./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/134
21 July 1999
(99-3057)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
STATEMENT MADE BY THE OBSERVER OF
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
AT THE MEETING OF 7-8 JULY 1999
1. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on FAO and Codex activities of relevance to the
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  I will refer in the first place to the 23rd Session
of the Codex Alimentarius Commission that was held in FAO Headquarters, Rome from 28 June to
3 July 1999.  The session was attended by 671 delegates and representatives from 97 member
countries, one observer country and representatives from 63 international governmental and non-
governmental organizations including UN agencies and the WTO.
2. The Commission elected the persons who will take office as chairperson and vice-
chairpersons from the end of the 23rd Session to the end of the 24th Session as well as the regional
members of the Executive Committee and the regional co-ordinators.
3. The Commission adopted a Medium-Term Plan to 2002 which include the establishment of
the following new subsidiary bodies:
• FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for the New Near East
• Ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Foods derived from Biotechnology
(Host Government-Japan, duration 4 years)
• Ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Fo rce on Animal Feeding (Host Government
Denmark, duration 4 years)
• Ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Fruit Juices (Host Government
Brazil, duration 4 years).
4. The Commission adopted the following amendments to the rules of procedures:
• Appointment of Regional co-ordinators by country rather than ad personam
• Inclusion of the Near East as member of the Executive Committee
• Reference to the need for consensus when adopting standards and related texts
(Rule X).
5. The Commission expressed appreciation for the continuing budgetary and financial support to
the Joint FAO/WHO Foods Standards Programme by FAO and WHO and also expressed appreciation
for the technical assistance provided to developing countries to allow the application and use of
Codex standards at the national level and in food control in general.  However, the Commission
expressed concern at the possibility of reduction in resources for the scientific expert committees thatprovide independent advice to the Commission and adopted a resolution requesting FAO/WHO to
strengthen their support to these bodies.
6. The Commission adopted amendments to the Procedural Manual related to the relations
between the Commission and International Non-Go vernmental Organizations;  the rules for the
establishment of ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Ta sk Forces and core functions of Codex Contact
Points in member countries.G/SPS/GEN/134
Page 2
7. The Commission made further recommendations for the application of the principles of risk
analysis in the development of Codex standards and adopted 31 new revised Codex standards,
guidelines and related texts including Guidelines on the Production, Processing, Labelling and
Marketing of Organically-produced Foods;  Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of
Microbiological Risk Assessment;  Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence Agreementsregarding Food Import and Export Inspection and Cert ification Systems.  In addition the Commission
amended 5 existing standards;  approved conditions for the use in food of 46 food additives;  adopted
358 specifications for the identity and purity of food additives;  adopted 374 individual maximum
residue limits for agricultural and veterinary chemicals;  withdrew 27 standards and 252 maximum
residue limits.  All of the decisions of the Commission at the 23
rd Session were made by consensus.
8. The Commission agreed that, subject to the availability of resources, beginning with the
biennium 2000/2001, future sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Executive
Committee and Regional Coordinating Committees as appropriate, would be held in Arabic, Chinese,
English, French and Spanish.
9. I also would like to inform this Committee a bout relevant activities implemented by FAO in
the area of technical cooperation in food safety.  FAO continues to sponsor and conduct workshops,
seminars and technical meetings on a national and regional basis on a range of timely and importanttopics relating to food safety and international trade.  These topics include food control management
and administration;  requirements of newly applied international trading agreements;  import/export
food control measures;  laboratory quality assurance and safety procedures;  and risk analysis methods
and procedures.  In addition, more than 30 projects are under implementation on this field world-
wide.  A copy of a relevant document on this matter is available for the Members of this Committee.
10. In relation to the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements including the SPS
Agreement, FAO initiated the implementation of the Uruguay Round Umbrella Training Programme
aimed at enhancing national capacities on WTO matters.  The first of these training programmes has
recently been implemented in Latin America and training for other regions will start in September.
11. In continuing its endeavour to provide a sound scientific basis for sanitary measures, FAO
recently organized a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Cons ultation on Risk Assessment of Microbiological
Hazards in Foods (15-19 March 1999) and an FAO Expert Consultation on the Trade Impact of
Listeria  in Fish products (17-20 May 1999).  On 3- 6 March 1999, FAO organized, in collaboration
with WHO and UNEP, the Third FAO/WHO/UNEP Conference on Mycotoxins, in Tunis.  This
conference examined the problem of, mycotoxins in  relation to food safety, and discussed world-wide
regulations for, as well as prevention and decontamination of mycotoxins.  Currently (5-7 July 1999)
the Third International Food Data Conference – Back to Basics – is taking place in FAO headquartersin Rome.  The aim of the conference is to discuss basic subjects, current issues and future directions
in generating, compiling, disseminating and using food composition data.
12. Finally, I am pleased to announce that arrangements for the FAO/WHO/WTO Conference on
International Food Trade beyond 2000, which will be held on 11-15 October 1999 in Melbourne,
Australia, continues.  One objective of this conference will be to enhance the capacity of developingcountries both to enjoy the benefits they accrued on signing the Uruguay Round Agreements and to
fulfil their commitments.  The conference will address how food quality and safety issues affect trade,
health and development at both domestic and international levels.  The conference will also analyze
current Codex, SPS and TBT procedures and review the prospects for further change.
13. Additional information and papers to be discussed are available for the Members of this
Committee from FAO's web page.
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