G/TBT/GEN/197  
 
11 May 2016  
(16-2601)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
CODEX ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE WORK OF THE TBT COMMITTEE 
STATEMENT BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
This document contains information provided by the Codex at the TBT Committee meeting of  
9-10 March 2016 under Agenda Item 5 (Update by Observers). 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION 
1.  Thank you very much for the opportunity to upda te you on the work of Codex in relation to this 
committee and with your indulgence also some reflections and a proposal.  
2.  Codex Alimentarius Standards when leavin g the Codex Commission are recommendations for 
applications by governments. They have been de veloped in an inclusive, transparent process and 
ideally have been supported by a large internat ional consensus. The uptake of Codex standards 
depends quite a bit on the strength of this consensus and also on the national situation in countries which may require the use of a different measure. To be justified by risk assessment in 
case of SPS – there is a less explicit link in TBT. Over 20 concerns this time have been about food. 
We have heard on numerous occasions the statement "not in line with Codex standards". Now this is not always easy to establish and I feel there should be a lot of clarity about what is not in line.  
The absence of Codex guidance on a topic does not automatically mean that a measure is not in 
line with Codex. There are different cases:
 
1.1  Country uses different values  than proposed in Codex standard 
 e.g. requirement of expiry date labelling: alco hol of more than 10% is exempted. A different 
value would not be in line with the Codex standard. 
1.2  Nutrition labelling - Front of pack labelling  Codex recommends mandatory nutrition labelling. Codex has not defined front of pack 
labelling. 
 Codex guidelines allow supplementary nutrition labelling. 
 Excerpt from the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CAC/GL 2-1985) 
5.1 Supplementary nutrition information is intended to increase the consumer's 
understanding of the nutritional value of thei r food and to assist in interpreting the 
nutrient declaration. There are a number of ways of presenting such information that may be suitable for use on food labels. 
5.2 The use of supplementary nutrition inform ation on food labels should be optional 
and should only be given in addition to, an d not in place of, the nutrient declaration, 
except for target populations who have a high illiteracy rate and/or comparatively 
little knowledge of nutrition. For these, food group symbols or other pictorial or colour 
presentations may be used without the nutrient declaration. G/TBT/GEN/197 
 
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  5.3 Supplementary nutrition information on labels should be accompanied by 
consumer education programmes to increase consumer understanding and use of the information. 
1.3  Nutrition warnings 
3.  Codex recommends mandatory nutrition labelling but Codex has not defined any nutrition 
warnings (which can be used in front of pack labelling or other).  Codex has up to now concentrated on positive claims such as free/low claims (energy, fat, sat fat, cholesterol, sugar, 
sodium) and source/high claims (proteins, vitamins and minerals, dietary fibre). Codex has also 
defined comparative claims and non-addition claims. With the beginning of the definition of NRV-NCD (giving a maximum value) Codex has started to set the scene for warnings and for the moment saturated fats and sodium are included in this group. 
4.  This year we will set NRV-R for:  
 Copper 
 Iron (dietary description and footnote) 
 Magnesium 
 Phosphorus 
 Vitamin E and Vitamin A (dietary equivalents and conversion factors), at Step 5/8 
5.  We will continue work on  
 NRV-R for Vitamin D; and the dietary equivalents and conversion factor for Vitamin E 
to Step 3  
 Definition for Biofortification to Step 2/3  
 NRV-NCD for EPA and DHA long chain omega-3 fatty acids to Step 2/3  
6.  We will also continue discussion on claims for "Free" of Trans Fatty Acids to the next session.
 
7.  Codex has in addition defined extensive guidan ce on claims in general and especially health 
and nutrition claims which should not be misleading to the consumer. 
1.4  GM labelling 8.  Codex has recognized that different approaches exist in this matter and published a collection 
of different Codex text that could apply to such labelling. 
9.  There is unfortunately especially in labelling a high incidence of misleading claims and labels. 
We in the Codex secretariat are very open to discuss with any members who wish to implement a measure based on a Codex standard. On occasion we may help also together with our own legal 
advisors. The upcoming thematic session on standards in summer or the TBT advanced training 
may also provide and occasion for members of the Codex Secretariat to assist countries in the implementation of Codex standards. 
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