G/SPS/GEN/1288  
 
15 October 2013  
(13-5645)  Page: 1/7  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CODEX AL IMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX) 
The following communication, received on 14 October 2013, is being circulated at the request of 
the Codex secretariat. 
 
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 1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE (JUNE 2013) 
 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 Drug s in Foods (Minneapolis, United States of 
America, 26-30 August 2013) 
 In particular, the SPS Committee may wish to note the following: 
1.1.  The 36
th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, among others: 
 adopted 25 new or revised Codex standards or related texts and many new or revised 
provisions for additives and MRLs for pesticides and veterinary drugs (see Appendix I), and 
approved several new work proposals (see Appendix II); 
 adopted the Strategic Plan 2014-2019 of the Codex Alimentarius Commission; 
 considered budgetary issues and in particular the difficulties related to funding for FAO/WHO 
scientific advice; and 
 considered the 2012 Annual Report, Progress Report and Monitoring Report of the Codex 
Trust Fund, and the timeline for the final project evaluation the implementation of the Codex 
Trust. 
1.2.  The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) finalised the 
following texts for adoption by the 37th Commission: Proposed Draft Risk Management 
Recommendations (RMRs) for veterinary drugs  for which no ADI and/or MRLs had been 
recommended by JECFA due to specific human health concerns (chloramphenicol, malachite green, carbadox, furazolidone, nitrofural, chlorpromazi ne, stilbenes and olaquindox); Proposed Draft 
Performance Characteristics for Multi-Residues Me thods (MRMs) for Veterinary Drugs (Appendix C 
of CAC-GL 71-2009). It agreed to consider at its next session the MRLs for monepantel (sheep 
tissues) and derquantel (sheep tissues) and risk management recommendations for dimitridazole, ipronidazole, metronidazole and ronidazole. The Committee finalised the following provisions for 
inclusion on the Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the CCRVDF : Draft provisions on Extrapolation 
of MRLs of Veterinary Drugs to Additional Specie s; and Draft provisions of the use of the Concern 
Form. 
1.3.  The Committee forwarded several questions concerning risk analysis policy on extrapolation 
of MRLs of veterinary drugs to additional spec ies and concerning the establishment of MRLs for 
honey to the 78
th JECFA (Geneva, Switzerland, 5-14 November 2013). G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS 
 Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Bad Soden am Taunus, 
4-8 November 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Hanoi, Viet Nam, 11-15 November 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (Kochi, India 11-14 February 2014) 
 Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (Bergen, Norway, 17-21 February 2014) 
 Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Bangkok, Thailand, 24-28 February 2014) 
In particular, the SPS Committee may wish to note the following: 
2.1.  The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene will consider in particular the Proposed Draft 
Guidelines for Control of Specific Zoonotic Parasites in Meat: Trichinella spiralis  and Cysticercus 
bovis; the Proposed Draft Revision of the Code of Hygienic Practice for Spices and Dried Aromatic 
Plants ; the Proposed Code of Practice for Low-Moisture Foods; a discussion paper on occurrence 
and control of parasites; and a discussion paper on the need to revise the Code of Hygienic 
Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  (CAC/RCP 53-2003). 
2.2.  The Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products will consider in particular the Draft 
Performance Criteria for Reference and Confirmatory  Methods for Marine Biotoxins in the Standard 
for Live and Raw Bivalve Molluscs; the Standard for Smoked Fish, Smoke-Flavoured Fish and 
Smoke-Dried Fish – Section 4 Food Additives; the Draft Standard for Raw, Fresh and Quick Frozen 
Scallop Products; the Proposed Draft Code of Pr actice on the Processing of Scallop Meat; the 
Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products (section on sturgeon caviar); the Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Processing of Fi sh Sauce; the review of food additive provisions 
in adopted standards; and a discussion paper on histamine. 
3  SCIENTIFIC ADVICE 3.1.  The document on the status of requests for scientific advice provided by FAO and WHO is 
available at the following address: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings/CAC/CAC36/cac36_15e.pdf  
4  TECHNICAL COOPERATION 
4.1.  The document on relevant activities of FAO and WHO, including specific projects at the 
regional and national level, is av ailable at the following address: 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings /CAC/CAC36/cac36_15_add1e.pdf  
4.2.  The documents on the Codex Trust Fund are available at the following addresses: 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings/CAC/CAC36/cac36_14e.pdf  
