G/SPS/GEN/1920  
 
21 June 2021 
(21-5058) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX)  
The following communication, received on 18 June 2021, is being c irculated at the request of 
the Codex  secretariat.  
 
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NOTE: All Codex meetings in 2021 are being held virtually.  
1  CODEX MEETINGS HELD SINCE THE LAST SESSION OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
(25-26 MARCH  2021) 
1.1  14th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF14, 3 -13 May 
2021)  
1.1.1   Industrial, environmental and other nat urally occurring toxicants  
1.1.  CCCF14 agreed to advance : 
− the draft Maximum Levels (MLs) for cadmium in chocolates containing or declaring <30% 
total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis for final adoption, and the proposed draft MLs for 
cadmium in chocolates containing or declaring ≥30% to <50% total cocoa solids on a dry 
matter basis for preliminary adoption by CAC44;  
− the proposed draft code of practice for the prevention and reduction of cadmium 
contamination in cocoa beans for preliminary adoptio n by CAC44; and  
− The revision of the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of lead contamination 
in foods  (CXC 56 -2004) for final adoption by CAC44.  
1.2.  The proposed draft MLs for cadmium in cocoa powder containing or declaring 100% total cocoa 
solids ready for consumption and the proposed draft MLs for lead in certain food categories were 
agreed to be retained in the step procedure for further consideration.  
1.1.2   Toxins  
1.3.  CCCF14 agreed to retain in the step procedure for further consideration: The proposed  draft 
MLs for total aflatoxins in cereals and cereal -based products including foods for infants and young 
children; sampling plans and performance criteria for total aflatoxins in certain cereals and 
cereal -based products including foods for infants and y oung children; the proposed draft MLs for 
total aflatoxins in ready -to-eat peanuts and associated sampling plan; and the proposed draft MLs 
for total aflatoxins and ochratoxin a in nutmeg, dried chili and paprika, ginger, pepper and turmeric 
and associated  sampling plans.  
1.1.3   Other issues  
1.4.  CCCF14 agreed to submit the project document for new work on MLs for methylmercury in 
orange roughy and pink cusk eel to CAC44 for approval and request the JECFA Secretariat to issue 
a call for data specific for orange roughy,  pink cusk eel and all toothfish. CCCF14 also agreed to G/SPS/GEN/1920  
 
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  submit the project document for new work on development of a Code of practice for the prevention 
and reduction of mycotoxins contamination in cassava and cassava -based products to CAC44 for 
approval.  
1.5.  The report of CCCF14 will be available on the Codex webpage  (at the time of submission of this 
document only the draft report was available on the CCCF 14 page).  
1.2  41st Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS41, 
17-25 May 2021)  
1.2.1   Review of Methods of Analysis in IN CXS 234  
1.6.  CCMAS41 is continuing its review of all methods of analysis in the Standard for methods of 
analysis and sampling  (CXS 234 -1999), the single reference for methods of analysis and sampling 
in Codex. CCMAS41 completed work on methods of analysis for provisions in standards for milk and 
milk products; made progress on methods of analysis for provisions in standa rds for fats and oils, 
and will continue working on cereal, pulses and legumes and a new package of methods of analysis 
for provisions in standards for processed fruits and vegetables.  
1.2.2   Revision of the Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty (CXG54 –2004)  
1.7.  CCMA S41 advanced the revised Guidelines for final adoption by CAC44. An information 
document to support the implementation of the Guidelines will be finalised at its next session.  
1.2.3   Revision of the Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50 -2004)  
1.8.  CCMAS41 agreed to advance t he revised Guidelines for preliminary adoption by CAC44 and 
agreed to continue to review the document and to develop the supporting documents (e -book and 
the guide to the selection and design of sampling plans) for the consideration at the session.  
1.9.  The rep ort of CCMAS41 is available on the Codex webpage . 
1.3  25th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems ( CCFICS25, 31 May to 8 June 2021)  
1.3.1   Principles and guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance (vTPA) programmes  
1.10.   CCFICS25 agreed to forward the draft Principles and guidelines for the assessment and use 
of voluntary Third -Party As surance (vTPA) programmes to CAC44 for final adoption.  
1.3.2   Guidance on paperless use of electronic certificates  
1.11.   CCFICS25 agreed to forward the proposed draft guidance on paperless use of electronic 
certificates (revised Guidelines for Design, Production, Issua nce and Use of Generic Official 
Certificates  (CXG 38 -2001)) to CAC44 for final adoption.  
1.3.3   Guidance on the prevention and control of food fraud  
1.12.   CCFICSS25 agreed to forward the project document for new work on the development of 
guidance on the prevention and control of food fraud to CAC44 for approval.  
1.13.   The report of CCFICS25 will be available on the Codex webpage  (at the time of submission of 
this document only the draft report was available on the CCFICS25 page).  
2  OTHER CODEX EVENTS  
2.1.  Several virtual working group meetings and webinars in support of upcoming sessions of Codex 
subsidiary bodies were held to support d elegations ' preparations and facilitate discussions and 
consensus -building:  G/SPS/GEN/1920  
 
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  − Webinar on the draft revision of the Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne 
Antimicrobial Resistance, 8 April 2021 ; 
− Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in F oods (CCRVDF) Webinar, 23 April 
2021; 
− Pre-CCFICS25 webinar, 26 May 2021 ; 
− Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) Webinar: Preparation for CCFL46, 9 June 2021 ; 
− Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR) virtual meetings 
of the working groups on the Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne 
Antimicrobial Resistance and the Guidelines on Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of 
Foodborne AMR , 10 -18 June 2021 ; 
− Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) working groups on th e General Standard for 
Food Additives (GSFA)/Alignment/Endorsement/Note 161, 21 -25 June 2021 . 
3  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
− 25th Session of the Codex Co mmittee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods  (12-19 July 
2021) ; 
− 52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues  (26–31 July 2021) ; 
− 52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives  (1-10 September 2021) ; 
− 46th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling  (27 September – 7 October 2021) . 
3.1.  Regular updates on the status of work of these Committees are published on their dedicated 
webpages on the Codex website . For specific questions on the status of work in Codex comm ittees 
of interest to SPS delegates please check the dedicated webpages or send an email to 
codex@fao.org . 
3.2.  The Codex secretariat in collaboration with host secretariats and working group leads will are 
continuing to con vene working group meetings and webinars in advance of Codex subsidiary sessions 
to support delegations ' preparations and facilitate discussions and consensus -building. Further 
information is available on the Committee webpages and the Codex calendar . 
4  WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY  
4.1.  The third World Food Safety Day (WFSD) was celebrated on 7 June 2021. It provided an 
important opportunity to make people aware of food safety issues; to d emonstrate how to prevent 
illness through food safety; to discuss collaborative approaches to improving food safety across 
sectors; and to promote solutions and ways of being more food safe.  
4.2.  This year under the theme "Safe Food Now for a Healthy Tomorrow ", the Directors General of 
FAO and WHO urged global action to ensure that everyone has access to safe food, essential to 
achieve more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri -food systems and to reduce hunger, 
malnutrition and infant mortality. The action -oriented campaign called upon countries and decision 
makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and everyone involved at the various 
stages of the food chain to take action to keep food safe. A report on World Food Safety Day 20 21 
is under preparation.  
4.3.  See the World Food Safety Day website in Codex . 
 
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