WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/41 
8 December 2006 
 (06-5872) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
REPORT PROVIDED BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION  
AT THE TBT COMMITTEE MEETING OF 9 NOVEMBER 2006 
 
Agenda Item 5:  Updating by Observers
 
 
 
 The following report, dated 9 November 2006, is being circulated at the request of the Codex . 
 
_______________ 
 
I. CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE TBT COMMITTEE  
(7-9 JULY 2006) 
• The 58th Session Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Geneva, Switzerland, 28 June - 1 July 2006). 
• The 29th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland,  
3 - 7 July 2006). 
• The 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish  and Fishery Products (Beijing, 
China, 18 - 22 September 2006). 
• The 13th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (Mexico 
City, Mexico, 25 - 29 September 2006). 
• The 9th Session  of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and 
South West Pacific (Apia, Samoa, 10-13 October 2006). 
• The 23rd Session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables 
(Arlington,  United States of America, 16-21 October 2006). 
 
 In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to note the following: 1. The 29
th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, among others 
(a) adopted 26 new or revised Codex standards or related texts  (see Appendix I) ; 
(b) approved a number of new work proposals and proposals for discontinuation of work 
(see Appendix II) ; 
(c) agreed to establish new Codex Ad Hoc  Intergovernmental Task Forces on 
Antimicrobial Resistance and on the Handling and Processing of Quick Frozen 
Foods; and to split the Committee on Additiv es and Contaminants into the Committee 
on Food Additives and the Committee on Contaminants in Foods. 
2. The full report of the meeting is available at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net or at:  
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/ Alinorm06/al29_41e.pdf G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  3. The 28th Session of the Committee on Fish and Fishery Products  finalised several texts for 
adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and in  particular the amendment to the Standard for 
Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products allowi ng the inclusion of a new sardine type species 
(Clupea bentincki ), that had been under discussion for sever al sessions.  The Committee finalised the 
sections of the Code of Practice for Fish and Fish ery Products on Salted Fish and on Quick Frozen 
Coated Products, and achieved substantial progress on the sections on Lobsters, Crabs and Bivalve 
Molluscs, and on the Proposed Draft Standard fo r Live and Raw Molluscs.  The Committee also 
continued its work on the standards for sturgeon cav iar and for smoked fish.  The Committee agreed 
to develop new standards for fish sauce and for abal one, and to undertake the revision of the current 
Procedure for the Inclusion of Additional Species in Codex Standards. 
4. The 13
th Session of the Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  finalised the Draft 
Standard for Table Grapes for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  The Committee 
made substantial progress on the Proposed Draft Standard for Bitter Cassava, as well as the 
Guidelines for the Quality Control of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, and contin ued its work on the Draft 
Standard for Tomatoes. 
5. Further information on the meetings held in October 2006 will be provi ded orally during the 
TBT Committee. 
II. FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
• The 28th Session of the Codex Committee  on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary 
Uses (Chiang Mai, Thailand, 30 October-3 November 2006).  
• The 15th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and 
the Caribbean (Mar del Plata, Argentina, 13-17 November 2006).  
• The 15th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems (Mar del Plata, Argentina, 6-10 November 2006).  
• The 15th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (Seoul, 
Republic of Korea, 21-24 November 2006).  
• The 6th Session of the Codex Ad Hoc  Intergovernmental Task Force on Food Derived 
from Biotechnology (Chiba, Japan, 27 November–1 December 2006).  
• The 38th Session of the Codex Committee  on Food Hygiene (Houston, United States 
of America , 4-9 December 2006). 
• The 25th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (Vilnius, 
Lithuania, 15-18 January 2007).  
• The 17th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (Morocco,  
23-26 January 2007).  
• The 20th Session of the Codex Committee  on Fats and Oils (London,  
United Kingdom, (19-23 February 2007).  
• The 4th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Near East (Amman, 
Jordan, 26 February - 1 March 2007).  
