Final

REPORT OF THE TWELFTH MEETING OF

THE ASEAN TASK FORCE ON CODEX (ATFC)

10-12May 2012, Bangkok, Thailand

INTRODUCTION

1.The Twelfth Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Codex (ATFC) was held on 10-12 May 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand.

2.The Meeting was attended by delegates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.Representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat were also present. The representatives from FAO attended the Meeting to discuss project under agenda 10.2. The list of delegates appears as ANNEX 1.

OPENED SESSION

3.Mr. Sakchai Sriboonsue, Secretary-General, National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand extended a cordial welcome to the delegates of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN secretariat and all participants. In the Remarks, Mr. Sakchai highlighted the ASEAN efforts to address food safety. The enhancement of awareness and desire to improve food safety and agricultural trade as well as to enhance ASEAN competitiveness in food, agriculture and fisheries products have prompted Member States to work together in undertaking a number of cooperative programmes and activities on food safety. The ASEAN Task Force on Codex has been tasked by the AMAF to look into a mechanism to coordinate ASEAN's position on matters pertaining to the agenda items to be discussed at Codex Committees and Codex Alimentarius Commission meetings. It is important for AMS to keep abreast on the Codex developments because food standards, guidelines and recommendations established by Codex are recognized as reference points for food under the relevant WTO agreements. In the last of his Speech, he expressed sincere thanks to all member states for invaluable contributions and co-operation over the years and wished the success of the Meeting. The full Remarks appears as ANNEX2.

CLOSED SESSION

AGENDA ITEM 1: ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON

4. The Meeting unanimously electedMs. Metanee Sukontarug, Advisor, National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,Thailandand Mr. Leslie Phua, Deputy Director, Laboratories Department, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore as Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersonof the 12th Meeting of the ATFC, respectively.

AGENDA ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

5.The Meeting considered and adopted the agenda which appears as ANNEX3.

AGENDA ITEM 3: BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

6.The Meeting was held in plenary.

AGENDA ITEM 4:PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK RELATED TO ASEAN COOPERATION IN FOOD SAFETY

4.1Matters Arising from the Special SOM-32nd AMAF , SOM-33rdAMAF, 33rdAMAF Meeting

7.The Meeting was informed on the outcomes of the Special SOM-32ndAMAF, SOM-33rdAMAF, 33rdAMAF Meeting, particularly on the matters related to food safety and Codex issues.The Meeting was further informed that a number of key issues in relation to food safety had been reported to SOM-AMAF and AMAF. The excerpt of the reports appears asANNEX4.

4.2 Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015)

8.The Meeting took note of the Information Paper on status and progress of implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015), which appears as ANNEX 5.

9.The ASEAN Secretariat updated the Meeting on the recent developments in ASEAN and the decisions made by the ASEAN Leaders during the ASEAN Summits, AEC Council, AEM, and SEOM on issues related to integration initiatives to support trade facilitation.

  • The 18th, 19th and 20th ASEAN Summits. The ASEAN leaders reiterated commitment to advance the ASEAN Community building process through concrete, practical and meaningful actions. The Leaders deemed the importance of the three Community Blueprints be integrated into national policies and programmes and the needs to strengthen synergy and coordination across three pillars of the ASEAN Community. The Leaders welcomed the development of a list of yearly targeted achievements of the implementation of the Community Blueprints, namely the ASEAN Community Building –Annual Targets 2012, as well as new initiatives and cooperation towards the ASEAN Community in 2015 which have been, and will be integrated into national policies and programmes.
  • The 20th ASEAN Summit adopted a number of documents, among others: i) Phnom Penh Agenda for ASEAN Community Building, and ii) Phnom Penh Declaration on ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny that also cover issues on food security.
  • Mid-term review of the AEC Blueprint. The review is being conducted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and expected to be completed by August 2012.

