G/SPS/GEN/2027  
 
31 May 2022 
(22-4112) 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 25 May 2022, is being c irculated at the request of 
the Codex  secretariat.  
 
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1  CODEX MEETINGS HELD SINCE THE LAST SESSION OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
(23-25 MARCH  2022) 
1.1  52nd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH52, Virtual, 28 February 
- 9 March 2022)  
1.1.1   Guidelines for the Management of Biological Foodborne Outbreaks  
1.1.  CCFH52 agreed to forward the Guidelines for the Management of Biological Foodborne 
Outbreaks  to CAC45 (November 2022) for final adoption.  
1.1.2   Revision to the General Principles of Food Hygiene  
1.2.  CCFH52 agreed to forward the "Tools to determine the critical control points (CCPs)" to CAC45 
for final adoption and subsequent inclusion as Annex 2 in the General Principles of Food Hygiene  
(CXC 1 -1969). 
1.3.  The report of CCFH52 is available on the Codex webpage . 
1.2  15th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF15, Virtual, 
9-24 May 2022)  
1.2.1   Maximum Level for Cadmium in Cocoa Powder  
1.4.  CCCF15 ag reed to:  
i) forward the amendment to the MLs for chocolates containing or declaring <30% total cocoa 
solids on a dry matter basis and chocolates containing or declaring ≥30% to <50% total 
cocoa solids on a dry matter basis for adoption by CAC45 to clarify the  portion of the 
commodity to which the ML apply ; and  
ii) forward an ML of 2 mg/kg for cocoa powder (100% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis) 
to CAC45 for final adoption.  
1.5.  This concludes work on MLs for cadmium in chocolates and cocoa -derived products (cocoa 
powder).  G/SPS/GEN/2027  
 
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  1.2.2   Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Cadmium Contamination in 
Cocoa Beans  
1.6.  CCCF15 agreed to forward the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of cadmium 
contamination in cocoa beans  to CAC45 for final ado ption.  
1.2.3   Maximum Levels for Lead in Certain Food Categories  
1.7.  CCCF15 agreed to forward:  
i) the MLs for lead in cereal -based foods for infants and young children at 0.02 mg/kg; white 
sugar, corn and maple syrups, honey at 0.1 mg/kg and sugar -based candies at 0.1 m g/kg 
to CAC45 for final adoption; and  
ii) the ML for ready -to-eat meals for infants and young children at 0.02 mg/kg to CAC45 for 
preliminary adoption and further consideration at CCCF16 (2023).  
1.2.4   Maximum Levels for Methylmercury in Certain Fish Species (Orange Roughy and 
Pink Cusk Eel)  
1.8.  CCCF15 agreed to forward the MLs of 0.8 mg/kg for orange roughy and 1.0 mg/kg for pink 
cusk eel to CAC45 for final adoption.  
1.2.5   Maximum Levels for Total Aflatoxins in Certain Cereals and Cereal -Based Products 
Including Foods for Infa nts and Young Children  
1.9.  CCCF15 agreed to forward the MLs for maize grain, destined for further processing; flour meal, 
semolina and flakes derived from maize; husked rice; polished rice; sorghum grain, destined for 
further processing; cereal -based food for infants and young children (excluding foods for food aid 
programs), and cereal -based food for older infants and young children for food aid/emergency 
programs to CAC45 for final adoption.  
1.2.6   Code of Practice for Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin Contamina tion in 
Cassava and Cassava -Based Products  
1.10.   CCCF15 agreed to advance the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin 
Contamination in Cassava and Cassava -Based Products  to CAC45 for preliminary adoption and 
further consideration at CCCF16 . 
1.11.   The report of CCCF15 will be available on the Codex webpage . 
1.3  32nd Session of FAO/WHO Regional Committee for Europe (CCEURO32, Virtual, 
16-20 May 2022)  
1.12.   Issues of relevance to the SPS Committee discussed at  CCEURO32 included a keynote speech 
on sustainability of food systems and the role of Codex, Codex work relevant to the European region 
such as the proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for zilpaterol hydrochloride and the application 
of the Statements of  Principle concerning the role of science in the Codex decision -making process 
and the extent to which other factors are taken into account (SoP), and a side event on food fraud.  
1.13.   The recordings of the side event on food fraud and the report of CCEURO32 wil l be available 
on the Codex webpage . 
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS OF SPS RELEVANCE (AS OF MAY 2022 ; SEE THE 
CODEX WEBSITE FOR THE FULL MEETING CALENDA R) 
− 82nd Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC82, 
Virtual, 20 -30 June 2022)  
− 53rd Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR53, Virtual, 4 -13 July 
2022)  G/SPS/GEN/2027  
 
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  − 24th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Commit tee for Africa (CCAFRICA24, Virtual, 
5-13 September  2022)  
CCAFRICA will discuss issues related to the use of Codex standards in the region and other 
issues important to the region in all Codex committees which may include also SPS -related 
matters.  
2.1.  Regular updates on the status of work of these Committees are published on their dedicated 
webpages: CCEXEC82 , CCPR53  and CCAFRICA24 . For specific questions on the status of work in 
Codex committe es of interest to SPS delegates please check the dedicated webpages or send an 
email to codex@fao.org . 
3  GENERAL  
3.1.  The Codex secretariat in collaboration with Host Country Secretariats are continuing to convene 
working grou p 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.  World Food Safety Day (WFSD) is an annual celebration to draw attention and inspire action to 
help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks. The theme for WFSD 2022, "Saf er food, better 
health", which will be celebrated on 7 June 2022, was announced on 7 March. The guide  to WFSD 
explains more about the theme and offers pointers on what the Day is about and how to get engaged.  
4.2.  The WFSD slogan "Food safety is everyone's business" is a reminder that everyone plays a role 
in keeping food safe. Taking this into account, the gu ide and the WFSD event website are aimed at 
people from the food industry, academia, schools, governments and the general public. The Codex 
secretariat in collaboration with FAO and WHO, are inviting these categories to celebrate WFSD and 
use the campaign material available on the WFSD website , which includes social media cards, 
gadgets and  posters in 34 languages . 
 
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