34thSession Codex Alimentarius Commission

ICGMA Staff Report

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) met in Geneva, Switzerland, July 4-9, 2011 to take action on the year’s work of 27 Codex Committees. The session was chaired by USDA FSIS’ Karen Hulebak. The U.S. delegate was Deputy Undersecretary USDA Darci Vetter and the Alternate Delegate was Deputy Undersecretary USDA Brian Ronholm. GMA’s Peggy Rochette provided leadership for the ICGMA delegation.

New officers were elected who can serve for a term of three years. The new officers are as follows:

Chairperson: Mr. Sanjay Dave – India

Vice Chair:Mr. Samuel Godefroy – Canada

Vice Chair: Mrs. Awilo Pernet – Switzerland

Vice Chair:Mr. Samuel Dedeh – Ghana

New leadership for the Regional Coordinating Committees and members of the Executive Committee on a geographic basis were also appointed. The U.S. will no longer be Chair of Codex but will represent North America on the Executive Committee.

Controversial Issues.

Ractopamine. Like the past several years, the most controversial issue and the issue of top priority to the U.S. government related to establishment of maximum residue levels for the use of Ractopamine in Pork and Beef. In spite of four separate working group meetings (“The Friends of the Chair” meetings) focused specifically on this issue, no significant progress was made in reaching a consensus. At the 35th session, the U.S. called for a vote. Codex members voted against the vote so the issue of Ractopamine did not come to a vote and remained held at Step 8.

This issue significance to ICGMA members because Ractopamine had been evaluated twice by JECFA and found safe. JECFA is the WHO/FAO scientific expert body for Codex on vet drugs. The European member states, supported by China, prevailed in blocking advancement simply on a “consumer preference” position. This decision was felt by many delegates to undermine both JECFA and Codex as a science based organization. A working group has already initiated discussions on “Standards Held at Step” but it is anticipated that EU will seek to reopen discussions on “Other Legitimate Factors” at the General Principles meeting in April 2012.

Processed Cheese

In 2010, the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) was adjourned but the Commission refused to discontinue work on 3 processed cheese standards which had been before the committee for over a decade. The issue was referred to the regional coordinating committees to discuss the need for a processed cheese standard and the possibility of developing regional standards. Three regional committees recommended discontinuance; three regional committees indicated that a processed cheese standard was necessary and they would develop regional standards. In ICGMA’s view the possibility of three different regional standards would be the worst possible solution for a product that is traded globally. A decision on this was again deferred to next year; a request for comments will be sent from the secretariat in which countries will be asked to identify trade impediments caused by lack of a Codex standard and recommend how the scope of the standard could be narrowed in order to achieve consensus. If this work goes forward, New Zealand will take the leadership through an electronic working group.

MLs for Melamine.

The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) had advanced a Maximum Level for Melamine in Liquid Infant Formula at O.15mg/kg. The standard included a footnote that provided an exception for migration from packaging materials. Delegates were unwilling to accept this exception with no limits or parameters. The Commission adopted the standard at Step 5 but returned it to CCCF to address the specific footnote concern.

Food Additives. ICGMA noted the significant number of objections and reservations raised related to food additive provisions. Unlike previous Commission meetings where most provisions were adopted with minimal discussion, at the 34th CAC, reservations were expressed by many countries over several additives. Countries expressing reservations included: the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Korea and Egypt. All provisions were adopted with the exception of a carotenoids provision for fish glaze and a beta-carotenes provision for pasta colorant. (Specific details on food additives can be found in the CCFA meeting report on the Codex Website.)

Codex Texts Adopted.

The Commission adoptedsome significant texts and approved some interesting new work items.

Texts adopted of interest to ICGMA member companies:

(1)Recommendations related to the labeling of foods derived from biotechnology;

(2)Draft Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance;

(3)Food Additive Provisions to the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) except for those noted above;

(4)New Terms of Reference for the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables to include Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Nectars;

(5)Standard for canned mushrooms;

(6)Guideline for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella spp. in Chicken Meat;

(7)Annex to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling relevant to principles for establishing nutrient reference values of vitamins and minerals;

(8)Revised Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practice of Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters;

(9)Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of Edible Fats and Oils in Bulk and Criteria to Assess the Acceptability of Previous Cargoes including Lists of Previous Cargoes;

(10)Revision to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling relevant to the List of Nutrients that are always to be declared.

New Work Approved. The Commission also approved several new work projects – most are not likely to require significant engagement by ICGMA staff. GMA is, however, interested in new work by the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) on Principles for Sampling and Testing which may have trade implications. New work items include:

(1)Guidelines for Control of Specific Zoonotic Parasites in Meat;

(2) Code of Hygienic Practice on Melons;

(3)Maximum levels for Arsenic in Rice;

(4)Standard for Panela (a sugar product produced primarily in South America and Asia;

(5)Regional standard for Laver Products (an algae product produced primarily in Korea and China)

(6)Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade.

Egypt suggested that a task force be formed on food produced using nanotechnology. It was agreed that Egypt would need to better define the scope of work before such a project could be considered. No work was approved.

Other Issues. The Commission meeting also includes discussions on strategic planning, budget and finance, and reports from FAO and WHO on Capacity Building and Scientific Advice. The agenda also includes reports from relevant international organizations such as the WTO SPS Committee, ISO, OIE and others. All of which can be found on the Codex website.

Key Issues for 2011- 2012 for ICGMA.

Through 2012, ICGMA will continue a strong focus on food additives and work on nutrition labeling and nutrient reference values as it relates to the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The work on nutrient fortification is of keen interest. Also important is the Guidelines on National Food Control Systems within the Codex Committee on Food Import Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). The Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) is developing the guidance on microbiological criteria and the Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) has begun work on DON risk management and will finish up Melamine.

Priority Issues for 2012:

  • Codex Committee on Food Labelling:
  • Conditions for Nutrient Content Claims and Comparative Claims;
  • Mandatory Nutrition Labeling;
  • Codex Committee on Food Additives:
  • Expansion of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) including the use of additives within composite foods;
  • Deferral to national governments, specifically related to “Note 161” in the GFSA but also applicable to Codex generally;
  • Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
  • Conformity Assessment and Resolution of Disputes;
  • Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade;
  • Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
  • Revision of the Principles for Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods;
  • Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods:
  • Risk Management Options;
  • Maximum levels for DON;
  • Maximum levels for Fumonisins in corn products;
  • Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses:
  • Nutrient Reference Values associated with the risk on noncommunicable disease;
  • Codex General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods.

The next session of The Codex Alimentarius Commission will be held in Rome, 2-7 July, 2012.

More Information

The official report of the meeting should be available within a few weeks and can be found on the Codex Alimentarius website:

The report of the U.S. delegate is also made available at:

General ICGMA Staff Contact: Peggy Rochette (202) 639-5921 or . Staff members will continue to send reports on specific meetings and working groups as they progress throughout the year ahead.

July 18, 2011