• The 28th Session of the Codex Committee  on Methods of Analysis and Sampling 
(Budapest, Hungary, 5-9 March 2007).  
6. The 28th Session of the Codex Committee  on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary 
Uses  will consider the revision of the Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical 
Purposes Intended for Infants; the Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims: Draft Table of  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  Conditions for Nutrient Contents (Fibre); and th e Proposed Draft Recommendations on the Scientific 
Basis of Health Claims.  In addition, the revisi on of the Standard for Gluten-Free Foods and the 
Advisory List of Nutrient Compounds for Use in F oods for Special Dietary Us es Intended for the Use 
by Infants and Young Children will be discussed.  
7. The 15th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems  will consider the Proposed Draft Appendices to the Guidelines on the 
Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures As sociated with Food Inspection and Certification 
and the revised Proposed Draft Principles and Guidel ines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and 
the Production and Issuance of Certificates. 
8. The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees  to be held in the forthcoming months consider 
Codex matters of interest to the region, promote exchange of information within the region on food 
legislation and food control issues, define the problems and needs of the region concerning food 
standards and food control, and exercise a general coordinating role for the region in these areas. 
Specifically, they will also identify issues related to  the use or non-use of Codex standards and related 
texts at the national and regional le vels. In addition, the Coordinating Committees for Asia and for the 
Near East will consider proposed draft standards for commodities of interest to their respective 
regions. 
III. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
9. Belarus joined Codex in September 2006.  The membership of th e Commission currently 
comprises 174 countries and the European Community. 
IV. RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WHO 
10. The capacity building activities and other relevant  activities of FAO and WHO that may be of 
interest to the Committee are presented in Appendix III. G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  APPENDIX I 
LIST OF STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS ADOPTED BY THE  
TWENTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION  
Part 1 – Standards and related texts adopted at Step 8 as Final Texts 
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Standard for Instant Noodles (except Sections 4 and 9 – see 
Part 2 of this Appendix) Annex to CL 2006/15-CPL 
Revision of the Preamble of th e Codex General Standard for 
Food Additives ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix V 
Food additive provisions of the General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA) ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix VII & 
XI 
Maximum Level for Lead in Fish ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XXIV 
Maximum Levels for Cadmium in marine bivalve molluscs 
(excluding oysters and scallops), in cephalopods (without viscera) and in polished rice ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XXV 
Amendment to Section 2 “Description” of the General Standard 
for Cheese ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix II 
Standard for a Blend of Evaporated Skimmed Milk and 
Vegetable Fat ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix III 
Standard for a Blend of Skimmed Milk and Vegetable Fat in 
Powdered Form  ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix IV 
Standard for a Blend of Sweetened Condensed Skimmed Milk 
and Vegetable Fat  ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix V 
Revision of the Standard for Whey Cheeses ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix VIII 
Revision of the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for 
Infants and Young Children ALINORM 06/29/26, Appendix II 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides, including Dried Chili 
Pepper ALINORM 06/29/24, Appendix II 
Guidelines on Estimation of Uncertainty of Results  ALINORM 06/29/24, Appendix IV 
Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary  Drugs ALINORM 06/29/31, Appendix II 
Part 2 – Standards and related texts adopted at Step 5/8 (with omission of Steps 6 and 7)  
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Standard for Instant Noodles (Sections 4 and 9 – see Part 1 of 
this Appendix)  Annex to CL 2006/15-CPL 
Food additive provisions of the General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA) ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix VII & 
XI 
Amendments to the Internati onal Numbering System for Food 
Additives ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XVI  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  Standard and Related Text Reference 
Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives 
arising from the 65th JECFA meeting ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XVII 
Appendix to the Codex Code of Practice for the Prevention and 