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings /CAC/CAC36/cac36_14_add1e.pdf G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  APPENDIX I 
LISTS OF STANDARDS AND RELATED TE XTS ADOPTED BY THE THIRTY-SIXTH 
SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
Part 1 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 8 
 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Standard for Avocado 
Provisions for uniformity rules and other 
size-related provisions (sections 5.1 – uniformity and 6.2.4 – commercial 
identification) in the Draft Standard for 
Avocado REP13/FFV 
para. 42, Appendix II Adopted 
Standard for Pomegranate REP13/FFV 
para. 53 and Appendix III Adopted 
Standard for Smoked Fish, Smoke-
Flavoured Fish and Smoke-Dried Fish REP13/FFP 
para. 40, Appendix III Adopted 
Standard for Live Abalone and for Raw 
Fresh Chilled or Frozen Abalone for 
Direct Consumption or for Further 
Processing REP13/FFP 
para. 83, Appendix IV Adopted 
Guidelines on Formulated 
Complementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children (Revision of the Guidelines on 
Formulated Supplementary Foods for 
Older Infants and Young Children) REP13/NFSDU 
para. 41, Appendix II Adopted with Amendments 
(see Agenda Item 5) 
Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) REP13/NFSDU 
para. 65, Appendix V Adopted 
Guidelines on Application of Risk Assessment for Feed REP13/AF 
para. 27, Appendix II Adopted 
Principles and Guidelines for National 
Food Control Systems (Section 1-3) REP13/FICS 
para. 38, Appendix II Adopted 
with Amendments to 
Spanish Text (see Agenda 
Item 5) 
Principles for the Use of Sampling and 
Testing in International Food Trade REP13/MAS 
para. 73, Appendix III Adopted 
Food additive provisions of the General 
Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) 
(CODEX STAN 192-1995) REP13/FA 
para. 101, Appendix VI Adopted 
Maximum residue limits for pesticides REP13/PR 
paras. 17-90, Appendix II Adopted 
Amendments to the Guidelines for Use 
of Nutrition and Health Claims 
(CAC/GL 23-1997) concerning Non-
Addition of Sodium Salts REP13/FL 
Para 41, Appendix II Adopted 
Regional Code of Practice for Street-
Vended Foods REP13/NEA 
para. 46, Appendix II Adopted G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  Part 2 – Standards and Related Texts Adopte d at Step 5/8 (with omission of Step 6 
and 7) 
 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Provisions for sizing and uniformity rules (sections 3 and 5.1) (Draft Standard for Pomegranate) REP13/FFV 
para. 53 and Appendix III Adopted 
Revised Regional Standard for 
Chanterelles REP13/EURO 
para. 48, Appendix II Adopted 
Amendment to the Standard for Quick 
Frozen Fish Sticks REP13/FFP 
para. 108, Appendix V Adopted 
Standard for Table Olives (revision of 
CODEX STAN 66-1981) REP13/PFV 
para. 38, Appendix II Adopted 
Regional Standard for Tempe REP 13/ASIA 
para. 117, Appendix II Adopted 
Principles and Guidelines for the 
Establishment and Application of 
Microbiological Criteria REP13/FH 
para. 56, Appendix III Adopted 
Annex on Berries to the Code of 
Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables (CAC/RCP 53-2003) REP13/FH 
para. 118, Appendix IV Adopted with Amendments 
(see Agenda Item 5) 
General Principles for Establishing 
Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs-NCD) 
for the general population; and 
consolidated version of the General 
Principles for Establishing Nutrient 
Reference Values REP13/NFSDU 
para. 51, Appendix III  
para. 59, Appendix IV Adopted 
Additional or Revised Nutrient Reference Values for Labelling Purposes in the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling REP13/NFSDU 
para. 103, Appendix VII Adopted with Amendments 
(see Agenda Item 5) 
Regional Standard for Date Paste REP13/NEA 
para. 89, Appendix III Adopted 
Guidance on Prioritizing Hazards in Feed REP13/AF 
para. 62, Appendix III Adopted with Amendments 
(see Agenda Item 5) 
Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines 
for National Food Control Systems 
(Section 4) REP13/FICS 
para. 38, Appendix II Adopted 
Amendment to parameters for rice bran oil in the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils REP13/FO 
para. 89, Appendix III Adopted 
Food additive provisions of the General 
Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) 
(CODEX STAN 192-1995) REP13/FA 
para. 101, Appendix VI Adopted 
Amendments to the International 
Numbering System (INS) for Food 
Additives  (CAC/GL 36-1989) REP13/FA 
para. 116, Appendix IX Adopted 
Specifications for the Identity and Purity 
of Food Additives arising from the 
76th JECFA meeting REP13/FA 
para. 125, Appendix X Adopted G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Code of practice for the prevention and 
reduction of ochratoxin A contamination 
in cocoa REP13/CF 
para. 79, Appendix IV Adopted 
Code of practice for the reduction of 
hydrocyanic acid in cassava and cassava 
products REP13/CF 
para. 92, Appendix VI Adopted 
Maximum residue limits for pesticides REP13/PR 
paras 17-90, Appendix III Adopted 
Amendments to the Guidelines for the 
Production, Processing, Labelling and 
Marketing of Organically Produced Foods 
concerning use of ethylene as sprouting 
inhibitor for Onions and Potatoes REP13/FL 
para 69, Appendix IV Adopted 
 
