G/SPS/GEN/1432  
 
7 July 2015  
(15-3508)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CODEX AL IMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX) 
The following communication, received on 7 July 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Codex secretariat. 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE (MARCH 2015) 
 47th Codex Committee on Food Additives (Xi'an, China, 23-27 March 2015) 
 47th Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Beijing, China, 13-18 April 2015) 
 22nd Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary  Drugs in Foods (San Jose, Costa Rica, 
27 April–1 May 2015) 
 8th FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Near East (Beirut, Lebanon, 1–5 June 2015) 
 70th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 
30 June–3 July 2015) 
 38th Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 6–11 July 2015) 
In particular, the SPS Committee may wish to note the following: 
1.1.  The Codex Committee on Food Additives  continued its work on food additive provisions in 
the General Standard for Food Additives  (GSFA), amendments to the International Numbering 
System for Food Additives, and Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives. The 
Committee finalized work on the alignment of the food additive section of the Standard for 
Bouillons and Consommés  (CODEX STAN 117-1981). The Committee updated the priority list of 
compounds to be evaluated by JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives). The 
Committee agreed to start new work on revision of the food category 01.1 "Milk and dairy-based 
drinks" and its sub-categories of the GSFA and revision of the General Standard for the Labelling 
of Food Additives When Sold as Such  (CODEX STAN 107-1981). 
Full report: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Reports/Reports_2015/REP15_FAe.pdf  
1.2.  The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues  finalized a number of new and revised 
maximum residue limits for pesticides; updated the priority list of pesticides for evaluation by JMPR (Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues) in 2015 and finalize the guidance to facilitate 
the establishment of maximum residue limits for pesticides for minor crops. The Committee 
continues work on: the revision of the Classification of Foods and Feeds including examples of selection of representative commodities; guidance on performance criteria for methods of analysis 
for the determination of pesticide residues; and th e priority list and schedules of pesticides for 
evaluation by JMPR in  the coming years. 
Full report: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Reports/Reports_2015/REP15_PRe.pdf  
1.3.  The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods  finalized maximum 
residue limits for derquantel (sheep tissues), emamectin benzoate (salmon and trout tissues) and monepantel (sheep tissues) and risk management recommendations for residues of dimetridazole, ipronodazole, metronidazole and ronidazole. The Committee updated the priority list of veterinary 
drugs to be evaluated by JECFA and continues work on: the database on countries' needs for MRLs 
and a global survey to provide information to the CCRVDF to move compounds from the database 
on countries' needs for MRLs to the JECFA Priority List. The Committee will consider at its next G/SPS/GEN/1432 
 
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  session papers on a rating system to establish priority for CCRVDF work and on unintended 
presence of residues of veterinary drugs in food  commodities resulting from the carry-over of drug 
residues into feed. Full report: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Reports/Reports_2015/REP15_RVDFe.pdf  
1.4.  For following Committees, orally report will be made for the matters relevant to SPS 
Committee: 
 70th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 
30 June – 3 July 2015); 
 38th Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 6–11 July 2015). 
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