G/SPS/GEN/1892  
 
23 March 2021 
(21-2384) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX)  
The following communication, received on 22 March 2021, is being c irculated at the request of 
the Codex  secretariat.  
 
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1  CODEX MEETINGS HELD SINCE THE LAST SESSION OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
(3-6 NOVEMBER 2020)  
1.1.  80th Session of the Executive Committee  (CCEXEC80) was held virtually from 13 to 
21 January 2021.  
1.2.  Codex and the pandemic : Based on the report of the CCEXEC sub -committee on Codex  and 
the pandemic, CCEXEC80 recognized the progress made by Codex in 2020 and encouraged a 
pragmatic and engaged approach to move forward Codex standard -setting activities in 2021 
including hosting virtual meetings of Codex subsidiary bodies despite contin uing challenges caused 
by COVID -19. 
1.3.  The sub -committee encouraged to build resilience using modern tools and approaches 
consistent with Codex core values and to ensure that Codex was well placed to deal with similar 
events in the future. Recognizing the agr eement of the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission (CAC43) to convene meetings and sessions of Codex subsidiary bodies in 2021 virtually 
if needed, CCEXEC80 also recommended that for 2021, the alternative to physical sessions was 
virtual sessi ons together with the use of online written discussions and supporting informal 
mechanisms.  
1.4.  Statements of principle : CCEXEC80 provided comments to and extended the mandate of the 
CCEXEC sub -committee on the application of the statements of principle concer ning the role of 
science which has the purpose to allow Codex to set standards that are needed by members and are 
based on science.  
1.5.  Strategic planning : CCEXEC80 re -established its sub -committee on strategic planning with new 
terms of refence including taki ng into consideration how Codex can contribute to and achieve 
recognition for its key food standards work in the actions of its members in relation to global and 
UN initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Food Systems 
Summit (UNFSS) . CCEXEC80 also encouraged Codex members to engage in the country dialogues 
on the UNFSS and encouraged FAO and WHO to engage the Codex secretariat, and the Chairperson 
and Vice -chairpersons as appropriate in the discussions leading up to the su mmit. Noting the recent 
publication by FAO of a report on harmoni zation of pesticide MRLs for rice with Codex standards 
(also presented at an SPS side event November 2022), CCEXEC80 encouraged further work 
demonstrating use and impact of Codex standards, c onsistent with the objective and implementation 
efforts towards achievement of Codex Strategic Goal 3.  
1.6.  Other : CCEXEC80 also highlighted the role of Codex standards in the context of maintaining 
food safety during the pandemic and the importance of using opportunities such as World Food G/SPS/GEN/1892  
 
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  Safety Day1 to re -energise commitment to food safety following the pandemic.  The report of 
CCEXEC80 can be downloaded from the Codex webpage . 
1.7.  32nd Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles  (CCGP32) was held virtually 
from 8 to 17 February 2021.  
1.8.  Guidance for working by correspondence : CCGP32 with its mandate to deal with procedural 
and general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, agreed to forward 
to the Commis sion "Criteria and procedural guidelines for Codex Committees and ad hoc 
Intergovernmental Task forces working by correspondence" for adoption and inclusion in the 
Procedural Manual.  
1.9.  Amendments and revisions : CCGP32 discussed the need for amendments to the  Guide to the 
Procedure for the Amendment and Revision of Codex Standards and Related Texts , to ensure better 
clarity and supported that the secretariat prepare a document on this including examples for the 
different changes and workflows, and the version numbering and history for the next session of CAC 
for possible referral to CCGP.  
1.10.   Digital Procedural Manual : CCGP32 agreed that the Codex secretariat proceed with the 
development of a digital version of the Procedural Manual, which would be made available f or testing 
and review by the members before being published online.  
1.11.   Monitoring of use of Codex standards : CCGP32 acknowledged the experience of other 
standard -setting organizations and encouraged further exchanges with them. Reference was made 
to the need to take into consideration existing data on the use of Codex standards, such as from the 
WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committees and 
identify main gaps.  
1.12.   Codex and the SDGs : CCGP32 also reaffirmed the importance  of achieving the SDGs and 
discussed how Codex can contribute to the SDGs. The report of CCGP32 can be downloaded from 
the Codex webpage . 
2  OTHER CODEX E VENTS  
2.1.  Several virtual working group meetings and webinars in support of upcoming sessions of Codex 
subsidiary bodies were held to support delegations' preparations and facilitate discussions and 
consensus -building:  
− CCMAS webinar series, 23 -25 November 2020 ; 
− Webinar on the proposed draft Guidelines on the Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of 
Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance, 18 -19 January 2021 ; 
− Webinar on FAO and WHO Activities to support monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial 
resistance in the food and agriculture sectors, 16 March 2021 ; 
− Webinar on the Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) work on cadmium in 
chocolates and cocoa -derived products ; 
− Virtual meeting of the CCFICS Working Group on Systems Equivalence, 23 March 2021 ; 
− CCFIC S Webinar on voluntary Third -Party Assurance (vTPA) programmes, 25 March 2021 ; 
− FAO/WHO/CODEX webinar on Carryover in feed and transfer from feed to food of 
unavoidable and unintended residues of approved veterinary drugs, 25 March 2021 . 
3  FORTHCOMING CODEX M EETINGS  
3.1.  For the upcoming months, all sessions of Codex subsidiary bodies will be convened virtually:  
− 5th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and C ulinary Herbs  (20-29 April 2021) ; 
− 14th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods  (3–13 May 2021) ; 
− 41st Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling  (17-25 May 
2021) ; 
 
1 For further information on World Food Safety day  visit http://www.fao.org/fao -who-
codexalimentarius/world -food-safety -day/wfsd -homepage/en/ . G/SPS/GEN/1892  
 
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  − 25th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification 
Systems  (31 May - 8 June 2021) . 
3.2.  Regular updates on the statu s of work of these committees are published on their dedicated 
webpages on the Codex website . For specific questions on the status of work in Codex committees 
of interest to SPS de legates please check the dedicated webpages or send an email to 
codex@fao.org . 
3.3.  The Codex secretariat in collaboration with host secretariats and working group leads are 
continuing to convene working group meetings and w ebinars in advance of Codex subsidiary sessions 
to support delegations' preparations and facilitate discussions and consensus -building. 
Further  information is available on the Committee webpages and the Codex calendar . 
 
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