G/TBT/GEN/244  
 
25 April 2018  
(18-2594) 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  at the TBT Committee meeting of 
21-22 March 2018 under Agenda Item 5 (Observers).  
 
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1   CODEX SESSIONS SINCE  LAST SUBMISSION ( NOVEMBER 2017 ) 
 49th Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Chicago, United States of America, 13 -17 
November 2017)  
 5th Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task F orce on Antimicrobial Resistance(Jeju, Republic 
of Korea, 27 November -2 December 2017)  
 39th Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses(Berlin, Germany, 4 -8 
December 2017)  
 12nd Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Utrecht, Netherla nds, 12–16 March 2018)   
1.  In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following:   
2.  The Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses :  
3.  Review of the Standard for Follow -up Formula (CXS 156 -1987) : CCNFSDU advanced  the 
essential composition requirements for older infants and young child  to the 41st Session of the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission for preliminary adoption : and agreed to continue work on the 
scope, product definition and labelling of the Standard.   
4.  CCNFSD U will continue working on a definition for biofortification, NRV -NCD for EPA and DHA 
and a guideline for ready -to-use therapeutic foods.  
5.  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 -720-39%252FREP ORT%252FREP18_NFSDUe.pdf  
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX ME ETINGS (UNTIL JUNE 2 018)  
 50th Codex Committee on Food Additives  (Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, 26 –30 March  
2018)  
 50th Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues  (Haikou, China, 9 –14 April  2018)  
 24th Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods  (Chicago, USA, 23 -27 April  
2018)  G/TBT/GEN/244  
 
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   39th Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling  (Budapest, Hungary, 7 -11 May  
2018)  
 75th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Ita ly, 26 – 29 June 
2018)  
 41st Codex Alimentarius Commission Rome (Rome, Italy, 2 -6 July, 2018)  
 76th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 7 July 2018)  
6.  With regards to the forthcoming meetings, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following:  
7.  The Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling  will consider a large number of 
methods of analysis provisions and sampling plans in Codex standards, discuss the revision of 
recommended Methods of CXS 234 and review and update of CXS 234, criteria for endorsement of 
biological methods used to detect chemicals of concern, and a proposal to amend the Guidelines 
on Measurement Uncertainty and the General Guidelines on Sampling.  
8.  For the agenda see: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/sh -
proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fs ites%252Fcodex%252F
Meetings%252FCX -715-39%252Fma39_01e.pdf  
 
3  ADDITIONAL INFORMATI ON 
9.  The following additional information is brought to the attention of the TBT Committee:  
 The 44th session of CCFL  (CCFL44) has agreed to start new work on guidance on front of 
pack nutrition labelling (FOPL). This work has been sent to the 41st session of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for approval. The work is being led by Costa Rica and New Zealand 
through an el ectronic working group and will amongst others, consider general principles for 
FOPL and other aspects to consider in the development of FOPL systems.  
 CCFL44 has also agreed to the development of a discussion paper on alcohol beverage 
labelling. The paper will be presented by the Russian Federation, with assistance of the EU, 
Ghana, Senegal and India. To support this work, a Circular Letter will be issued in April to 
request information on current practices and any potential further role for CCFL.  
 The Codex  Secretariat is also hosting several training sessions on the use of Codex web 
tools (e.g. use of the online commenting system, the Codex website and the EWG platform). 
The aim is to support skills and knowledge development to increase practical capacity a nd 
ability for member participation in Codex. The next training session will take place in 
Paraguay from 24 - 25 May 2018.  
 
 
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