AGENDA ITEM 5: MATTERS ARISING FROM FOOD SAFETY RELATED

MEETINGS

5.1The 13th and 14th Meetings of the the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality/Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (PFPWG), 14-15 July 2011, Siem Reap, Cambodia and 18-19 January 2012, Bandar Seri Begawan

10.The Meeting was informed on the outcomes of the 13th and 14th Meetings of the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality/Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (PFPWG), 14-15 July 2011, Siem Reap, Cambodia and 18-19 January 2012, Bandar Seri Begawan, respectively. The Reports of the 13th and 14th Meetings of the PFPWG appear as ANNEXES 6 and 7.

11.The Meeting noted that the 13th Meeting of PFPWG agreed to the recommendation of 1st and 2nd Meetings of ASEAN Food Testing Laboratories Experts on the ASEAN Reference Laboratory:

a)that the “ASEAN Reference Laboratories (ARL)” established within the scope of food safety in ASEAN should be re-named as “ASEAN Food Reference Laboratories (AFRL)”.

b)that the establishment of AFRLs should be coordinated to ensure consistency and coordination of policies and strategies in ASEAN, noting that an ASEAN Fisheries Laboratory is in the process of being established under SOM-AMAF. In this regard, the PFPWG was requested to seek the support of the ACCSQ to coordinate these recommendations with the SOM-AMAF.

c)that the ASEAN Food Testing Laboratory Committee be established to monitor and coordinate the food testing activities in ASEAN.

12.The Meeting noted that the Interim Steering Committee of ASEAN Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (ARASFF) (ISCA) has agreed with the recommendation of the PFPWG that the decision on the reporting line of ISCA should be deferred until the completion of the study on the Development of a Regulatory Framework for Food Safety in ASEAN. However, the ISCA will proceed to submit its ToR to SOM-AMAF for endorsement by June 2012.

AGENDA ITEM 6: MATTERS ARISING FROM the 11th MEETING OF the ASEAN TASK FORCE ON CODEX, 14-16 June 2011, Tagay Tay City, Philippines

13.The Meeting took note thatthe 11thMeeting of ATFC discusseda total of 58 Codex issues related to trade in commodities and agriculture that had been discussed for joint ASEAN position, comprising of 42 issues carried over from last year’s ATFC Meeting, and 16 new proposals submitted by the ASEAN Member States. Consensus was reached on 46 proposals, while for the remaining 12 proposals, member states required more information or national consultation before making their decisions. The 11th Meeting of ATFC was informed on the status and development of activities of the various Codex Committees, presented by the appointed ASEAN Focal Points.

AGENDA ITEM 7:UPDATE OF ACTIVITIES BY THE APPOINTED ASEAN FOCAL POINTS FOR THE CODEX COMMITTEES

14.The Meeting took note of the highlights on thestatus and development of activities of the various Codex Committees and the ASEAN position, presented by the appointed ASEAN Focal Points.

7.1 Indonesia: (Method of Analysis and Sampling; Milk and Milk Products; Food Additives and Contaminants in Food)

15.The Meeting took note of Indonesia’s updates on the meeting on Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF),Codex Committee on Method Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) and Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) and the ASEAN position, which appears as ANNEX 8.

Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA)

16.The Meeting was informed that the 34th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (34thCAC) has adopted:

  • The amendments to the food additive provisions for antioxidants and preservatives of food category 04.1.2.2 “Dried fruits” of the General Standard of Food Additive (GSFA) and revised note 135 to read “Except for use in dried apricots at 2000 mg/kg, bleached raisins at 1500 mg/kg, desiccated coconut at 200 mg/kg and coconut from which oil has been partially extracted at 50 mg/kg”.
  • Revision of Section 4 “Carry-over of Food Additives” into food of the Preamble to the GSFA.
  • Amendment to “Explanatory notes on the lay-out of the INS” Section 1 of the Class Names and International Numbering System for Food Additives (CAC/GL 36-1989).