Reduction of Aflatoxins Contamination in Tree Nuts – Additional Measures for the Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxins Contamination in Brazil nuts (N08-2005) ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XX 
Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Dioxin 
and Dioxin-like PCB Contamination in Food and Feeds ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XXVI 
Revision of the Guideline Levels for Radionuclides in Foods 
Contaminated Following a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency for Use in International Trade ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XXXI 
Principles and Guidelines for Imported Food Inspection Based 
on Risk ALINORM 06/29/30, Appendix II 
Principles for Traceability/Product Tracing  as a Tool within a 
Food Inspection and Certification System  ALINORM 06/29/30, Appendix III 
Standard for Dairy Fat Spreads  ALINORM 06/29/11, Appendix XXIII 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 06/29/24, Appendix III 
Part 3 – Standards and related texts adopted at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure  
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Amendment to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling: 
Definition of Trans Fatty Acids ALINORM 06/29/22, Appendix V 
Part 4 – Other Standards and related texts submitted for adoption 
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Labelling provisions related to processing aids for inclusion in 
the Codex General Standard for Fruit Juices and Nectars ALINORM 06/29/22, paras 4-5 
Methods of analysis and sampling for inclusion in Codex 
standards and/or in CODEX STAN 234-1999 ALINORM 06/29/23, Appendix II 
Codex General Standard for Contam inants and Toxins in Foods, 
including Schedule I  ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix XVIII 
Amendment of the Annex to Table 3 of the GSFA  ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix VIII 
Revision of the Descriptor of Food Category 13.6 “Food 
supplements” of the GSFA  ALINORM 06/29/12, Appendix 
XXXIII 
Amendment to the Standard for Whey Powders, inclusion of provision for benzoyl peroxide ALINORM 06/29/11, para. 21 
Amendment to the Food Hygiene Section in certain Standards 
for Milk and Milk Products ALINORM 06/29/9C, paras 16-17 and 
Annex I, CODEX STAN A-6 1978 (Codex General Standard for Cheese) G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  Standard and Related Text Reference 
Amendment to the reference in the Guidelines for the 
Assessment of the Competence of  Testing Laboratories involved 
in the Import and Export Control of Foods (CAC/GL 27-1991) ALINORM 06/29/23, paras 98-102  
  
  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  APPENDIX II 
LIST OF STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS APPROVED AS NEW WORK BY THE 
TWENTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
Responsible 
Committee Standard and Related Texts  
TFFBT Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods 
derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals  
TFFBT Proposed Draft Annex to the Codex Guid eline for the Conduct of Food Safety 
Assessment of Foods Derived from Re combinant-DNA Plants (CAC/GL 45-2003) 
regarding food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants 
modified for nutritional or health benefits 
CCFA Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings 
CCCF Revision of the Preamble of the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and 
Toxins in Foods 
CCCF Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin A Contamination 
in Wine 
CCCF Code of Practice for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Food 
CCCF Code of Practice for the Reduction of Contamination of Food with PAH from 
Smoking and Direct Drying Processes 
CCMMP Amendment to the List of Additives of the Code Standard for Creams and Prepared 
Creams  
CCPR Priority List of Pesticides (New Pe sticides and Pesticides under Periodic Review) 
CCPR Extension of the Work on the Revision of the Codex Classification of Foods and 
Animal Feeds 
CCRVDF Priority List of Veterinary Dr ugs Requiring Evaluati on of Re-evaluation 
CCFL Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guide lines for Organically Produced Foods 
(Ethylene) 
CCFL Definition of advertising as rela ted to Health and Nutrition Claims 
CCMAS Revision of Principles for the Establishment or Selection of Codex Sampling 
Procedures  in the Procedural Manual 
CCMAS Review of Analytical Terminology for Codex Use  approved as new work by the 26th 
Session of the Commission to be transferred from the Procedural Manual to a Proposed Draft Guideline on Analytical Terminology 
 G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  APPENDIX III 
 
FAO/WHO
 CAPACITY  BUILDING  ACTIVITIES  AND  RELEVANT  ACTIVITIES  
COVERING  THE   PERIOD  JULY  2005  – JUNE  2006 
This document is based on the information provided by FAO and WHO to the 29th Session of the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission.  A substantial pa rt of the capacity building activities of FAO and 
WHO are related to food safety but are not include d in the present document.  Only activities and 
information that can be relevant in the framewo rk of the TBT Committee were retained, including 
technical cooperation activities addressing both food safety and quality. 
