G/SPS/GEN/2206  
 
11 March  2024 
(24-2191) 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 11 March 2024, is being c irculated at the request of 
the Codex secretariat . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  CCEXEC  AND CAC  
1.1  85th Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Rome, Italy, 20 -22 November 2023)  
1.1.  Matters of relevance arising from CCEXEC85 are referred to in the section on CAC46 below , 
including the Codex Strategic Plan 2026 -2031,  and the future of Codex.  
1.2  46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 27 November – 
2 December 2023)  
1.2.1   Standards and related texts  
1.2.  CAC46 adopted more than 500 new and revised Codex standards (including numerical 
standards) : 
− Maximum residues limits (MRLs) for zilpaterol hydrochloride in cattle liver, kidney and 
muscle ; 
− MRLs for ivermectin (sheep, pigs and goats – fat, kidney, liver and muscle), nicarbazin 
(chicken), MRLs extrapolated to ruminants and finfish ; 
− 426 MRLs for different co mbinations of pesticides/commodity(ies) ; 
− Maximum level (ML) for lead in ready -to-eat meals for infants and young children, lead in 
soft brown, raw and non -centrifugal sugars, and total aflatoxins in dried chilli and nutmeg, 
and ML for ochratoxin A in dried  chilli, paprika, and nutmeg ; 
− Revised General Standards for Food Additives  (CXS 192 -1995) ; 
− Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin -Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, 
Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts  (General Section, 
Annex I on raw beef and Annex III on raw milk and raw milk cheeses) ; 
− Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing  (General 
Section and Annex I on Fresh Produce) ; 
− Code of Practice for Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin Contamination in Cassava and 
cassava -based products . 
1.3.  CAC46 adopted new regional standards:  
− Regional standard for Soybean Products Fermented with Bacillus species  (Asia) ; 
− Regional standard for Cooked Rice Wrapped in Plant Leaves  (Asia) ; 
− Regional S tandard for Fermented Noni Fruit Juice (North America and South -West Pacific) . G/SPS/GEN/2206  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.4.  CAC46 approved new work items:  
− Code of Practice/Guidelines for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning ; 
− Guidelines for food hygiene control measures in traditional ma rkets for food ; 
− Revision of the Guidelines on the Application of the General Principles of Food Hygiene to 
the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood  (CXG 73 -2010) . 
1.2.2   Codex Strategic Plan 2026 -2031 and the future of Codex  
1.5.  The Codex Strategic Plan 2026 -2031 is under development and CAC looked forward to the 
consultations foreseen on goals and outcomes ' formulation. CAC46 agreed that the document 
outlining the essential components of a future Codex model, including the formats of futur e 
meetings, virtual technology, intersessional work, etc., should be subject to periodic review, taking 
into account experiences and learnings.  
1.2.3   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)  
1.6.  CAC46 reiterated that the draft guidance remained serviceable and available as practical 
guidance for Chairpersons of Codex Commission and its subsidiary bodies and for members in 
situations when there is ag reement on science but differing views on other factors/considerations, 
although differences or concerns remained on certain aspects of the draft guidance; and agreed on 
the need to gain more experience on application of the draft guidance and to revisit i t in light of new 
experiences gained.  
1.2.4   New food sources and production systems (NFPS)  
1.7.  CAC46 highlighted the importance of addressing challenges posed by NFPS and the important 
role Codex could play in this, noted that the current working mechanisms were ade quate to address 
any new work on NFPS that member s might propose, and encouraged member s to submit proposals 
for new work on NFPS. CAC46 also endorsed the way forward on the development of the Codex 
Strategic Plan 2026 -2031 and a model for future Codex wor k. 
1.8.  Working documents, including the report, of CCEXEC85 and CAC46 sessions are available on 
the respective pages on the Codex website: CCEXEC85 , CAC46 . 
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS OF SPS RELEVANCE (AS OF FEBRUARY 2024 ; SEE THE 
CODEX WEBSITE FOR THE FULL ME ETING CALENDAR)  
2.1  CCEXEC  
− 86th Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC86, 
Rome, Italy, 1 -5 July 2024) . 
2.2  International committee meetings  
− 54th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH54, Nairobi, Kenya, 
11-15 March 2024) (physical, webcasting available) ; 
− 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF17, Panama City, 
Panama, 15 –19 April 2024) (physical, webcasting available) ; 
− 54th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA54, Chen gdu, Sichuan 
Province, China, 22 -26 April 2024) (physical, webcasting available) . 
2.1.  Regular updates on the status of work of these Committees are published on their dedicated 
webpages: CCEXEC86 , CCFH54 , CCCF17 , CCFA54 . 
2.2.  For specific questions on the status of work in Codex committees of interest to SPS delegates 
please check the dedicated webpages or send an email to codex@fao.org . G/SPS/GEN/2206  
 
- 3 - 
 
  3  GENERAL  
3.1.  The Codex secretariat , in collaboration with Host Country secretariats , are continuing to 
convene 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 . 
3.1  Monitoring the use and impact of Codex texts  
3.2.  In 2022, at CCEXE C82, Codex members endorsed the secretariat proposed approach for 
building a mechanism to monitor the use and impact of Codex texts, including an annual survey, 
case studies and collaboration with WTO. Following up in 2023, at CCEXEC84, Codex member s noted  
the report of the pilot survey on the use and impact of Codex texts and its recommendations to the 
Codex secretariat, Codex members, and FAO and WHO, and confirmed that the survey approach, 
piloted in 2022, should be used as part of the mechanism to monit or the use and impact of Codex 
texts, considering the lessons learnt to date.  
 
__________