17.The 44th CCFA was held in Hangzhou, China, 12-16 March 2012. The important outcomes were:

  • CCFA forwarded draft revision of the Standard for Food Grade Salt (CODEX STAN 150-1985), for adoption at Step 8.
  • CCFA forwarded revision of the names and descriptors of food category 16.0 and 12.6.1 of the GSFA, for adoption.
  • CCFA agreed to request the 35th Session of the Commission to revoke information on the Use of Food Additives in Foods (CAC/MISC 1-1989).
  • CCFA agreed to continue testing the decision-tree approach for the alignment of food additives provisions in commodity standards and GSFA and prepare a proposal for the revision of food additive provisions of five standards for processed meat and relevant food categories of GSFA.

18.The Meeting was informed that CCFA had agreed to continue the work on the use of Steviol Glycosides.

19.The Meeting was also informed that the 34th CAC had adopted the draft standard for Edible Sago Palm Flour.

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)

20.The Meeting was informed that the 34thCAC has adopted the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Ethyl Carbamate Contamination in Stone Fruit Distillates.

21.The 6th CCCF was held in Maastricht, Netherlands from 26-30 March 2012. The main outcomes of the Session are:

  • CCCF agreed to forward the revised Definition of Contaminantto be adopted by 35th Session of CAC.
  • CCCF agreed to forward the revisedCode of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Food with Chemicals (CAC/RCP 49-2001) to be adopted by 35th Session of CAC.
  • CCCF agreed to submit to CAC, through Executive Committee, the proposals for new work on:
  1. Code of Practice for Weed Control to Prevent and Reduce Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Contamination in Food and Feed.
  2. Revision of the Maximum levels for lead in fruit juices, milk and secondary milk products, infant formula, canned fruits and vegetables, fruits and cereal grains (except buckwheat, caňihua and quinoa) in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed.
  3. Annex for Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Sorghum to the Code of Practice for Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin Contamination in Cereals (CAC/RCP 51-2003).
  4. Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin A contamination in Cocoa.
  5. Code of Practice to Reduce the Presence of Hydrocyanic Acid in Cassava.
  6. Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Hydrocyanic Acids in Cassava and Cassava Products.
  7. Proposed Draft Levels for Radionuclides in Food.

Update on Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Product (CCMMP)

22.The Meeting was informed that the 34th session of CAC agreed to suspend the decision on discontinuation of work on a standard on Processed Cheese until its next session and requested the Codex Secretariat to prepare a Circular Letter to explore the possibility of further work, in close consultation with the Chairperson of the CCMMP. The information gathered through this process would then be analysed and submitted to the Executive Committee and the Commission in 2012 for further discussion on the feasibility of new work in this area.

Codex Committee on Method Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)

23.The Meeting was informed that the 34th Session of CAC:

  • has adopted Revised Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty
  • has adopted Methods of Analysis in Codex Standards atdifferent steps
  • has approved Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing inInternational Food Trade, as new work
  • has approved Definitions and Criteria for Proprietary Methods in Codex Standards for Inclusion in the Procedural Manual, as new work

24.The 33rd CCMAS was held in Budapest, Hungary, from 5-9 March 2012. The important outcomes of the Session are:

  • CCMAS agreed to forward the Proposed Draft Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade (section on Principles) to the 35th Session of the Commission for adoption at Step 5.
  • CCMAS endorsed and updated the status of several methods of analysis and sampling in Codex Standards, including methods of analysis for food grade salt for adoption by the 35th Session of the Commission.
  • CCMAS agreed to return to Step 2/3 the Proposed Draft Principles for the Use of Sampling and Testing in International Food Trade (except for the section on Principles).

7.2Malaysia: (Fats and Oils; and General Principles)

25.The Meeting took note of Malaysia’s updates on the meeting on the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) and the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) and the ASEAN position which appears as ANNEX 9.

Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP)

26.The Meeting was informed that the 27thCCGP was held in Paris, France from 2-6 April 2012. Decisions of the meeting are as follows:-

Proposed amendments and draft for adoption by the 35thCCA (2-7 July 2012)

  • The Provisions on the Use of Proprietary Methods in Codex Standards developed by the CCMAS.
  • The revised Risk Analysis Principles and Procedures Applied by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene provided by the CCFH.
  • The separated Risk Analysis Principles applied by the CCFA and the CCCF.
  • The revised Definition of contaminants provided by the CCCF.