Funding Mechanisms 
FAO and WHO have established a Trus t Fund for Participation in Codex  to increase the participation 
of developing countries and countries in transitio n in the vital work of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission.  The fund provides financial suppor t to increase their capacity to implement those 
standards in their own country.  The seventh progress report on the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund 
covers activities for the first part of 2006 and fo llows on from the information contained in the 2005 
Annual Report.  For the period January to Decemb er 2006 it is expected that 132 delegates from 93 
countries will be supported to attend 16 Codex m eetings and working gr oups.  The breakdown of 
participants is expected to be: 57% from lowe r income countries; 26% from lower middle income 
countries; and 17% from upper middle income countri es.  Following the success of the December 
2005 Codex Training Course initiated by the Codex Tr ust Fund, further expenditures on training and 
the wider dissemination of the Codex Training Package is envisaged in 2006.  
Technical Assistance and Supporting Material for Capacity Building 
FAO and WHO are engaged in a programme of techni cal assistance activities and projects at national, 
regional and international levels.  The areas covered include training of food control officials and 
technical staff (food control managers, food inspector s, food analysts), provision of fellowships for 
future food regulators, enhancement of food cont rol laboratory capabilities, implementation of risk 
analysis, risk assessment of microbiological hazards  in food, support in establishing national Codex 
committees, policy advice and establishment of regulatory frameworks.  
FAO is presently conducting a programme for improving the quality and safety of fresh fruits and 
vegetables, which focuses on the application of good practices (GAP, GMP, and GHP) to prevent hazards at appropriate points in the fresh fruits an d vegetable chain.  Subregional workshops have 
been held in Latin America and the Caribbean, Afri ca, Asia and the Near East (Egypt and Morocco) 
and are planned for other parts of the world.  FAO has prepared a Training Package (available in  CD-
ROM and printed formatand an on-line database is also available.  See also www.fao.org/ag/agn/index_en.stm. 
In May 2006, FAO completed implementation of a global project to address the problem of 
mycotoxin contamination of coffee and protect the he alth of coffee consumers.  Initiated in 2000, the 
project, “Improvement of coffee quality through the prevention of mould formation”, was formulated 
in collaboration with the International Coffee Orga nization (ICO) and the European coffee industry, 
and was executed by FAO in Brazil, Colombia, Côte  d’Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya and Uganda.  
Financing was provided by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), with co-financing from the 
Government of the Netherlands and the Institute fo r Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC).  For 
more information on the project, training resources and guidelines on the prevention of mould 
formation in coffee, visit www.coffee-ota.org. 
FAO and WHO have recently been engaged in th e development of a number of manuals, guidelines 
and training materials that should facilitate the cap acity building effort.  Most of these materials are 
developed jointly except for a few which are prepared  under specific field projects operated either by 
FAO or WHO.  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  In addition to specific guidance in the area of f ood safety, that is not considered in the present 
document, these manuals include: 
• The FAO tool “Strengthening the capacity of national food control systems: Guidelines to 
assess capacity building need s” was pilot tested under the framework of AGNS and STDF projects in 
Benin, Cameroon and Myanmar, and positive fee dback received.  The Guidelines have been 
published in hard copy and on CD-ROM , and posted on the AGNS web site.   
