WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/107 
24 November 2010 
 (10-6303) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
 
  The following information was provided by the Codex Alimentarius Commission
 at the 
TBT Committee meeting of 3-4 November 2010.  
_______________ 
  I. CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE  
(24-25 JUNE 2010) 
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission ( Geneva, Switzerland, 5-9  July 2010); 
(b) Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (Burlington, United 
States of America, 30 August – 3 September 2010); 
(c) FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West pacific 
(Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 Sept ember – 1 October 2010); 
(d) FAO/WO Coordinating Committee for Europe  (Warsaw, Poland, 5-8 October 2010); 
(e) Ad hoc  Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (Muju, 
Republic of Korea, 18-22 October 2010). 
In particular, the Committee may wish to note the following: 1. The 33
rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, among others: 
(a) adopted 25 new or revised Codex standards or  related texts and many new or revised 
provisions for additives and MRLs for pesticides (see Appendix I ), and approved a 
number of new work proposals (see Appendix II ); 
(b) agreed to establish a new Task Force on Animal Feeding;  
(c) considered the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission and the developm ent of the Strategic Plan 2013-2018;  
(d) Made some recommendations on the Mid-Term  Review of the Codex Trust Fund;  
(e) Considered the impact of private standard s and agreed to forward this question to 
regional Coordinating Committees. 
2. The full report of the meeting is available at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net  or at 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Alinorm10/al33REPe.pdf . G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  3. The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees  consider Codex matters of  interest to the region, 
promote exchange of information within the region on food legislation and food control issues, Codex 
structures and participation, the use of Codex sta ndards, identifying issues related to the use or non-
use of Codex standards and related texts at the nati onal and regional levels. They define the problems 
and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control, and so me 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 so me questions on general issues to Coordinating 
Committees, especially as regards the mid-term review of the Trust Fund, the Strategic Plan, and the use of private standards.  
4. FAO and WHO generally convene regional workshops on issues of interest to the region in 
conjunction with the Coordinating Committees,  and with funding from the Trust Fund.  
II. FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
(a) Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 
October 2010); 
(b) Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Santiago, Chile, 
1-5 November 2010); 
(c) FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean 
(Acapulco, Mexico, 8-12 November 2010); 
(d) FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (Bali, Indonesia, 22-26 November 
2010); 
(e) Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Kampala , Uganda, 29 November – 3 December 
2010); 
(f) FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Near East (Tunis, Tunisia, 25-29 January 
2011); 
(g) FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (Ghana, Accra, 1-4 February 2011); 
(h) Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Pen ang, Malaysia, 21-25 February 2011). 
5. The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables  will proceed with its work on 
the revision of the standards for processed fruits and vegetables namely grated desiccated coconut, 
table olives, canned mushrooms and canned bamboo s hoots. The revision is carried out within the 
framework of the ongoing work of the Committee on the revision of Codex standards for processed 
fruits and vegetables in order to bring them up to  date in light of developments in science and 
technology as well as changes in industry and marketing practices. This is also in compliance with the 
recommendation of the Codex Alimentarius Commissi on to move towards simpler, horizontal, and 
inclusive standards, when possible, in order to fac ilitate their application by governments. In addition, 
the Committee will consider sampling plans for th e control of minimum drained weight in canned 
fruits and vegetables in packing media and prioriti zation for future work on the revision of the 
remaining standards for canned fruits and standa rds for quick frozen fruits and vegetables. 
6. The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  will consider the 
Draft General Principles for Establishing Nutrient Reference Values of Vitamins and Minerals for 
General Population, the Proposed Draft Nutrient  Reference Values for Labelling Purposes, the 
revision of the General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods , the revision of the  G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  Guidelines on Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children, and a 
proposal for the revision of the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young 
Children . 
7. The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils  will proceed with its work on the update of the  
Code of Practice for the Transport and Storage of Fats and Oils in Bulk : criteria to assess the 
acceptability of substances for inclusion in a List  of Acceptable Previous Cargoes and Lists of 
Acceptable Previous Cargoes, in order to prevent contamination of fats a nd oils. As regards quality 
issues, it will consider the Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils  to include 
palm kernel stearin and palm kernel  olein and the level of linolenic acid in virgin olive oil and related 
parameters in the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils.  It will also consider several 
proposals for new work, including on fish oils. 
 
