G/TBT/GEN/153  
 
30 July 2013  
(13-4083)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION  
This document contains information provided by the Codex Alimentarius at the TBT Committee 
meeting of 17,19 - 20 June 2013 under Agenda Item 5 (Update by Observers). 
 
_______________ 
 
 
1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE (MARCH 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, 4-8 March 
2013) 
 Codex Committee on  Food Additives (Beijing, China, 18-22 March 2013) 
 Codex Committee on  Contaminants in Foods (Moscow, Russian Federation, 8-12 April 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Beijing, China, 6-11 May 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Food Labelling (Charlottetown, Canada,  14-17 May 2013) 
In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following: 
1.  The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling  finalised Principles for the 
Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade (section on Principles) and is proceeding 
with work on the other sections and explanatory notes; and endorsed or updated many methods of analysis and sampling proposed by various Codex Committees. It agreed to consider further the issue of how to address sampling in Codex standard s; and the criteria approach for multi-analyte 
methods, especially in cases where total toxicity resulted from toxicity of several substances.  
2.  The Codex Committee on Food Labelling  endorsed, amended or made specific comments on 
labelling provisions in several Codex standards; finalised the amendment to the Guidelines for Use 
of Nutrition and Health Claims (CAC/GL 23-1997): non-addition of sodium salt in the framework of 
the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health . It made 
some amendments to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CAC/GL 2-1985) concerning definitions 
and replaced the existing annex with the new Annex : General Principles for establishment of 
nutrient reference values for the general population. It proceeded with it work on the development 
of a section on organic aquaculture in the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and 
Marketing of Organically Produced Foods. The Committee agreed to  propose new work to the 
Commission to review the General Standard for the labelling of Prepackaged Foods to address 
issues related to date marking.  
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 25-28 June 2013) 
 Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 1-5 July 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs (Minneapolis, United States of America, 
26-30 August 2013)  
 Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Bad Soden am Taunus, 
Germany, 4-8 November 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Hanoi, Viet Nam, 11-15 November 2013) G/TBT/GEN/153 
 
- 2 - 
 
   
In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following: 3.  The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  will consider 
several Revised Nutrient Reference Values for Labelling Purposes in the Guidelines on Nutrition 
Labelling . It proceeded with its work on Additional an d Revised NRVs and with the revision of the 
Codex General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods ; the revision of the 
Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young Children  to Include a New Part B 
for Underweight Children; and will start the review of the Codex Standard for Follow-up Formula . 
3  TECHNICAL COOPERATION 4.  The document on relevant activities of FAO an d WHO, including specific projects at the regional 
and national level, is available at the following address: 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/Codex/Meetings/cac/cac36/cac36_15_add1e.pdf  
 
The documents on the Codex Trust Fund are available at the following addresses: 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/Codex/Meetings/cac/cac36/cac36_14_add1e.pdf  
ftp://ftp.fao.org/Codex/Meetings/cac/cac36/cac36_14e.pdf  
 
 
 
__________