G/SPS/GEN/1631  
 
6 July 2018  
(18-4243) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIV ITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE CODEX ALIMENTARIU S COMMISSION (CODEX)  
The following communication, received on 15 June 2018, is being c irculated at the request of 
the Codex  secretariat.  
 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE  THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMI TTEE (MARCH 2018)  
 12th Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Utrecht, Netherlands, 
12-16 March  2018)  
 50th Codex Committee on Food Additives (Xia men, Fujian Province, China, 
26-30 March  2018)  
 50th Codex Committee on Pesti cide Residue s (Haikou, China, 9 -14 April 2018)  
 24th Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (Chicago, United States of 
America, 23 -27 April 2018)  
 39th Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, 
7-11 May 2018)  
 
In particula r, the SPS Committee may wish to note the following:  
 
1.1.  The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods  finalized the revision  of the existing 
maximum levels (MLs) for lead in grape juice, mango chutney, canned brassica vegetables, fresh 
farmed mushrooms, food grade salt (excluding salt from marshes), fat spreads and blended 
spreads, edible fats and oils; development of MLs for cadmium in (i) chocolate containing or 
declaring ≥ 50% to < 70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis and (ii) chocolate containing o r 
declaring ≥ 70% total cocoa solids on a dry matter basis; development of MLs for methylmercury 
in tuna, alfonsino, marlin and shark; and the revision of the Code of practice for the prevention 
and reduction of dioxins, dioxin -like PCBs and non-dioxin -like PCBs in food and feed  
(CXC 62-2006). The Committee continues work on the development of a Code of practice for the 
reduction of 3 -monochloropropane -1-2-diol esters (3 -MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) in refined 
oils and food products made wi th refined oils; development of Guidelines for risk analysis of 
instances of contaminants in food where there is no regulatory level or risk management 
framework established; the revision of MLs for lead in remaining commodities in the General 
Standard for  Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed  (CXS 193 -1995); and development of MLs 
for cadmium in other chocolates and cocoa -derived products.  
Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meeting s%252FCX -735-12%252FREPORT%252520%2528FINAL%2529%252FREP18_CFe.pdf  
1.2.  The Codex Committee on Food Additives  concluded its work on Specifications for the 
Identity and Purity of Food Additives  (CXM 6); food -additive provisions of the General Standard for 
Food A dditives  (GSFA) (CXS192 -1995); revision of the Class Names and the International 
Numbering System for Food Additives  (CXG 36 -1989). The Committee agreed to forward to CAC41 
for adoption the revised food additives section of a number of commodity standards related to its 
work on alignment. The Committee also forwarded to CAC41 for adoption the revised food 
additives section of Standards for other commodit ies related to the change of the food additive 
name of INS 554. The Committee agreed to continue its work  on food additive provisions of G/SPS/GEN/1631  
 
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  the GSFA; revision of CXG 36 -1989; specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food  Additives 
prepared by the 86th meeting of JECFA; alignment of the food additive provisions of commodity 
standards and relevant provisions of the GSFA; and proposal for additions and changes to the 
Priority List of substances proposed for evaluation by JECFA. The Committee also agreed to 
establish an electronic working group to develop wording for an alternative to Note 161 relating to 
the us e of sweeteners.  
Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -711-50%252FReport%252FREP18_FAe.pdf  
1.3.  The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues  finalized maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 
different combin ations of pesticide/commodity(ies) and concluded on the revision to the 
Classification of Food and Feed  (CX/M 4 -1989) for Type 04 (Nuts, seeds and saps) and 
Type 05 (Herbs and spices) including corresponding tables on examples of representative 
commodities  for these types (for inclusion in the Principles and guidance for the selection of 
representative commodities for the extrapolation of MRLs for pesticides to commodities groups  
(CX/G 84 -2012)). The Committee continues work on MRLs for different combinatio ns of 
pesticide/commodity(ies) and the revision of the Classification of Food and Feed  including the 
development of tables of repres entative commodities for feed.  
Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites %252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -718-50%252FREPORT%252FFINAL%252520REPORT%252FREP18_PRe.pdf  
1.4.  The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods  finalized maximum 
residue limits (MRLs) for amoxicillin (finfish fillet, muscle); ampicillin (finfish fillet, muscle); 
lufenuron (salmon and trout fillet) and monepantel (cattle fat, kidney, liver, muscle). The 
Committee also finalized the Risk Management  Recommendation for gentian violet. The Committee 
continues discussion on MRLs for flumethrin in honey and zilpaterol hydrochloride in cattle fat, 
kidney, liver, muscle.  
Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%2 52Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -730-24%252FFINAL%252520REPORT%252FREP18_RVDFe.pdf  
1.5.  The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling  continues work on 
endorsement of methods of analysis and sampling in Codex standards and other matters related to 
samplin g procedures and the review and update of the Standard on Methods of Analysis and 
Sampling  (CXS 234 -1999).  
Full report: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -715-39%252FREPORT%252FREP18_MASe.pdf  
2  FORTHCOMIN G CODEX MEETINGS  
 24th Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
(Brisbane, Australia, 22 – 26 October 2018)  
 50th Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Panama  City, Panama, 
12 - 16 November  2018)  
 40th Codex Committee on Nutri tion and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Berlin, Germany, 
26 – 30 November 2018)  
 6th Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (Busan, 
Republic of Korea, 10 – 14 December 2018)  
 
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