G/SPS/GEN/1577/Add.1  
 
2 Novembe r 2017  
(17-5963) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIV ITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CODEX ALIMENTARIU S COMMISSION (CODEX)  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 2 November  2017, is being circulated at the request of 
the Codex  secretariat.  
 
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This addendum provides additional information on Codex work on pesticide residues . 
1  GLYPHOSATE  
1.1.  On the issue of existing Codex MRLs for glyphosate , they remain unchanged based on the 
outcome of the toxicological assessment of glyphosate carried out by the JM PR Special Session in 
May 2016. The JMPR re -evaluated all available toxicology data and concluded that glyphosate was 
unlikely to pose carcinogenic risk to humans from dietary exposure; that there were no dietary 
exposure concerns and no impact on existing  Codex MRLs. The JMPR (i) reconfirmed there was no 
need to change the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) , consequently the current ADI remains ; and 
(ii) reconfirmed its decision that there is no need to establish an Acute Reference  Dose (ARfD) for 
this compound . 
2  RECOMMENDATIONS ON M RLS FOR PESTICIDES F OR THE MINISTERIAL C ONFERENCE  
2.1.  As to the text of the resolution proposed on page 4 of document G/SPS/W/292/Rev.2, the 
one pertaining to Codex , namely "We endorse the consensus reached in the SPS Committee on 
volunta ry actions by Members to increase the capacity and efficiency of Codex in setting 
international standards on pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) ... " we welcome the support 
of WTO Members to Codex work on the establishment of MRLs for pesticides in foo d and feed. We 
understand this recommendation also embraces the instrumental work of the Joint FAO/WHO 
Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), the expert advisory body to the Codex Committee on 
Pesticide Residues (CCPR). Although JMPR is not a subsidiary bod y of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission, it is instrumental in providing the scientific basis for the establishment of science -
based Codex MRLs for pesticides.  
2.2.  CCPR has done a great deal of work on improving its procedures and mechanisms for the 
establishme nt of MRLs in a more effective and efficient way. We continue to do so with the revision 
of key texts to increase availability of MRLs for e.g. minor crops (revision of the Classification of 
Food and Feed) and to facilitate compliance with Codex MRLs (deve lopment of performance criteria 
as opposed to identification of single analytical methods as Codex reference methods for the 
determ ination of pesticide residues).  
2.3.  Although there is always room to improve capacity and efficiency, the main bottle -neck 
remain s the provision of scientific advice by JMPR. Increas ing the capacity of JMPR to assess the 
safety of new and/or existing pesticides is crucial to increase the availability of Codex MRLs for 
international trade. Whether this should be more clearly spelt ou t in the proposal for the Ministerial 
Conference remains the decision of WTO Members.  G/SPS/GEN/1577/Add.1  
 
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  2.4.  The FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) is currently engaged in discussing ways to 
increase funding for the provision of scientific advice by non -state actors. This is an  FAO initiative 
where WHO is actively participating in view of the joint nature of the expert scientific advisory 
bodies. The Codex Secretariat can provide a summary of this activity for the next meeting of the 
SPS Committee.  
2.5.  The other main constrain is t he uptake of Codex MRLs by WTO M embers into their national or 
regional regulations. As long as questions are raised in relation to alignment with Codex MRLs, this 
will impact on the capacity of FAO and WHO to increase the provision for scientific advice vi s-à-vis 
other priority areas of the parent organizations for allocation of funds (besides any internal policies 
on fundraising or budgetary constraints). This will ultimately impact on any further effort to 
increase the capacity and efficiency of CCPR. In this regard we also welc ome the recommendations 
to WTO M embers in the proposal for the Ministerial Conference.  
 
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