WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/60 
15 November 2007 
 (07-4987) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION  
  
 
 The following information was provided by the Codex
 at the TBT Committee meeting of 
9 November 2007 under Agenda It em 5 (Updating by Observers). 
 
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I. CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE TBT COMMITTEE 
(JULY 2007) 
• The 30th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome, Italy, 2-7 July 2007);  
• The 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods 
(Breckenridge, Colorado, United States of America, 3-7 September 2007);  
• The 7th Session of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Food Derived from 
Biotechnology (Chiba, Japan, 24-28 September 2007);  
• The 1st Session of the Ad Hoc  Intergovernmental Task  Force on Antimicrobial 
Resistance (Seoul, Republic of Korea, 23-26 October 2007);  
• The 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (New Delhi, India,  
30 October-4 November 2007).  
In particular, the TBT Committee may wish to draw its attention to the following: 
1. The Thirtieth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission:1 
• Adopted 44 new or revised Codex standards or related texts (see Appendix I ); 
• Approved a number of new work proposals (see Appendix II ); 
• Adopted the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 of the Codex Alimentarius Commission;  
• Noted with satisfaction the progress made in implementing the proposals based on the 
recommendations from the Codex Evaluation (2002); agreed to some principles to 
streamline the Codex committee structure and session planning; and 
• Supported continued cooperation and coordina tion with international governmental and 
non-governmental organizations. 
                                                      
 1 The full report of the meeting is available at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net or at 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Alinorm07/al30REPe.pdf. 
 G/TBT/GEN/60 
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2. The Seventh Session of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Food Derived from 
Biotechnology agreed to forward three proposed drafts: th e Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct 
of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived fro m Recombinant-DNA Animals;  the Proposed Draft 
Annex: Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derive d from Recombinant-DNA Plants Modified for 
Nutritional or Health Benefits;  and the Proposed Dr aft Annex: Food Safety Assessment in Situations 
of Low-level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food, to the 31
st Session of the 
Commission for final adoption. 
3. The First Session of the  Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance 
agreed on items of new work to be undertaken by th e Task Force, in the light of the results of the 
work done and scientific advice provided by FAO, WHO and OIE on antimicrobial resistance. 
II. FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS  
• The 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary 
Uses (Bad Neuenahr, Germany, 12-16 November 2007);  
• The 16th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification System (Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia, 26-30 November 2007);  
• The 60th Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Rome, Italy, 4-7 December 2007);  
• The 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Queenstown, New 
Zealand, 4-8 February 2008);  
• The 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (Lugano, 
Switzerland, 11-15 February 2008);  
• The 29th Session of the Codex Committee  on Fish and Fishery Products (Trondheim, 
Norway, 18-23 February 2008);  
• The 1st Session of the Ad Hoc  Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and 
Handling of Quick Frozen Foods (Thailand, 25-29 February 2008).  
 
4. The Twenty-ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special 
Dietary Uses will pursue its ongoing work on nutrition claims  (conditions for nutrient contents), the 
revision of the Standard for Gluten-Free Foods, the sci entific basis of health claims and the update of 
other nutrition standards and related texts.  
5. The Sixteenth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection 
and Certification System  will consider five discussion papers: the Need for the Revision of the 
Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification and the Guidelines for the Design; 
Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification 
Systems; the Need for Guidance for National Food Inspection Systems; the Development of 
Guidelines for the Conduct of Foreign Audit Team In spections; and the Need for further Guidance on 
Traceability/Product Tracing and the Development of a Generic Template for Health Certificates. The 
Committee will also discuss a working document on the consistency of the draft Model Export 
Certificate for Milk and Milk Products with the Codex Guidelines for Generi c Official Certificate 
Formats and the Production and Issuance of Certificates.  
6. The Sixtieth Session of the  Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission  
will consider a set of draft procedures and criteri a for streamlining the Commission’s work on the  G/TBT/GEN/60 
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  development of regional and world wide standards,  and continue discussion on the review of Codex 
committee structure and mandates of Codex committees and task forces. With regard to the Critical 
Review, the Executive Committee will focus on mon itoring progress of standards development.  
7. The Twenty-ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products will 
consider the remaining sections to be finalised in Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products and 
the Proposed Draft Code of Practice  on the Processing of Scallop Meat . In addition, the Committee will 
discuss several draft standards such as standards fo r live and raw bivalve molluscs, for sturgeon caviar, 
for quick frozen scallop adductor muscle meat, for sm oked fish, for fish sauc e and for fresh/live and 
frozen abalone (Haliotis  spp.) and the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen 
Fish Sticks. 
8. The First Session of the Ad Hoc  Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and 
Handling of Quick Frozen Foods will consider the Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Handling 
and Processing of Quick Frozen Food, in terms of both quality and safety provisions.  
 
