WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1150 
26 March 2012 
 (12-1625) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES 
 
Communication from the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) 
  
 The following communication, received on 26 Marc h 2012, is being circulated at the request 
of the Codex secretariat. 
 
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I. CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE (19 –
 20 OCTOBER 2011) 
1. Committee on Food Import and Export Insp ection and Certification Systems (Cairns, 
Australia, 17-21 October 2011) 
1. The Committee proceeded with its work on the development of Principles and Guidelines for 
National Food Control Systems and moved the Principles to the Commission for preliminary 
adoption;  and continued discussion on future work on:  the burden of multiple questionnaires directed 
at exporting countries,  monitoring regulatory pe rformance of national food control systems, and the 
need for further guidance on food safety emergencies and on the analysis of proposed change to CCFICS texts on emergencies and rejections to address animal feed.  
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/code x/REPORTS/Reports_2011/REP12_FCe.pdf 
 
2. Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Bad Soden am Taunus, 
Germany, 14-18 November 2011); 
2. The Committee moved for adoption some Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) and to 
preliminary adoption the Revision of the Guidelin es on Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older 
Infants and Young Children (CAC/GL 8-1991).  The Committee continued work on the General 
Principles for Establishing Nutrient Reference Valu es for Nutrients Associated with Risk of Diet-
Related Non-communicable Diseases for General Population (NRVs-NCD), Additional or Revised 
Nutrient Reference Values for Labe lling Purposes in the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling, to revise 
the Codex General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods (CAC/GL 9-1987) and 
to amend the Standard for Processed Cereal-B ased Foods for Infants and Young Children (CODEX 
STAN 74-1981) to Include a New Part B for Underw eight Children.  The Committee will consider the 
revision of the Standard for Follow-up Formul a (CODEX STAN 156-1987) at its next session. 
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/code x/REPORTS/Reports_2011/REP12_NFe.pdf 
 G/SPS/GEN/1150 
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  3. Committee on Food Hygiene (Miami, United States of America, 5-9 December 2011) 
3. The Committee moved for adoption the Guidelines on the Application of General Principles 
of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food, and the Annex on Melons to the Code of Hygienic 
Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CAC/RCP 53-2003).  The Committee agreed to propose to 
the Commission new work on a revision of the Code of Hygienic Practice for Spices and Dried 
Aromatic Plants (CAC/RCP 42-1995);  and on a new annex on berries to the Code of Hygienic 
Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CAC/RCP  53-2003).  The Committee will continue work on 
the Revision of the Principles for the Establishmen t and Application of Microbiological Criteria for 
Foods and the Guidelines for Control of Specific Zoono tic Parasites in Meat:  Trichinella spiralis and 
Cysticercus bovis.  The Committee requested commen ts and proposals on the hygiene provisions in 
the draft Code of Practice for Street-vended Foods (Near East) and further consideration at its next 
Session with the view to provide guidance to th e Coordinating Committee for Near East (CCNEA). 
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/code x/REPORTS/Reports_2011/REP12_FHe.pdf 
 
4. Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (7-10 February 2012) 
4. The Executive Committee consider ed the critical review and monitoring of standards 
development;  completed several sections of the new draft Strategic Plan 2014-2019 and agreed to 
proceed with its further development for considerati on at its next session;  gave advice on the requests 
for observer status of several non-governmental inte rnational organizations;  and considered matters 
referred by FAO and WHO, including the updated re port of the FAO/WHO Project and Trust Fund 
for Enhanced Participation in Codex.  
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/REPORTS/Reports_2012/REP12_EXEC1e.pdf 
 
5. Task Force on Animal Feeding (Bern, Switzerland, 20-24 February 2012) 
5. The Task Force moved for preliminary adop tion the Guidelines on Application of Risk 
Assessment for Feed, how to apply the existing Codex risk assessment methodologies to the various 
types of hazards related to contam inants/residues in feed ingredients,  including feed additives and will 
continue working on Guidance for use by governme nts in prioritizing national feed hazards, with a 
focus on the criteria for prioritization of hazards in feed and guidance for governments on how to use 
these criteria.  
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/REPORTS/Reports_2012/REP12_AFe.pdf  
 
6. Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Budapest, Hungary, 5 – 
9 March 2012) 
6. The Committee endorsed a large number of met hods of analysis and sampling in several 
standards, made substantial progress on the develo pment of the Principles for the Use of Sampling 
and Testing in International Food Trade, and devel oped criteria for the use of proprietary methods in 
Codex standards.  
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/code x/REPORTS/Reports_2012/REP12_MAe.pdf 
 
7. Committee on Food Additives (Hangzhou, China, 12 – 16 March 2012) 
7. The Committee moved for adoption Food additive  provisions of the General Standard for 
Food Additives (GSFA), the revision of the St andard for Food Grade Salt (CODEX STAN 150-1985), 
amendments to the International Numbering System  for Food Additives, and Specifications for the  G/SPS/GEN/1150 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Identity and Purity of Food Add itives.  The Committee also move d for adoption the Risk Analysis 
Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on F ood Additives and a revision of the names and 
descriptors of food category 16. 0 and 12.6.1 of the GSFA.  
Full report:  ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/REPORTS/Reports_2012/REP12_FAe.pdf  
 
II. FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
1. Committee on Contaminants in Foods (Maastricht, Netherlands, 26 – 30 March 2012) 
8. The Committee will consider Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on 
Food Additives and the Codex Committee on Contaminan ts in Foods as to their separation from the 
Codex Committee on Food Additives and their applicab ility to feed, and Revision of the Code of 
Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce C ontamination of Food with Chemicals as to their 
applicability to feed.  The Committee will consider , at various steps of the procedure, Maximum 
Levels for Melamine in Food (liquid infant fo rmula);  Maximum Levels for Arsenic in Rice;  
Maximum Levels for Deoxynivale nol (DON) in Cereals and Cereal -based Products and Associated 
Sampling Plans;  and Maximum Levels for Total Afla toxins in Dried Figs including Sampling Plans.  
The Committee will also consider discussion papers  on Management Practices for the Prevention and 
Reduction of Contamination of Food and Feed with Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs);  Maximum levels 
for lead in various foods in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed and 
the related Code of Practice for the Prevention an d Reduction of Lead Contamination in Foods and 
the Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Foods with Chemicals;  Mycotoxins in Sorghum;  Ochratoxi n A in Cocoa and Guidance for Risk Management 
Options in light of different risk assessment opti ons, and Maximum Levels fo r Fumonisins in Maize 
and Maize-Products and Associated Sampling Plans (currently held waiting for JECFA advice).  
2. Committee on General Principles (Paris, France, 2 – 6 April 2012) 
9. The Committee will discuss issues related to St andards held at Step 8, a mechanism for 
examining economic impact statements;  a revi ew of the Risk Analysis Policies of Codex 
Committees;  a proposed amendment to the terms of reference of the Committee;  the development of 
Joint Codex/OIE Standards;  and the distribution of documents and length and content of reports. 
3. Committee on Pesticide Residues (Shanghai, China, 23 – 28 April 2012) 
10. The Committee will discuss MRLs for pesticides fo r final or preliminary adoption;  revisions 
of the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal F eeds and the Risk Analysis Principles applied by 
the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues.  The Co mmittee will continue work on:  a Pilot Project 
for JMPR Recommendation of MRLs before Nationa l Governments or Other Regional Registration 
Authorities for a Global Joint Review Chemical;  Principles and Guidance for the Selection of 
Representative Commodities for the Extrapolation of Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides for Commodity Groups (including Table 1) on fruit  commodities.  The Committee will consider a 
Discussion Paper on the Guidance to facilitate the establishment of Maximum Residue Limits for 
Pesticides for Minor Crops and Specialty Crops. 
4. Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (San Juan, Puerto Rico, 7 –
 11 May 2012) 
11. The Committee will proceed with its work  on Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) for 
Veterinary Drugs, i.e. amoxicillin (in cattle , sheep  and pig tissues);  apramycin (cattle and chicken 
kidneys);  derquantel (in sheep tissues);  monensin (in cattle liver);  monepantel (in sheep tissues);  
and narasin (in cattle tissues), based on the reco mmendations of the 75th meeting of the Joint G/SPS/GEN/1150 
Page 4  
 
  FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food Additives  (JECFA), (Rome, 8-17 November 2011).  The 
Committee will consider:  revisions to its Risk An alysis Principles and Risk Assessment Policy for 
MRLs setting;  amendments and/or addition to the priority list of veterinary drugs requiring JECFA 
evaluation or re-evaluation;  a database on the need  of developing countries for MRLs for veterinary 
drugs;  and risk management recommendations fo r veterinary drugs for which no ADI and MRLs 
have been recommended by JECFA due to specifi c health concerns.  The Committee will also 
consider methods of analysis and sampling, in particular sampling plans for residues control for 
aquatic animal, and guidelines on performance ch aracteristics for multi residues analysis.  
12. Discussion papers on the policy for the establishment of MRLs of other limits in honey, and 
on the extrapolation of MRLs to additional species and tissues, and a document prepared by the 
CCRVDF Chairperson on new issues not covered by the work of the Co mmittee, will also be 
presented along with a report on OIE activities, including the Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medi cinal Products, relevant to the work of the 
Committee. 
5. Committee on Food Labelling (Ottawa, Canada, 15 – 18 May 2012) 
13. The Committee will proceed with the considerati on of issues related to the implementation of 
the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health:  revision of the Guidelines for Use 
of Nutrition and Health Claims:  additional conditi ons for nutrient content claims;  and comparative 
claims;  and the definition of Nutrient Reference Va lues.  It will proceed with the development of a 
section on organic aquaculture and other amendm ents to the Guidelin es for the Production, 
Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods. 
6. Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 26 – 
29 June 2012) 
7. Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 2 – 7 July 2012) 
III. COOPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 
1. IPPC 
14. The Codex Secretariat participated in the I PPC Focus Group on Improving the IPPC Standard 
Setting Process (FG) 25-29 July 2011 in Paris toge ther with OIE and ISO and shared experience on 
various aspects of the standard setting process in C odex which was particularly relevant in view of 
regular discussions in the SPS Committee on the rela tionship between the three organisations, co-
operation, and as issues related to procedures and risk  analysis are part of these consultations.  As 
Codex and IPPC secretariats are both located in th e same department in FAO, there are regular 
consultations as part of the AG department  and for common standard-setting issues.  
2. OIE 
15. The Codex Secretariat attended the November meeting of the OIE Animal Production Food 
safety Working Group (APFSWG) and the meeting of  ad hoc groups on antimicrobial resistance 
(December 2011) and on parasito sis (August 2011).  OIE representatives participated at relevant 
Codex meetings. 
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