The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today at the start of its 28th session. The session was opened by Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Minister of Health of Malaysia, who welcomed delegates back to the first in-person CCFO meeting since the virtual session held during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The Minister congratulated Codex for 60 years of “laying the foundation of the safety and quality of food” and reminded delegates that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Committee for Fats and Oils.

The Minister emphasized the growing importance of fats and oils in international trade and the growing consumer demands for a “better” product. He expressed his confidence that decisions made at this Committee meeting would be “in the interests of consumers and humanity at large.”

In a video message recorded for the opening of the meeting, Codex Alimentarius Commission Chairperson, Steve Wearne, thanked the Government of Malaysia for its support to Codex and, noting the Committee’s agenda, he said:  “I recognize that this requires hard work at Committee meetings and throughout the year and is only achieved thanks to the efforts of the Chairperson, Secretariat and Members. My thanks in advance, and on behalf of the entire Codex family, to all of you.”

In the runup to the meeting, Codex’s Food Standards Officer, Patrick Sekitoleko, explained: “This week, CCFO28 is expected to consider three key broad areas. The first is consideration of six oils: avocado oil, camellia seed oil, high oleic acid soya bean oil, olive oil and olive pomace oil, and Calanus oil,” he said. “Secondly, the Committee will discuss the minimization of certain contaminants during bulk transportation of fats and oils intended for human consumption and, thirdly, the Committee will discuss new work both on a new source of oil, and on how to minimize some trans fatty acids (TFAS) and partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in food, in support of WHO’s efforts to reduce noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). CCFO28 will also provide responses to some key questions arising from previous discussions at the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other Codex subsidiary bodies.”

Malaysia’s Minister for Health, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, initiates playout of a CCFO 60th anniversary video with the touch of his hand

The texts under discussion include the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999), which will involve deliberations about the inclusion in this standard of a range of additional oils, the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils (CXS 33-1981) and the Standard for Fish Oils (CXS 329-2017), which will involve deliberations on the inclusion of Calanus oil. The Committee will also review the List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes (Appendix II to CXC 36-1987)

The agenda item on possible work that CCFO could undertake to encourage the reduction of industrial TFAs or the elimination of PHOs will involve commodities covered by the Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads (CXS 256-1999), the Standard for Edible Fats and Oils Not Covered by Individual Standards (CXS 19-1981) and the Standard for Named Animal Fats (CXS 211-1999).

Read more

CCFO28 webpage

Celebrating 60 years of CCFO - video

Photos © Program Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan, KKM