G/SPS/GEN/1340  
 
27 Ju ne 2014 
(14-3723) 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 followi ng communication, received on 27  June 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
Codex  secretariat . 
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1  CODEX SESSIONS SINCE  THE LAST MEETI NG OF THE SPS COMMITTEE ( MARCH  2014) 
 8th Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (The Hague, the Netherlands, 31 March – 
4 April)  
 28th Codex Committee on General Principles (Paris, France, 7 -11 April 2014)  
 46th Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Nanji ng, China, 5 -10 May 2014)  
In particular, the SPS Committee may wish to note the following:  
1.1.  The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods  finalized work on maximum levels for 
lead in infant formula and formula for special medical purposes intended for infant s and follow -up 
formula (as consumed);  maximum level for inorganic arsenic in polished rice; and maximum levels 
for fumonisins in maize and maize produc ts and sampling plans. The Committee also finalized work 
on codes of practice for the prevention and red uction of certain mycotoxin contamination in 
sorghum and for the prevention and reduction of weed contamination with pyrrolizidine alkaloid in 
food and feed. The Committee continues work on the revision of maximum levels for lead in 
various commodities in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed; 
elaboration of a maximum level for inorganic arsenic in husked rice; elaboration of maximum 
levels and sampling plans for deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals and cereals -based products; and the  
priority list of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO 
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The next session of the Committee will consider 
maximum levels for total aflatoxins in ready -to-eat peanuts inc luding sampling plans; maximum 
levels for cadmium in chocolate and cocoa -derived products ; and codes of practice for the 
prevention and reduction of arsenic contamination in rice and for the prevention and reduction of 
mycotoxin contamination in cereals (r evision). The next session of the Committee will also 
consider a number of discussion papers on various issues related to industrial and environmental 
contaminants (e.g. methylmercury in fish, radionuclides in food following a radiological or nuclear 
emerg ency) and mycotoxins (e.g. mycotoxins in spices) including guidance papers on submission 
and use of data from GEMS/Food and the phasing -in of lower maximum levels.  
Full report: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/906/REP14_CFe.pdf  
1.2.  The Codex Committee on General Principles  endorsed several amendments to the 
Procedural Manual originating from Codex Committees, in particular amendments to the definitions 
of Hazard Characterization and Risk Estimate  and the inclusion of provisions on Extrapolation of 
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of Veterinary Drugs to Additional Species and the Use of the 
Concern Form for the CCRVDF in the Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the CCR VDF and the Risk 
Assessment Policy in the Setting of Maximum Limits for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods . The 
Committee developed guidance to promote collaboration between Codex and OIE that can be 
utilised to foster on -going collaboration between the  two organizations and their members at the 
national and regional level (the guidance will be considered by the 37th Session of the Commission  
in July 2014).  
Full report: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/798/REP14_GPe.pdf  G/SPS/GEN/1340  
 
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  1.3.  The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues  finalized a number of new and revised 
maximum residue limits for pesticides and the revision of the Risk Analysis Principles applied by 
the Committe e. The Committee continues work on the revision of the Classification of Food and 
Feed and examples of selection of representative commodities (vegetable commodity groups); 
guidance on performance criteria for methods of analysis for the determination of p esticide 
residues; guidance to facilitate the establishment of maximum residue limits for pesticides for 
minor crops / specialty crops; and the priority list and schedules of pesticides for evaluation by the 
Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticides (JMPR).  
Full report: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/917/REP14_PRe.pdf  
2  FORTHCOMING CODEX ME ETINGS  
 69th Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Genev a, Switzerland, 
8-11 July 2014). For the agenda see  
http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/916/ex69_01e.pdf  
 37th Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 14-18 July 2014). For the 
agenda see http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/807/cac37_01e.pdf  
 27th Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (TBA, The Un ited States of 
America, 8 -12 September)  
 13th FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and South West Pacific (Kokopo, 
Papua New Guinea, 23 -26 September 2014). For the agenda see  
http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/914/na14_01e.pdf  
 29th FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (TBA, The Netherlands, 30 September - 
3 October 2014). For the agenda see  
http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/913/eu29_01e.pdf  
2.1.  The six FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees  will meet from September 2014 to March 
2015. The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees  consider Codex matters of interest to the region, 
including information within the region on food legislation and food control systems, Codex 
structures and use of Codex standards. The Coordinating Committees will also discuss problems 
and needs of the region concerning food standards and food con trol; regional standards for 
products that may not be traded internationally but for which there is significant regional trade; 
and proposals for strengthening Coordinating Committees' roles and platform s. 
2.2.  FAO and WHO generally convene regional workshops o n issues of interest to the region in 
conjunction with the Coordinating Committees, and with funding from the Codex Trust Fund.  
 
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