingly integrative world,” he said, commenting that standards set by Codex generally and by CCRVDF particularly, are based on science and are an essential tool for food safety and for the international trade in food. He made the point, too, that while Codex continues to evolve, it maintains “a laser focus on its mandate and continues to innovate.” “We have been successful in tackling difficult subjects,” he continued, adding that delegates are “more than up to the task and will do it in an open and transparent manner.”

Codex Secretary Sarah Cahill gave opening remarks acknowledging the innovative approaches to some of the issues the Committee faces. In her comments, she alluded to the CCRVDF work on extrapolation and the work with the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) on compounds with dual uses. She said “In this context I encourage this Committee to continue its entrepreneurial spirit. Stay ahead of the curve and remain vigilant to future challenges such that we can respond to new and emerging issues in an innovative and pragmatic way while ensuring we continue to protect the health of consumers and facilitate fair practices in food trade.”

Codex is essential in our increasingly integrative world

In his speech, Steve Wearne, Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) Chairperson, also focused on the innovative work of extrapolation, noting that CAC has acknowledged that the process “has the possibility of increasing the availability of MRLs.” The Chairperson also noted that CCRVDF27 will continue work on the possible establishment of action levels for unavoidable or unintentional carryover of veterinary drugs from feed to food of animal origin, which is work that fulfils both parts of the Codex statutory purpose, protecting health and facilitating fair practices in the food trade. He concluded by acknowledging the commitment of the United States of America to the Committee and to Codex.

The agenda for this week includes discussion on MRLs for veterinary drugs in foods arising from this year’s meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA98). To be discussed, too are extrapolated MRLs for veterinary drugs and also for different combinations of compounds/commodities. In addition, discussions will include the criteria and procedures for the establishment of action levels for unintended and unavoidable carryover of veterinary drugs from feed to food of animal origin. There is also an agenda item for the work on compounds of dual use which involves coordination of work between CCPR and CCRVDF and for the priority list of veterinary drugs for evaluation or re-evaluation by JECFA.

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CCRVDF27 webpage