Part 3 – Other Standards and Related Texts Submitted for Adoption 
 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Amendments to sections I-6.5, I-8.5 
and II-8.7 of the Standard for Live and Raw Bivalve Molluscs (CODEX STAN 
292-2008) and Sections 7.1 and 7.2.2.2 
to the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products (CAC/RCP52 – 2003) REP13/FFP  
paras 12 and 14, Appendix II Adopted 
Amendment to the Guidelines for 
Packing Media for Canned Fruits 
(CAC/GL 51-2003)  REP13/PFV 
para. 80, Appendix IV Adopted 
Amendment to the Standards for Certain 
Canned Citrus Fruits, Preserved 
Tomatoes and Processed Tomato Concentrates (section 4 – food 
additives) REP13/PFV 
paras 123-124, 
Appendix VI Adopted 
Amendment to the Standard for Canned 
Applesauce (section 9 – methods of 
analysis) REP13/PFV 
para. 128, Appendix VII Adopted 
Amendments to some food additive 
provisions in the Regional Standards for Fermented Soybean Paste (CODEX STAN 
298R-2009) and for Chili Sauce (CODEX 
STAN 306R-2011) REP13/ASIA 
paras 18, 19, 21 Adopted 
Amendments to Guidelines for the 
Exchange of Information in Food Safety 
Emergency Situations (CAC/GL 19-
1995) REP13/FICS 
para. 58, Appendix III Adopted 
Methods of Analysis in Codex Standards 
at different steps REP13/MAS 
paras 16 - 54, Appendix II Adopted 
Amendments to the Standards for Edible 
Fats and Oils not Covered by Individual 
Standards (CODEX STAN 19-1981), for 
Named Animal Fats (CODEX STAN 211-
1999) and for Olive Oils and Olive 
Pomace Oils  (CODEX STAN 33-1981) 
and for Named Vegetable Oils (CODEX 
STAN 210-1999) REP13/FO 
paras 29 - 34, Appendix II Adopted G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Amendments to the lists of acceptable 
previous cargoes in the Code of Practice 
for the Storage and Transport of Edible 
Fats and Oils in Bulk (CAC/RCP 36-1987) REP13/FO 
paras 22 – 24 Adopted 
Consequential amendments to the 
Standards for Edible Cassava Flour, Gari 
and Sweet Cassava REP13/CF  
para. 88, Appendix V Adopted 
Consequential amendments to the 
maximum residue limits for pesticides for fruit commodity groups due to revision of the Classification of Food and 
Feed as per these commodity groups REP13/PR 
para. 110, Appendix XIII Adopted 
Consequential Editorial Amendments to 
the Guidelines on Use of Nutrition and 
Health Claims (CAC/GL 23-1997) 
concerning clarifying section 6.3 on 
Comparative Claims REP13/FL 
para.45, Appendix III, 
part B 
(Referral from CCNFSDU) Adopted 
Amendments to the Guidelines on 
Nutrition Labelling (CAC/GL 2-1985)  
concerning definitions and replacing the existing annex with the new Annex : 
General Principles for establishment of 
nutrient reference values for the general population  REP13/FL 
para.59, Appendix III, part A Adopted 
 
 G/SPS/GEN/1288 
 
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  APPENDIX II 
LIST OF DRAFT STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS APPROVED AS NEW WORK 
BY THE THIRTY-SIXTH SE SSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
 
Responsible 
Body Standard and Related Texts Reference 
CCNASWP Regional Standard for fermented noni juices REP13/NASWP para. 135 
CX/CAC 13/36/9 Annex 1 
CCFFV Standard for Okra REP13/FFV Appendix V 
CCFFP Code of Practice for Processing  of Fish Sauce REP13/FFP Appendix X 
CCPFV Standard for Ginseng Products (conversion of the 
Regional Standard for Ginseng Products to a 
worldwide standard)   REP13/PFV Appendix VIII 
CCASIA Code of Hygienic Practice for Street-Vended Food REP13/ASIA Appendix IV 
CCFH Code of Hygienic Practice  for Low-Moisture Foods REP13/FH Appendix V 
CCNFSDU Proposal to Review the Codex Standard for 
Follow-up Formula REP13/NFSDU 
Appendix VIII 
CCFA Revision of the Guidelines for the Simple 
Evaluation of Food Additive Intakes  (CAC/GL 3-
1989) REP 13/FA Appendix V 
CCPR Guidance document on performance criteria 
specific for methods of analysis for determination of pesticide residues REP13/PR Appendix XII 
CCPR Priority list for the establishment of maximum 
residue limits for pesticides REP13/PR Appendix XIV 
CCFL Review of the General Standard for the Labelling 
of Prepackaged Foods  to address the issue of 
date marking REP13/FL Appendix VI 
CCLAC Regional Standard for Yacon REP13/LAC Appendix III 
CCNEA Regional Standard for Labneh REP13/NEA para. 122 
CX/CAC 13/36/9-Add.2 Annex I 
CCNEA Regional Standard for Mixed Zataar REP13/NEA para 122 
CX/CAC 13/36/9-Add.2 
Annex II 
  
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