G/TBT/GEN/298  
 
23 June 2020  
(20-4378) Page: 1/2 
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  to the TBT Committee.  
 
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1.  Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, all Codex technical meetings in the first half of 2020 have been 
cancelled and rescheduled for 2021. However, diverse activities to continue the important work of 
Codex in developing food standards to protect consumer health and promote fair trade practices are 
ongoing.  
2.  Below is an update of Codex activities.  
1  WORK CONTINUITY OF C ODEX TECHNICAL COMMI TTEES  
3.  As mentioned above, the cancelled and rescheduled technical Codex meetings include : Codex 
Committees on Food Additives (CCFA), General Principles (CCGP), Pesticide Residues (CCPR), 
Contaminants in Foods (CCCF), Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
(CCFICS), Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS), and Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods 
(CCRVDF).  
4.  Every effort is  being made by the Codex Secretariat, Host countries and Member countries to 
minimize the impact of these cancellations and to facilitate work continuity while maintaining the 
Codex principles of transparency and inclusivity:  
• Work of the cancelled Committee sessions in 2020 will continue through their electronic 
working groups (EWGs) generally within the mandate given by the previous session. 
The EWGs will report on their progress to the rescheduled sessions in 2021.  
• Documents that were cr eated for the planned sessions are kept on the respective committee 
pages on the Codex website to facilitate submission of comments and information. 
The documents  may be further revised based on the replies submitted and further 
considered in the EWGs thro ughout 2020 with a view to their submission to the  next session 
Deadlines for comments on work items have been extended as appropriate.  
5.  Additional information on next steps and further updates will be published on the respective 
Codex session 's page on the  Codex website as soon as they become available.  
6.  The Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables (CCPFV) continues its work by 
correspondence on the Codex Online Forum . CCPFV is discussing, amongs t others, five standards 
(Gochujang, Chili Sauce, Mango Chutney, Dried Fruits, and Canned Fruit Salads) . This meeting 
spreads over several months to end of June as CCPFV29 works through the agenda.  
7.  CCPFV29 attempting to fully replicate a physical meeting b y correspondence is an innovative 
concept as Codex is looking into the future of a post -COVID -19 world. With the main benefit of not 
requiring travel for participation, CCPFV29 can provide new opportunities for involvement and 
collaboration and important l essons will be drawn from the experience which will give valuable input 
to the ongoing discussions in CCGP on working by correspondence.  G/TBT/GEN/298  
 
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  2  CODEX ALIMENTARIUS C OMMISSION (CAC) AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE 
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS C OMMISSION (CCEXEC)  
8.  The physical session of the 43rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC43) and 
the 79th Session of the Executive Committee (CCEXEC79) originally scheduled for June/July 2021 in 
Rome are expected to be cancelled.  
9.  Discussions are ongoing how to make sure that work forwarded by technical committees in the 
second half of 2019 for adoption at steps 5 or 8 as well as new work can be adopted to the extent 
possible using different means such as a virtual CCEXEC and CAC with elements of written adoption. 
Further information will be given as soon as available.  
10.  See the list of scheduled Codex meetings . 
11.  The COVID -19 pandemic is pushing all of us to adapt to new ways of working. Even before the 
COVID -19 pandemic, the feasibility of Codex Committees working by correspondence, using 
information technology, had emerged and been debated in the Codex system. Procedural guidance 
is currently being developed and discussed in CCGP.  
12.  Since the pandemic beg an, several informal meetings have been held via online video 
conferencing to discuss the way forward. Interpretation to the various official Codex languages is 
being provided as need be.  
13.  Informal virtual meetings have been held with CCEXEC to discuss how technical meetings that 
had either been cancelled and rescheduled to maintain the momentum of standards development 
work that is already underway.  
14.  Informal virtual meetings for the various six Codex regions  have been held and are being 
scheduled to discuss  ongoing work and the next steps and as well as the still outstanding nomination 
of a new coordinator for one region.  
3  WORLD FOOD SAFETY DA Y 
15.  The second World Food Safety Day (WFSD) will be celebrated on 7 June 2020 to draw attention 
and inspire action to he lp prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, 
human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable 
development.  
16.  Following the success of the first celebration in 2019, this year again WFSD r einforces the call 
to strengthen commitment to scale up food safety made by the Addis Ababa Conference and the 
Geneva Forum in 2019 under the umbrella of "The Future of Food Safety ". FAO, in collaboration with 
the World Health Organization  is pleased to fa cilitate Member States efforts to celebrate the World 
Food Safety Day.  
17.  Under the theme "Food safety, everyone 's business ", the action oriented campaign will promote 
global food safety awareness and call upon countries and decision makers, the private secto r, civil 
society, UN organizations and the general public to take action.  
18.  See the World Food Safety Day website in Codex . 
 
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