G/TBT/GEN/258  
 
30 April 2019  
(19-2975) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS C OMMISSION (CODEX)  
RELATED TO THE WORK OF THE WTO TBT COMMI TTEE  
INFORMATION PROVIDED  BY CODEX  
This document contains information provided by Codex  at the TBT Committee meeting of 
6-7 March  2019 under Agenda Item 5 (Observers).  
 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS FROM JUNE 2018 TO FE BRUARY 2019  
• 75th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 26 –29 June 
2018)  
• 41st Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 2 –6 July 2018 ) 
• 76th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 7 July 
2018)  
• 24th Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
(CCFICS) (Brisbane, Australia, 22 -26 October 2018)  
• 50th Codex Committee on Food H ygiene (Panama City, Panama, 12 –16 November 2018)  
• 40th Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Berlin, Germany, 
26-30 November 2018)  
• 6th Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (Busan, 
Republic of Kore a, 10-14 December 2018)  
• 4th Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, 
21-25 January 2019)  
1.  In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following:  
2.  The Codex Alimentarius Commission  adopted 13 new standards (e. g. Standard for 
Aubergines)  and 7 changes to existing standards and related texts (e.g. Revision of the General 
Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: date marking). The Commission also approved 
10 proposals for new work (e.g. Standard for yam): The Commission agreed to re -elect Mr Guilherme 
Antonio da Costa Jr. (Brazil) as chairperson, and as vice -chairpersons: Mr Purwiyatno Hariyadi 
(Indonesia), Ms Mariam Eid (Lebanon) and Mr Steve Wearne (United Kingdom).  
3.  Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -701-41%252FReport%252FFINAL%252FREP18_CACe.pdf  G/TBT/GEN/258  
 
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  4.  The Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification agreed to start 
new work on Consolidating C odex Guidelines related to equivalence. The committee agreed to 
continue to work on P rinciples and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance (vTPA) programmes, Guidelines on Recognition and Maintenance of Equivalence of 
Natio nal Food Control Systems (NFCS) and Guidance on Paperless Use of Electronic Certificates 
(Revision of Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates ).The 
committee continued the discussion on the subject of food integr ity and food authenticity as well as 
emerging issues and future directions for the work of CCFICS.  
5.  Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -733-24%252FFinal%252520Report%252FREP19_FCe .pdf 
6.  The Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses decided to discontinue the 
discussion on NRV-NCD for EPA and DHA long chain omega -3 fatty acids. and to hold the discussion 
on definition for biofortification while waiting on feedback from  the Committee on Food Labelling on 
the appropriateness of the definition; and claim for 'free' of trans fatty acids and to consider other 
risk management options for TFAs  
7.  Regarding Review of the Standard for Follow -up Formula (CXS 156 -1987),  CCNFSDU advanced 
the Proposed draft Scope, Description and Labelling for follow -up formula for older infants to the 
42nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for preliminary adoption: and agreed to 
continuework on the Product definition and labelli ng for [product] for young children  
8.  Work will continue on the Guideline for Ready -to-Use Therapeutic Foods and the Committee 
agreed to continue discussing establishment of NRVs for older infants and young children and general 
guidelines on nutrient profil es, amongst others.  
9.  Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -720-40%252FREPORT%252FREP19_NFSDUe.pdf  
10.  The Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs concluded work on the Proposed draft 
standard for dried or dehydrated garlic and advanced the Proposed draft standard for dried oregano, 
Proposed draft standard for dried roots, rhizomes and bulbs – dried or dehydrated ginger, Proposed 
draft standard for dried basil , Proposed draft standard for dried flo ral parts -dried cloves and 
Proposed draft standard for saffron. The Committee endorsed relevant sections of the Proposed draft 
standard for dried or dehydrated garlic, Proposed draft standard for dried oregano, Proposed draft 
standard for dried roots, rhiz omes and bulbs –dried or dehydrated ginger, Proposed draft standard 
for dried floral parts – dried clovers and Proposed draft standard for saffron.  
11.  Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%2 52FCX -736-04%252FFinal%252520Report%252FREP19_SCHe.pdf  
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX ME ETINGS (FROM MARCH 2 019)  
• 26st Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25 February –1 March 
2019)  
• 51st Codex Committee on Food Additives (Jinan, China, 25 –29 March 2019)  
• 51st Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Macao SAR, China, 8 –13 April 2019)  
• 13th Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 29 April –3 May 
2019)  
• 45th Codex Committee on Food Labelling (Ottawa, Canada, 13 -17 May 2019)  
• 40th Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, 
27-31 May 2019)  G/TBT/GEN/258  
 
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  • 77th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 
1-5 July 2019)  
• 42nd Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 7 –12 July 20 19) 
12.  The Committee on Fats and Oils will consider the revision of various section of the Standard 
for Named Vegetable Oils and the revision to the Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils.  
13.  The Committee on Food Labelling  will consider labelling provision  of various Codex 
standards, draft Guidance for the labelling of Non -retail Containers and Guidelines on Front of Pack 
Nutrition labelling. The Committee also will consider discussion papers on: Internet sales/ 
e-commerce; Allergen labelling; Innovation – use of technology in food labelling; Alcoholic beverages 
labelling; Criteria for the definition of "high in" nutritional descriptors for fats, sugars and sodium; 
and Labelling of food in multipack format.  
14.  On CCFH 's request, the Committee will consider the appropriateness of the use of a 
precautionary allergen labelling statement, the related definition, the list of foods which cause 
allergic reactions . 
15.  For the agenda see: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -714-45%252 Ffl45_01e.pdf  
16.  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 Guid elines on Sampling. The Committee 
will also review and update of methods for dairy, cereals, pulses and legumes and fats and oils.  
17.  For the agenda see: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -715-40%252Fma40_01e.pdf  
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