[Federal Register: June 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 107)]
[Notices]
[Page 33444-33460]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04jn03-48]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 03-006N]
International Standard-Setting Activities
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade
Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act, Pub. L. 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. This notice also provides a list
of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity
standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This
notice, which covers the time periods from June 1, 2002, to May 31,
2003, and June 1, 2003, to May 31, 2004, seeks comments on standards
currently under consideration and recommendations for new standards.
ADDRESSES: Submit any written comments to: FSIS Docket Room, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room
102, Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Please state that your
comments refer to Codex and, if your comments relate to specific Codex
committees, please identify those committees in your comments and
submit a copy of your comments to the delegate from that particular
committee. All comments submitted will be available for public
inspection in the FSIS Docket Room between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Edward Scarbrough, Ph.D., United
States Manager for Codex, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the
Undersecretary for Food Safety, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building,
1400
[[Page 33445]]
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 205-7760.
For information pertaining to particular committees, the delegate of
that committee may be contacted. (A complete list of U.S. delegates and
alternate delegates can be found in Attachment 2 to this notice.)
Documents pertaining to Codex are accessible via the World Wide Web at
the following address: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.codexalimentarius.net. The U.S. Codex
Office also maintains a Web site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/Codex/index.htm
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1,
1995, as the common international institutional framework for the
conduct of trade relations among its members in matters related to the
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements. The WTO is the successor organization
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). U.S. membership
in the WTO was approved and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act was signed
into law by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay Round
Agreements became effective, with respect to the United States, on
January 1, 1995. Pursuant to section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of
1979, as amended, the President is required to designate an agency to
be responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of each international
standard-setting organization, Codex, International Office of
Epizootics, and the International Plant Protection Convention. The
President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995 (60 FR
15845), designated the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the agency
responsible for informing the public of sanitary and phytosanitary
standard-setting activities of each international standard-setting
organization. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to the
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the
responsibility to inform the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex. The FSIS Administrator has, in turn, assigned the
responsibility for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting
activities of Codex to the U.S. Codex Office, FSIS.
Codex was created in 1962 by two U.N. organizations, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Codex is the principal international organization for encouraging fair
international trade in food and protecting the health and economic
interests of consumers. Through adoption of food standards, codes of
practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees and by
promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks
to ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from
adulteration, and correctly labeled. In the United States, the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manage and carry out U.S.
Codex activities.
As the agency responsible for informing the public of the sanitary
and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of Codex, FSIS publishes
this notice in the Federal Register annually. Attachment 1 (Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets forth the following
information:
1. The sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration
or planned for consideration; and
2. For each sanitary or phytosanitary standard specified:
a. A description of the consideration or planned consideration
of the standard;
b. Whether the United States is participating or plans to
participate in the consideration of the standard;
c. The agenda for United States participation, if any; and
d. The agency responsible for representing the United States
with respect to the standard.
To obtain copies of those standards listed in Attachment 1 that are
under consideration by Codex, please contact the Codex delegate or the
U.S. Codex Office. This notice also solicits public comment on those
standards that are under consideration or planned for consideration and
recommendations for new standards. The delegate, in conjunction with
the responsible agency, will take the comments received into account in
participating in the consideration of the standards and in proposing
matters to be considered by Codex.
The United States' delegate will facilitate public participation in
the United States Government's activities relating to Codex
Alimentarius. The United States' delegate will maintain a list of
individuals, groups, and organizations that have expressed an interest
in the activities of the Codex committees and will disseminate
information regarding United States' delegation activities to
interested parties. This information will include the current status of
each agenda item; the United States Government's position or
preliminary position on the agenda items; and the time and place of
planning meetings and debriefing meetings following Codex committee
sessions. In addition, the U.S. Codex Office makes much of the same
information available through its web page, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/Codex.
Please visit the web page or notify the appropriate U.S.
delegate or the Office of U.S. Codex Alimentarius, Room 4861, South
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3700, if you would like to access or receive information about
specific committees.
The information provided in Attachment 1 describes the status of
Codex standard-setting activities by the Codex Committees for the time
periods from June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003, and June 1, 2003 to May 31,
2004. In addition, the following attachments are included:
Attachment 2; List of U.S. Codex Officials (includes U.S.
delegates and alternate delegates).
Attachment 3; Timetable of Codex Sessions (June 2002 through
June 2004)
Attachment 4; Definitions for the Purpose of Codex Alimentarius
Attachment 5; Part 1--Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Related Texts
Part 2--Uniform Accelerated Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Related Texts
Attachment 6; Nature of Codex Standards
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal
Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a
weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via Listserv, a
free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update is available
on line through the FSIS web page, located at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
The update is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies,
procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public
meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could affect
or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The
constituent Listserv consists of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be
included. Through the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
[[Page 33446]]
For more information, contact the Congressional and Public Affairs
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription
service (Listserv), go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the
Internet at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out
and submit the form.
Done at Washington, DC on: May 28, 2003.
F. Edward Scarbrough,
United States Manager for Codex.