• Enhancing Participation in Codex Activities - An FAO/WHO Training Pack designed to 
strengthen national food safety and quality system s through enhanced par ticipation in the Codex 
process. It should serve as reference document for those involved in national Codex activities and as a 
training tool on Codex.  A CD-ROM containing the vi sual aids and relevant reference documents will 
be included in the manual.  It is  available in several languages at: 
www.fao.org/ag/AGN/food/capacity_codex_en.stm.  An electronic web-based training course is 
under active preparation based on this Training Pack. 
Guidelines for Good Agricultural Practices 
FAO is developing an approach to support the im plementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 
along the food-chain. GAP work focuses on informati on, technical assistance and capacity building to 
help developing countries cope w ith changing and globalizing food systems and the proliferation of 
requirements on GAP from the food industry and others, while not compromising their sustainable 
development objectives.  Local level GAPs defined by concerned stakeholde rs would support farmers 
and governments to adopt agricultu ral practices that help them comply with international regulatory 
frameworks such as the IPPC, Codex Alimentarius and OIE, as well as implement GAP that generate environmental, economic and social sustainabilit y in different local settings.  Upon request by 
members, FAO is undertaking technical assistance and capacity building activities on GAP for crops, 
fruit and vegetables, meat, milk or feed in diffe rent countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. 
Joint activities in the Fisheries area  
In addition to its activities to provide scientific  advice, FAO/FII is carrying out the following 
activities in the area of capacity building: 
• Training in developing countries on the application of HACCP, risk assessment and 
traceability in fisheries;  
• Building national fish control capacity in devel oping countries, especially the least developed 
countries. 
Global projects 
The Government of Norway has recently signe d a Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with 
FAO, with the overall objective of supporting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 
developing countries through the work of FAO, for the period 2005-2006.  One of the principal 
objectives of this project is “Improved Food Safety  and Quality at National Level and along the Food 
Chain”.  Activities are planned to take place during the second of half of 2006 in Kenya, Uganda, 
Tanzania, Cambodia, Laos, Nicaragua and Burkin a Faso.  Outcomes to be reached include: 
acceptance and use of Good Agricultural Practice (G AP); capacity building and awareness raising for 
integrated natural resource governance and manage ment (SARED), support to food quality and safety 
and Codex related work and guide lines, advice and instruments related to small-scale/artisanal 
fisheries implemented/developed. 
Regional and National Projects and Training Activities by Region 
Under its Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP ), FAO has implemented numerous projects on 
critical aspects of food control in many countries.  FAO/TCP is designed to assist Member Nations in 
solving their most pressing development needs.  In the field of food safety these include: 
strengthening of national food control systems, e nhancing laboratory facilities and analysis capacities G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  and improving the ability of member countries to comply with new trade regulations.  TCP projects 
are generally of one to two year duration, with  the possibility for a second phase of funding if 
warranted.  Projects have also been implemented from other funding sources as indicated.  
 
Africa
 
An FAO/AGNS project was approved in May 2004 to  support the implementation of a strategy to 
control and monitor the quality and safety of food  products in the Democratic Republic of Congo .  
The project is scheduled to continue until April 2006.   
An FAO/AGNS project to Support the Informal Food Sector in Guinea  began in June 2003 and was 
completed in July 2005.  The objective of the assist ance was to help the Government to define the 
strategies necessary to improve the quality of food prepared and sold on the street.  The project 
carried out surveys and pre-test feasible actions to  improve the safety and quality of food sold on the 
street.  Consumers received information on associati ons and other institutions working to protect the 
safety and quality of food . 
During 2006 FAO/AGNS provided direct assist ance to the Government of Mozambique  in the 
establishment of a national Codex committee. FAO/AGNS is also be assisting in the organization of a 
stakeholders consultation and workshop. 
FAO/AGNS will be providing direct assistance to the Government of Djibouti during the second half 
of 2006 in the organization of a national Codex committee. 
A request to FAO (AGNS) has been receive d from the Government of Cote d’Ivoire  to formulate a 
project to strengthen the food control system.  This project is in the formulation stage.   