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 G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  APPENDIX I 
 
LISTS OF STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS ADOPTED BY THE 33RD SESSION OF 
THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
Part 1 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 8 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Standard for Bitter Cassava ALINORM 08/31/REP 
Para. 38 Adopted 
Section 6 “Marking or Labelling” (Standard 
for Bitter Cassava) ALINORM 10/33/35 
Appendix II Adopted 
Standard for Apples ALINORM 10/33/35 
Appendix III Adopted with amendment 
(See Agenda Item 4) 
Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery 
Products (Sections on Lobsters and Crabs 
and Relevant Definitions) ALINORM 10/33/18 
Appendix II Adopted with amendments 
(See Agenda Item 4) 
Standard for Sturgeon Caviar ALINORM 10/33/18 
Appendix V Adopted 
List of Methods for Dietary Fibre ALINORM 10/33/26 
Appendix II Adopted 
Amendment to the Codex Standard for 
Fermented Milks  (CODEX STAN 243-
2003), pertaining to Drinks based on 
Fermented Milk ALINORM 10/33/11 
Appendix II Adopted 
Food Additive Provisions of the General 
Standard for Food Additives  (GSFA) ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix III Adopted 
Revised Code of Ethics for International 
Trade in Foods  (CAC/RCP 20-1985) 
including Concessional and Food Aid Transactions ALINORM 10/33/33 
Appendix II Adopted 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 10/33/24 
Appendix II Adopted 
 
Part 2 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 5/8 (with omission of Step 6 and 7) 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Annex on Leafy Green Vegetables to the Code of 
Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables (CAC/RCP 53-2003) ALINORM 10/33/13 
Appendix II Adopted with 
amendment 
(See Agenda Item 4) 
Code of Hygienic Practice for Pathogenic Vibrio  
spp. in Seafood ALINORM 10/33/13 
Appendix III Adopted 
Annex on Control Measures for Vibrio 
parahaemolyticus  and Vibrio vulnificus  in 
Molluscan Shellfish ALINORM 10/33/13 
Appendix IV Adopted 
Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of 
Assessment of Foreign Official Inspection and Certification Systems (Annex to the Guidelines for 
the design, operation, assessment and 
accreditation of food import and export inspection 
and certification systems  (CAC/GL 26-1997)) ALINORM 10/33/30 
Appendix II Adopted with 
amendment 
(See Agenda Item 4)  G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Guidelines on Performance Criteria and 
Validation of Methods for Detection, Identification and Quantification of Specific DNA Sequences and Specific Proteins in Foods ALINORM 10/33/23 
Appendix III Adopted 
Food Additive Provisions of the General Standard 
for Food Additives  (GSFA) ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix III Adopted 
(except provision for 
ponceau 4R) 
(See Agenda Item 4) 
Guidelines on Substances Used as Processing Aids ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix VIII Adopted 
Amendments to the International Numbering 
System for Food Additives (CAC/GL 36-2009) ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix IX Adopted 
Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food 
Additives arising from the 71st Meeting of JECFA ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix X Adopted 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 10/33/24 
Appendix III Adopted 
Maximum Levels for Melamine in Food 
(Powdered Infant Formula and Foods other than 
Infant Formula ) and Feed ALINORM 10/33/41 
Appendix IV Adopted 
Maximum Levels for Total Aflatoxins in Shelled, 
Ready-to-Eat Brazil Nuts and Shelled, Destined for Further Processing Brazil Nuts ALINORM 10/33/41 
Appendix V Adopted 
Revision of Code of Practice for the Prevention and 
Reduction of Aflatoxin in  Tree Nuts (Additional 
Measures for Brazil Nuts) ALINORM 10/33/41 
Appendix VI Adopted 
Principles and Criteria for Legibility of Nutrition 
Labelling ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix III Adopted 
 