27.The Meeting noted the status of work undertaken by eWGs on i) Issues Surrounding Standards and Related Texts Held at Step 8, ii) Developing Mechanism and Template for Examining any Economic Impact Statements, and iii) draft amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Committee. The Meeting also noted that the 27th CCGP will consider at its next session the following new items:

  • Representation of Officers of the CAC in Codex sessions other than sessions of the CCEXEC and CAC
  • Reference to information documents
  • Cooperation between General Subject Committees and Commodity Committees

The Meeting was informed that there was no AMS opposed the decisions of the 27th CCGP.

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)

28.The Meeting was informed that the 34th CAC held on 4- 9 July 2011 concluded on issues pertaining to CCFO as follows:

  • Adopted the Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils: Inclusion of Palm Kernel Olein and Palm Kernel Stearin at Step 8.
  • Adopted the Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of Fats and Oils in Bulk: Draft Criteria to Access the Acceptability of Substances for Inclusion in a List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes at Step 8.
  • Adopted the Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of Fats and Oils in Bulk: Draft List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes at Step 8 and Proposed Draft List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes at Step 5/8 and directed the Committee on Fats and Oils to review the lists against the criteria adopted at the present session as a matter of priority, to identify the most critical substances for review by JECFA, taking into account the limitations of JECFA resources and the availability of data.
  • Agreed to discontinue work on the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils: Linolenic Acid.
  • Approved new work on a Codex Standard for Fish Oils.
  • Approved new work on Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils: Rice Bran Oil on the amendment to the levels of desmethylsterols and fatty acid composition.

The Meeting was informed that Indonesia and Philippines supported the adoption.

29.The Meeting noted that the 23rd CCFO will be held in Malaysia tentatively from 25 February to 1 March 2013. Malaysia would like to extend the invitation to ASEAN Member States to the meeting.

7.3Philippines: (Pesticide Residues; Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses; Processed Fruit and Vegetables, Sugar, and Meat Hygiene)

30.The Meeting took note of Philippines’ updates on the meeting of the Codex Committee Pesticide Residues (CCPR), Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses, and Processed Fruit and Vegetables, Sugar (CCS), Meat Hygiene (CCMH), and the ASEAN position which appears as ANNEX 10.

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residue (CCPR)

31.The Meeting was informed that the 44th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues was held on 23-28April, 2012 in Shanghai, China. It was informed that Philippines was unable to send a delegate to the 44th CCPR.

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)

32.The Meeting was informed that the 33rd CCNFSDU agreed:

Draft Standards and Related Texts for adoption

  • To advance draft Nutrient Reference Values for Nutrients Associated with Risk of Diet-Related Non-communicable Diseases for General Population (NRVs-NCD) to Step 5/8 for adoption by the Commission, subsequently for inclusion in the Guidelines on Nutrition Labeling.
  • To advance the draft Guidelines on Formulated Complementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children.to step 5.
  • To forward the editorial amendment of the references in food hygiene provisions in the Standard for Canned Baby Foods (CODEX STAN 73-1981) and the Standard for Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CODEX STAN 74-1981) for adoption by the Commission.

Other matters

  • agreed to return to Step 3 the Proposed Draft General Principles for Establishing Nutrient Reference Values for Nutrients Associated with Risk of Diet-Related Non-communicable Diseases for General Population (NRVs-NCD) for comment, redrafting and consideration at the next session.
  • To return to Step 3 the Proposed Draft Additional or Revised Nutrient Reference Values for Labelling Purposes in the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling.
  • to return to Step 3 for the followings:
  1. Proposed Draft Additional or Revised Nutrient Reference Values for Labelling Purposes in the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling
  2. Proposed Draft Revision of the Codex General Principles for the Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods (CAC/GL 9-1987)
  3. Proposed Draft Amendment of the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CODEX STAN 74-1981) to Include a New Part B for Underweight Children (para.129) for redrafting.
  • To consider the revision of the Standard for Follow-up Formula (CODEX STAN 156-1987) and the redrafted list of food additives at its next session.

Matters to be referred to other Codex Committees