The Government of Senegal  has requested assistance from FAO/AGNS in strengthening and 
supporting Quality Assurance Systems in Food Safety Laboratories.  The request is currently in the 
approval process.   
Funding is currently being sought for a subregi onal programme proposal developed by FAO/AGNS to 
facilitate trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states  through 
food standards and food safety management.   
Following a request from the Tanzania Bureau of  Standards (TBS) to AGNS, a TCP project for 
strengthening the capacity for improving the safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables produced 
in Tanzania is currently under formulation.  
Asia  
 An FAO/AGNS TCP project for Mongolia 
to Strengthen Food Import Control commenced in 
November 2002 with Phase 2 of the project starting in  August 2005.  The objectives of the project are 
to establish and strengthen the national system of cont rol of food import quality and safety.    It also 
raised awareness of national authorities of the work of Codex internationally,  the relevance of this 
work nationally and the importance of full stakeholde r participation in food control matters.  During 
Phase 2 of the project a food inspection guidance document is under preparation and training for food 
analysts is being undertaken.  
An FAO/AGNS TCP project on strengthening SP S compliance for fresh fruits and vegetables 
commenced in Thailand  in December 2003.  The project was requested by the Government of 
Thailand given the great potential in Thailand for exporting fresh and processed fruits and vegetables 
and includes prevention and control of microbi ological hazards in these products, technical 
capabilities of food producers, training on food safety and quality assurance systems for producers, 
processors and government officers responsible for th e implementation of these systems.  In addition, 
the overall export inspection and certification system  of fruits and vegetables will be improved.  A 
second phase of the project is being processed to finalize project activities.  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  During 2006 FAO/AGNS provided direct assist ance to the Government of the Philippines  in the 
establishment of a national Codex committee. 
The Government of Myanmar  has requested assistance from FAO/ AGNS in assessing the exact needs 
of the country in the area of food safety and qualit y in order to improve the national food control 
system in a comprehensive manner. The Government of Myanmar  has also requested the support of 
FAO/AGS to formulate an “Oil  Crops Development Project", within the framework of the 
Government’s cooperation a rrangements with the OPEC Fund for International Development.  This 
project formulation phase has been finalized and its  implementation commenced in the second half of 
2005. 
The Government of Pakistan  has also requested assistance from FAO (AGNS) in the area of 
improving the safety and quality of fresh fruits and ve getables.  The request is in the formulation 
phase. 
The Government of Sri Lanka  has requested assistance from FAO (AGNS) in the area of training in 
food safety and quality and certification.  The request is in the formulation phase. 
Europe  
FAO/WHO-EURO held a three-day regional training  course on Codex in Vilnius, Lithuania in 
October 2005. The objectives of this training course  were to enhance the capacity of countries from 
the region to participate actively in Codex activities in general, and to incr ease their participation in 
the activities of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Comm ittee for Europe (CCEURO).  This training 
course served as preparation for the next (25th) Session of the CCEURO, to be held in January 2007 in 
Lithuania. The workshop was attended by 25 participants from 16 countries 
An FAO/AGNS TCP project to improve food safety in  Food Quality and Safety System of Armenia  
and Georgia  is ongling. The main objectives of the project  are to strengthen the priority components 
of the system for strategic planning and coordinati on of food control activities,  harmonization of food 
standards, inspection programmes and laborator y networks, and quality assurance programmes in 
agro-processing sectors.  
An FAO/AGNS TCP project to provide assistance in improving a laboratory of safety and quality of 
food and agricultural products in the Ukraine  is scheduled to be completed in September 2006.  The 
project aims to a) provide on-site technical advi ce in planning and organizing the new Ukrainian 
Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Food and Agricultural Products; b) provide assistance in 
preparation for accreditation of this laboratory according to ISO 17025; c) build capacities of laboratory technical staff in specific advanced an alytical techniques; and d) create awareness and 
develop effective dialogue about food safet y related issues among all stakeholders. 