Part 3 – Other Standards and Related Texts Submitted for Adoption 
Standards and Related Texts  Reference Status 
Revised Food Additive Listings in Standards for 
Milk and Milk Products ALINORM 10/33/11 
Appendix IV Adopted 
Revised Model Export Certificate for Milk and 
Milk Products  (CAC/GL 67-2008) ALINORM 10/33/11 
Appendix V Adopted 
Revised Section on Contaminants in Standards for 
Milk and Milk Products ALINORM 10/33/11 
para. 105 Adopted 
Methods of Analysis in Codex Standards at 
Different Steps, including Methods of Analysis for Natural Mineral Waters ALINORM 10/33/23 
Appendix II Adopted 
Amendment to the name and descriptors of food 
categories 06.0, 06.2 and 06.2.1 of the GSFA ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 16 Adopted 
Deletion of note 180 “expressed as beta-carotene” 
in all adopted and proposed provisions for carotenoids (INS 160a(i), (iii), e, f) and carotene, 
beta- (vegetable) (INS 160a(ii)) of the GSFA ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 61 Adopted 
Amendment of the provision for ascorbyl esters 
(INS 304, 305) in food category 13.2 “Complementary foods for infants and young 
children” of the GSFA  ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 90 Adopted G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  Standards and Related Texts  Reference Status 
Amendment to notes 130 and 131 associated with 
the provisions for phenolic antioxidants, i.e. butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA, INS 320), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, INS 321); propyl 
gallate (INS 310) and ter tiary butylhydroquinone 
(TBHQ, INS 319) of the GSFA ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 91 Adopted 
Amendment to the text of note 136 of the GSFA ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 92 Adopted 
Amendment to Section 2 “Table of functional 
classes, definitions and technological purposes” of CAC/GL 36-1989 ALINORM 10/33/12 
para. 129 Adopted 
Amendment to Section 2.1 General Definitions of 
the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products ALINORM 10/33/18 
Appendix III Adopted 
Maximum Level for tin in Canned Fruits and 
Vegetables in the Codex Standard for 
Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed ALINORM 10/33/41 
Appendix II Adopted 
Deletion of Section 8 and related text from the 
Guidelines for the Production, Processing, 
Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods  (CAC/GL 32-1999) ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix IX Adopted 
Alignment of the General Standard for the 
Labelling of Prepackaged Food (CODEX STAN 
1-1985) with the Codex International Numbering System in CAC/GL 36-1989 ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix XI Adopted  G/TBT/GEN/107 
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APPENDIX   II 
NEW  WORK  APPROVED  BY THE  33RD CODEX  ALIMENTARIUS  COMMISSION 
 
Responsible 
Body Standard and Related Texts Reference Job Code  
CCFFV Standard for Pomegranate ALINORM 10/33/35 
Appendix VIII N01-2010 
CCNFSDU Amendement of the Codex General Principles for 
the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods (CAC/GL 9-1987) ALINORM 10/33/26 
Appendix V N02-2010 
CCNFSDU Revision of the Codex Guidelines on Fomulated 
Supplementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children (CAC/GL 8-1991) ALINORM 10/33/26 
Appendix VI N03-2010 
CCNFSDU Establishment of Nutrient Reference Values for 
Nutrients Associated with Risk of Diet-Related Non-communicable Diseases for the General Population (Amendment of the Codex Guidelines 
on Nutrition Labelling  (CAC/GL 2-1985)) ALINORM 10/33/26 
Appendix VII N04-2010 
CCFH Revision of the Recommended International Code 
of Hygienic Practice for Collecting, Processing and 
Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters (CAC/RCP 33-1985) ALINORM 10/33/13 
Appendix V N05-2010 
CCFH Revision of the Principles for Establishment and 
Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997) ALINORM 10/33/13 
Appendix VI N06-2010 
CCFA Revision of the Food Category System of the 
General Standard for Food Additives  ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix VII N07-2010 
CCFA Revision of the Standard for Food Grade Salt 
(CODEX STAN 150-1985) ALINORM 10/33/12 
Appendix XII N08-2010 
CCPR Priority List of Chemicals Scheduled for Evaluation 
and Re-evaluation by JMPR ALINORM 10/33/24 
Appendix XII  ongoing 
CCPR The Pilot Project in which JMPR would conduct an 
Independent, Parallel Review along with a Global 
Joint Review Team and recommend MRLs before 
National Governments establish MRLs in 2011  ALINORM 10/33/24 
para. 202  N09-2010 
CCCF Maximum Levels for Deoxynivalenol (DON) and 
its Acetylated Derivatives in Cereals and Cereal-
based Products ALINORM 10/33/41 
 para. 110 N10-2010 
CCCF Maximum Levels for Total Aflatoxins in Dried Figs ALINORM 10/33/41 
Appendix IX N11-2010 
CCFL Establishment of Claims for Sugars, Salt/ Sodium 
and Trans-fatty Acids ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix V N12-2010 
CCFL Organic Aquaculture ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix XIII N13-2010 
CCFL Definition for Nutrient Reference Values ALINORM 10/33/22 
Appendix XII N14-2010 
TFAF Guidelines and prioritised list of hazards mentioned 
in a) and b) of the Terms of Reference of the Task ALINORM 10/33/REP, 
Appendix VIII  G/TBT/GEN/107 
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  Responsible 
Body Standard and Related Texts Reference Job Code
 
Force on Animal Feeding 
 
 
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