G/TBT/GEN/136  
 
13 February 2013  
(13-0780)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
This document contains information was provided by the Codex Alimentarius at the TBT 
Committee meeting of 27-28 November 2012 under Agenda Item 4 (Update by Observers). 
 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE (JUNE 2012) 
 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 26-29 June 2012) 
 Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 2-7 July 2012) 
 Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Mexico City, Mexico, 3-7 September 
2012)  
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific (Madang, 
Papua New Guinea, 19-22 September 2012) 
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for Europe (Batumi, Georgia, 25-28 September 2012) 
 Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (Bali, Indonesia, 1-5 October 2012)  
 Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Montego Bay, Jamaica, 15-19 
October 2012)  
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for Asia  (Tokyo, Japan, 5-9 November 2012) 
 Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (New Orleans, United States of America, 12-16 
November 2012)  
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (San Jose, Costa 
Rica, 19-23 November 2012) 
1.1.  In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following: 
1.2.  The 35th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, among others, adopted 24 new 
or revised Codex standards or related texts and many new or revised provisions for additives and MRLs for pesticides and veterinary drugs, and approved 21 new work proposals; considered the 
implementation of the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the 
draft Strategic Plan 2014-20189 and agreed on the process to be followed for its completion for adoption; and considered the implementation of the Codex Trust Fund Mid-term Review and the 
new Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the Trust Fund.  
1.3.  The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees  consider Codex matters of interest to the 
region, promote exchange of information within th e region on food legislation and food control 
issues, Codex structures and the use of Codex standards at the national level. They define the 
problems and needs of the region concerning food  standards and food control, and some of them 
develop regional standards for products that may not be traded internationally but for which there is significant regional trade. The Commission also forwarded some questions to Coordinating 
Committees, especially as regards the new Strategic Plan.  
1.4.  FAO and WHO generally convene regional work shops on issues of interest to the region in 
conjunction with the Coordinating Committees, and with funding from the Codex Trust Fund (see below Technical Cooperation). G/TBT/GEN/136 
 
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2  FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
 Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Bad Soden am Taunus, 
Germany, 2012) 
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (Beirut, Lebanon, 21-25 January 2013) 
 FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for Africa (Yaoundé, Cameroon, 29 January-1 February 
2013) 
 Ad hoc  Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding (Bern, Switzerland, 4-8 February 
2013)  
 Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (Chiang 
Mai, Thailand, 18-22 February 2013) 
 Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Langkawi, Malaysia, 25 February, 1 March 2013) 
2.1.  In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following: 2.2.  The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  will proceed 
with the revision of the Guidelines on Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older Infants and 
Young Children ; the revision of the General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to 
Food; the revision of the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young 
Children  to Include a New Part B for Underweight Children; and will consider several items related 
to Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs), including Nutrient Reference Values for Nutrients Associated with Risk of Diet-Related Non-communicable Diseases (NRVs-NCD).  
2.3.  The Codex Committee on Food Import and Ex port Inspection and Certification 
Systems  will continue its work on the elaboration of the Principles and Guidelines for National 
Food Control Systems. The Committee will also cons ider discussion papers addressing: the burden 
of multiple questionnaires directed at exporting countries; monitoring regulatory performance of 
national food control systems and the need for fu rther guidance on food safety emergencies.  
3  TECHNICAL COOPERATION 3.1.  The following activities were carried out wi th the support of the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund:  
3.2.  Prior to the  FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific 
(Madang, Papua New Guinea, 19-22 September 2012) FAO and WHO convened a Technical Workshop on Developments Relevant to Pacific Island Countries (17-18 September 2012) 
3.3.  Prior to the FAO/WO Coordinating Commi ttee for Europe (Batumi, Georgia, 25-28 September 
2012), FAO and WHO, with the support of Poland as host country, convened an FAO/WHO Regional 
training Workshop on Codex Alimentarius: 50 years of Codex: achievements, lessons learnt and challenges in the European Codex region (24 September 2012). 
3.4.  FAO and WHO convened a capacity development regional training workshop on Codex in 
Bishkek , Kyrgyz Republic, on 9-11 October 2012, for countries in Central Asia. 
3.5.  Similar workshops will be held in conjunction with the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees to 
be held from November 2012 to February 2013. 
 
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