G/TBT/GEN/ 291 
 
20 April 2020  
(20-3109) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
RECENT ACIVITIES BY CODEX RELEVANT TO THE TBT COMMITTEE  
INFORMATION PROVIDED  THE CODEX  ALIMENTARIUS COMMIS SION  
This document contains information provided by CODEX  at the TBT Committee meeting of  
26-27 February 2020.  
 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS FROM NOVEMBER 2019 T O JANUARY 2020  
• 41st Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  
(Duesseldorf, Germany, 24 -29 November 2019)  
• 7th Ad hoc  Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance  
(Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, 9 –13 December 2019)  
• 29th Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (by correspondence,  
January – May 2020)  
The Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses decided to discontinue work on 
a condition for a claim for ‘free’ of trans fatty acids and the definition for biofortification. CCNFSDU 
agreed to advance the p proposed  draft scope, definition and labelling for the Section B 
(Drink/prod uct for young children with added nutrients or drink for young children) of the Standard 
for Follow -up formula  and the proposed draft Guideline for ready -to-use therapeutic foods to the 
43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for preliminary adop tion.  
The Committee agreed to continue to work on remaining sections of the Standard for  Follow -up 
Formula  and on establishment of NRVs -R for persons aged 6 -36 months. Discussions will continue 
general guidelines on nutrient profiles; and harmonized probi otic guidelines for use in foods and 
dietary supplements Full report . 
The Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables works  by correspondence through the online 
platform ( http://forum.codex -alimentarius.net/index.php , Usergroup name: CCPFV29). On the 
agenda is  the cconversion  of the Regional Standard for  Gochujang  into a worldwide standard; the 
conversion of the Regional Standard for Chili Sauce  into a Worldwide Standard; revision of the  
Standard for Mango Chutney ; draft General Standard for Dried Fruits; and draft General Standard 
for Canned Fruit Salads. The work takes place  over several months.   One of t he benefits of a 
committee working by correspondence is that travel is not required for participation providing new 
opportunities for involvement and collaboration. The experiences on this way of working is a 
valuable source of information for the ongoing discussions in the Codex Committee on General 
Principles (CCGP) on committees working by correspondence.  Agenda   
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX ME ETINGS (FROM FEBR UARY 2020)  
• 78th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 
10  –  14 February 2020)  
• 52nd Codex Committee on Food Additives (Lanzhou, China, 2 – 6 March 2020)  G/TBT/GEN/ 291 
 
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  • 32nd Codex Committee on General Principles (Bordeaux, France, 23 - 27 March 2020)  
• 52nd Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Guangzhou, China, 30 March – 4 April 2020)  
• 14th Codex Comm ittee on Contaminants in Foods (Utrecht, Netherlands 20 – 24 April 2020)  
• 25th Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
(Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 27 April -1 May 2020)  
• 41st Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis an d Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, 
11 – 15 May 2020)  
• 25th Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in foods (San Diego, USA, 
25 – 29 May 2020)  
In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following:  
The Codex Committee on General Principles w ill consider  procedural guidance for committees 
working by correspondence and discuss monitoring of the use of Codex standards.  
The Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification System will  consider the 
draft principles and guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary third -party assurance 
(VTPA) programmes; the proposed draft guidance on paperless use of electronic certificates, and 
also discuss the role of CCFICS with respect to tackling food fraud in the context of f ood safety and 
fair practices in food trade . Agenda  
The Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling will  consider a large number of methods 
of analysis provisions and sampling plans in Codex standards, the revision of Guidelines on 
Measurement Uncertainty and the revision of the General Guidelines on  Sampling. The Committee 
will also review and update of methods for dairy, cereals, pulses and legumes , and fats and oils. 
Agenda   
 
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