A bilateral project between Albania
 and Italy, with FAO (AGNS) as the implementing agency, is 
currently in the final stages of approval.  The pr oject seeks to strengthen the Albanian national food 
control system, in particular the laboratories.   
The Government of Croatia  has requested FAO (AGNS) assistance in strengthening Codex activities 
in that country.  The project is in the initial formulation phase.   
A regional training course "Enhancing participa tion in Codex" was held in Tajikistan  in July 2006, in 
collaboration with Tajikstandart, with par ticipants attending from Kazakstan, Kyrgzstan, 
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.  
Latin America and the Caribbean  
FAO and the Secretaría de Agricultura, Gana dería, Pesca y Alimentos of Argentina, as the 
Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbe an, organized a seminar on traceability for the 
countries of Latin America and the Spanish-speakin g Caribbean from 21 to 23 March 2006 in Buenos 
Aires, Argentina.  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  A regional workshop on “Enhancin g participation in Codex” was held in December 2005 using the 
FAO/WHO package mentioned above  and a Sub-re gional Training Course was held in Antigua and 
Barbuda in June 2006.  The objective of this cour se was to strengthen national Codex activities in the 
region and to enhance participation in the sta ndard setting work of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission.   
For all these meetings, further informati on may be obtained from the FAO website: 
www.fao.org/ag/AGN/food/mee tings_workshops2006_en_stm. 
Regional Projects 
Two FAO sub-regional projects to strengthen the analytical activities, laboratory quality assurance 
and capacity building of the Inter-american Network of Food Analytical Laboratories 
(INFAL/RILAA) are ongoing. The main objective of these projects is to assure that the laboratories 
provide reliable analytical results for the national fo od control system, as well as for the certification 
of food imports and exports.  A total of nineteen  countries from the Latin American and Caribbean 
Region are benefiting from the implementation of these projects.  The project is implemented by the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and AGNS. 
A subregional project to strengthen the analytical  activities, quality assurance and capacity building in 
the English-speaking countries in the Caribb ean is currently in the approval stage. 
Field Projects 
 
An FAO TCP project to provide technical a ssistance to the nutme g industry in Grenada
 was approved 
in March 2004 and was scheduled for completion in  April 2006. Activities under the project suffered 
delays due to the widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.  A phase 2 has 
therefore been requested to allow completion of the project activities.  The objective of the project is 
to enhance farmer returns from the production of  nutmeg and mace, through improving the overall 
quality of these products and their oil extractiv es for international trade and minimizing the 
environmental contamination due to nutmeg proces sing by-products. The imme diate objectives are to: 
a) upgrade harvesting, post-harvest handling, treatment, processing of nutmegs and mace; b) 
strengthen the capacity to support a quality assuranc e programme for the nutmeg and mace industry; 
and c) build capacity in by-product processing.   
FAO/SLAC has been assisting in the Establishm ent of a National Codex Committee in Jamaica  and 
will assist the Jamaica Bureau of Standards in pr eparing its Plan of Action for the Codex National 
Committee.  
An FAO project to strengthen the food control system of Suriname  continued through early January 
2006.  The main objective of the project is to strengthen the National Food Control System through providing training, upgrading laboratory facilities and supporting the functioning of the National 
Codex Committee and its Working Groups.  The proj ect is being implemented by AGNS and the FAO 
subregional office for the Caribbean.   
An FAO/subregional project on “Improving the food saf ety of street foods through establishing a food 
inspection system based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in Barbados
 and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries” commenced in 
September 2005.   
Based on the results of several studies to identify the main safety and quality issues in the production 
and marketing chains for a range of  fruits, vegetables, spices and o il crops in Latin America and the 
Caribbean countries, a Regional Workshop was organized by FAO/AGS and the FAO Regional 
Office.  This late 2005 workshop was aimed at aw areness creation and identifying the issues to be 
addressed, as well as the planning and initiation of specific programmes.  