 
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  Appendix I
  
LIST  OF STANDARDS  AND  RELATED  TEXTS  ADOPTED  BY THE  THIRTIETH  SESSION  
OF THE  CODEX  ALIMENTARIUS  COMMISSION 
 
Part 1 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 8 
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Maximum Levels for Tin in Canned Foods (other than beverages) 
and in Canned Beverages  ALINORM 07/30/41 Appendix IX 
Food Additive Provisions of the General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA)  ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev. Appendix 
VII 
Standard for Table Grapes ALINORM 07/30/35 Appendices IV 
and V 
Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs and Egg Products ALINORM 07/30/13 Appendix II 
Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food 
Hygiene to the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-
Eat Foods ALINORM 07/30/13 Appendix III 
Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological 
Risk Management ALINORM 07/30/13 Appendix IV 
Amendment to the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, 
Labelling and Marketing of Orga nically Produced Foods: Annex 
2 – Permitted Substances: Table 3  ALINORM 07/30/22 Appendix II 
Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads  ALINORM 07/30/17 Appendix II 
Regional Standard for Canned Humus with  Tehena ALINORM 07/30/40 Appendix II 
Regional Standard for Canned Foul Medames ALINORM 07/30/40 Appendix III 
Regional Standard for Tehena ALINORM 07/30/40 Appendix IV 
Revised Standard for Infant Formula and Formula for Special 
Medical Purposes Intended for Infants  ALINORM 07/30/26 Appendix II 
Standard for Pickled Fruits and Ve getables ALINORM 07/30/27 Appendix II 
Standard for Processed Tomato Concentrates ALINORM 07/30/27 Appendix III 
Standard for Preserved Tomatoes ALINORM 07/30/27 Appendix IV 
Standard for Certain Canned Citrus Fruits ALINORM 07/30/27 Appendix V 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 07/30/24 Appendix II 
Revised Standard for Cheddar ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix VI 
Revised Standard for Danbo ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix VII 
Revised Standard for Edam ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix IX 
Revised Standard for Gouda ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix X 
Revised Standard for Havarti ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XI  G/TBT/GEN/60 
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  Standard and Related Text Reference 
Revised Standard for Samso ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XII 
Revised Standard for Emmental ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XIII 
Revised Standard for Tilsiter ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XIV 
Revised Standard for Saint-Paulin ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XV 
Revised Standard for Provolone ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XVI 
Revised Standard for Cottage Cheese ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XVII 
Revised Standard for Coulommiers  ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XVIII 
Revised Standard for Cream Cheese ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XIX 
Revised Standard for Camembert ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XX 
Revised Standard for Brie ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XXI 
Standard for Mozzarella ALINORM 06/29/11 Appendix XXII 
 
   Part 2 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 5/8 (with omission of Step 6 and 7) 
Standards and Related Text Reference 
Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin 
A Contamination in Wine ALINORM 07/30/41 Appendix VIII 
Food Additive provisions of the General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA)  ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev. Appendix 
VII 
Amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives  ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev.  Appendix 
XIII 
Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives arising from the 65
th JECFA meeting ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev. Appendix 
XIV Part 1 
Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products (Quick Frozen Coated Products, Salted Fish and relevant Definitions) ALINORM 07/30/18 Appendix II 
Sections 2.1.2 - Maturity Requirements and 3.1 - Minimum 
Bunch Weight (Standard for Table Grapes) ALINORM 07/30/35 Appendix V 
Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic 
Official Certificates 
(Revision of the Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate 
Formats and the Design, Production, Issuance and Use of 
Certificates ) ALINORM 07/30/30 Appendix II 
Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Food Safety for 
Application by Governments ALINORM 07/30/33 Appendix VIII 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides  ALINORM 07/30/24 Appendix III 
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Part 3 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure  
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Amendment to the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-
Type Products ALINORM 07/30/18 Appendix III 
 
Part 4 – Other Standards and Related Texts Adopted  
Standard and Related Text Reference 
Methods of Analysis in Codex Standards at different steps ALINORM 07/30/23 Appendix III 
Amendments to Schedule I of the General Standard for 
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods ALINORM 07/30/41, para. 46 
Amendment to the Annex to Table 3 of the General Standard for 
Food Additives ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev., para. 71 
Amendment to the General Standard for Food Additives - 
Entries in Food Category 02.1.1 ALINORM 07/30/12 Rev., para. 167 
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  Appendix II 
LIST  OF DRAFT  STANDARDS  AND  RELATED  TEXTS  APPROVED  AS NEW  WORK  BY 
THE  THIRTIETH  SESSION  OF THE  CODEX  ALIMENTARIUS  COMMISSION 
 
Responsible 
Committee Standard and Related Texts 
CCFFP Revision of the Procedure for the Inclusion of Additional Species in Standards for Fish 
and Fishery Products 
CCFFP Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen Fi sh Sticks, Fish Portions and Fish Fillets 
– Breaded or in Batter (Nitrogen Factors) 
CCFFP Standard for Fish Sauce 
CCFFP Standard for Fresh/Live and Frozen Abalone ( Haliotis spp ) 
CCPFV Sampling Plan including Methodological Provisions for Controlling Minimum Drained 
Weight of Canned Fruits and Vegetables in Packing Media 
CCNFSDU Establishment and Application of Risk Analysis Principles by the Committee on 
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses 
CCASIA Regional Standard for Chili Sauce 
CCASIA Regional Standard for Edible Sago Flour 
TFFBT Annex to the Guideline for the Conduct of  Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived 
from Recombinant-DNA Plants on Low-leve l Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant 
Material 
CCFH Guidelines for Control of Campylobacter  and Salmonella  spp. in Chicken Meat 
CCFO Amendment to the Standard for Named Vege table Oils: Palm Kernel Olein and Palm 
Kernel Stearin 
CCCF Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduc tion of Aflatoxin Contamination in Dried 
Figs 
CCFA Revision of the Food Category System (FCS) of the Codex General Standard for Food 
Additives 
CCPR Priority List of Pesticides for Evaluation by JMPR (New Pesticides and Pesticides under 
Periodic Review)  
CCNMW Amendments to Section 3.2 "Health-Related Limits for Certain Substances" of the 
Standard for Natural Mineral Waters (CODEX STAN 108-1981)  
 
 
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