A regional project for capacity building in  Latin American consumer organizations  is being prepared 
by FAO and Consumers Internationa l Latin American Regional Office.  G/TBT/GEN/41 
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  FAO/AGS is currently formulating a project in Uruguay  on strengthening the agri-food chains 
suppliers to national food and nutr ition programs, with emphasis on those directed to primary schools.  
One of the objectives of the project is to improve th e quality and safety of foods delivered to schools, 
including nutritional quality, as well as those properties of benefit to children’s health.  
Near East  
WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean area provided assistance to Member States by facilitating national 
training activities covering areas such as:   
• increase capacity for food safety awareness campaigns;  
• safe food production techniques using HACCP;  
• draft comprehensive harmonized food legislations;  
• strengthening surveillance system of foodborne disease outbreaks;  
• inter-laboratory seminars on analytical quality;  
• national strategy on control of high risk products; 
• food quality management system using ISO sy stem and consumer food safety information 
centres.   
In the Eastern Mediterranean area WHO assist ed Member States in activities such as:  
• assessment of the food safety legisla tions, standards, and responsibilities;  
• detection of radiation contamin ation of food and setting nationa l standards for radiation;  
• establishment of food quality management syst em and training food inspectors on risk 
assessment, food microbiology laboratory improvement.  
 
In 2005-6 FAO/AGNS provided support to Algeria a nd Yemen (in the framework of a TCP Project)
, 
Lebanon  and the United Arab Emirates  in the organization of their national Codex committees.  
Support was also provided to Qatar and UAE in the review of its food control system and the 
formulation of a series of recommendations towards a restructuring of the systems for more efficiency 
and to reflect modern approaches to food safety management.   
FAO, in collaboration with the Libyan Standard s and Specification Centre, held a workshop for 
regulators and senior technical staff working in the areas of food safety and standards.  The workshop took place in Tripoli, Libya, from 12-13 February 2006.   
The Government of Morocco
 has requested assistance from FAO (ESNS) in the area of consumer 
affairs and food safety. The project has just been  approved and will start operation shortly.    
An FAO (AGST/AGNS) project on the Development of Food Industries Division at the National 
Agricultural Research Centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  has been formulated and is currently 
under consideration for fund ing under UTF arrangement.  
South Pacific  
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat approved a Regional Trade Facilitation Project to Strengthen 
the Capacity of the Pacific Forum Island Countries (FICs) to Establish and Enforce Harmonized Food 
Legislation and Standards to Promote Trade, to be implemented by the University of the South 
Pacific, FAO and WHO.  The project aims to stre ngthen the capacity of FICs to establish and enforce 
internationally recognized food laws, standard s and inspection procedures to promote unhindered 
trade in safe and wholesome food.  Project activities commenced in September 2005.   
An FAO Regional Programme for Food Security in the countries of the Pacific  plans to undertake the 
following activities related to food quality and safet y: (1) Needs Assessment and Situation Analysis 
(NASA) studies on Trade Facilitation and Agriculture  Policies focusing on the following (a) Food 
Safety and Standards; (b) Bio-Security and Qu arantine; (c) Commodity Studies; (2) A regional 
workshop to present and endorse findings of the NASA Studies.  In addition, the workshop will G/TBT/GEN/41 
Page 14  
 
  further prioritize, discuss and endorse an implementation plan for the implementation of findings 
clearly distinguishing their regional and national significance; (3) Training Program on Food Standards and Food Safety/Bio-Security and Quar antine; and (4) Training Programme on Commodity 
Study.  
The Government of Malaysia has requested F AO assistance to facilitate a Regional Training 
Programme on Strengthening National Capacities on Ri sk Assessment and Tr aceability in the S eafood 
Trade for the South West Pacific Region
.  The request is being addressed  by the FAO Fish Utilization 
and Marketing Service, in collaboration with AGNS  and is currently in the formulation stage. 
 
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