Attachment 1: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex, Codex
Alimentarius Commission and Executive Committee
The Codex Alimentarius Commission will hold its Twenty-sixth
Session June 30-July 7, 2003, in Rome, Italy. At that time it will
consider the standards, codes of practice, and related matters brought
to its attention by the general subject committees, commodity
committees, ad hoc Task Forces and member delegations. It will also
consider options or strategies regarding the recent Joint FAO/WHO
Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and Other FAO and WHO Work on Food
Standards. At this Session, the Commission will elect a Chair, three
Vice Chairs, and Regional Members of the Executive Committee as well as
appoint Regional Coordinators.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Executive Committee will meet
at its Fifty-second Session on June 26-27, 2003. It is composed of the
chairperson, vice-chairpersons and seven members elected from the
Commission, one from each of the following geographic regions: Africa,
Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North
America, and South-West Pacific. It will consider matters arising from
reports of Codex Committees including review of standards at step 5,
requests for new work, and other items brought to its attention. It
will also hear a report on, and make recommendations concerning, the
Trust Fund for the Participation of Developing Countries and Countries
in Transition in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
determines priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary
drugs in foods and recommends Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for
veterinary drugs. A veterinary drug is defined as any substance applied
or administered to a food producing animal, such as meat or dairy
animals, poultry, fish or bees, for therapeutic, prophylactic or
diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or
behavior.
A Codex Maximum Limit for Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is the maximum
concentration of residue resulting from the use of a veterinary drug
(expressed in mg/kg or ug/kg on a fresh weight basis) that is adopted
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be permitted or recognized as
acceptable in or on a food. An MRLVD is based on the Acceptable Daily
Intake (ADI) and indicates the amount of residue in food that is
considered to be without appreciable toxicological hazard. An MRLVD
also takes into account other relevant public health risks as well as
food technological aspects.
When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues
that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore,
the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the
use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical analytical
methods are available.
*Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): An estimate by the Joint FAO/WHO
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the amount of a
veterinary drug, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be ingested
daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (standard man =
60 kg).
The following matters, contained in ALINORM 03/31 and ALINORM 03/
31A, will be considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its
26th Session:
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Abemectin
[sbull] Carazolol
[sbull] Chlortetracycline/oxytetracycline/tetracycline
[sbull] Clenbuterol
[sbull] Cyfluthrin
[sbull] Deltamethrin
[sbull] Eprinomectrin
[sbull] Phoxim
[sbull] Porcine somatotropin
To be considered at Step 5/8:
[sbull] Cyhalothrin
[sbull] Dihydrostreptomycin/Streptomycin
[sbull] Ivermectin
[sbull] Lincomycin
To be considered for final adoption at Step 5 Accelerated
Procedure:
[sbull] Draft amendments to the Glossary of Terms and Definitions
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Cefuroxime
Other Work of the Committee:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain
Antimicrobial Resistance
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Guidelines for the Establishment of
a Regulatory Program for Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods.
[sbull] Risk Analysis Principles and Methodologies, including Risk
Assessment Policies in the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary
Drugs in Foods
[sbull] Proposed Draft Appendix on the Prevention and Control of
Veterinary Drug Residues in Milk and Milk Products
[sbull] Priority List of Veterinary Drugs Requiring Evaluation or
Reevaluation
[sbull] Methods of Analysis and Sampling Issues
[sbull] Performance-based Criteria
[sbull] Identification of Routine Methods of Analysis
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
The Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) (a)
establishes or endorses permitted maximum or guideline levels for
individual food additives, contaminants, and naturally occurring
toxicants in food and animal feed; (b) prepares priority lists of food
additives and contaminants for toxicological evaluation by the Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA); (c) recommends
specifications of identity and purity for food additives for adoption
by the Commission; (d) considers methods of analysis for food additives
and contaminants; and (e) considers and elaborates standards and codes
for related subjects such as labeling of food additives when sold as
such and food irradiation. The following matters are under
consideration by the Commission at its 26th Session in July 2003. The
relevant documents are ALINORM 03/12 and ALINORM 03/12A.
Risk Analysis
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
Food Additives
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Food
Additive Provisions in Table 1 and Table 2
[sbull] General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Revisions to the
Annex to Table 3
[sbull] Draft Revised Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods
[[Page 33447]]
[sbull] Codex Advisory Specifications for the Identity and Purity
of Food Additives arising from the 57th and 59th meetings of the Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
[sbull] Draft Revisions to the INS for Food Additives
To be considered at Step 5/8 of the Accelerated Procedure:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Recommended International Code of
Practice for Radiation Processing of Food
[sbull] Draft Revisions to the Codex International Numbering System
for Food Additives
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Food Additives: Proposed Draft
Food Additive Provisions in Table 1 and Table 2
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Food Category System of the Codex
General Standard for Food Additives
Proposed New Work:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Preamble to the Codex General
Standard for Food Additives
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Active
Chlorine
The Committee is continuing work on:
[sbull] General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Food Additive
Provisions (in Tables 1, 2 and 3)
[sbull] International Numbering System
[sbull] Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food
Additives
[sbull] Discussion paper on Processing Aids and Carriers
[sbull] Discussion paper on the Harmonization of Terms Used by
Codex and JECFA for Sub-Classes and Technological Functions
Contaminants
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins: Maximum
Level for Patulin in Apple Juice and Apple Juice Ingredients in Other
Beverages
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins: Maximum
Level for Ochratoxin A in Wheat, Barley, Rye and Derived Products
[sbull] Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of
Patulin Contamination in Apple Juice and Apple Juice Ingredients in
Other Beverages
[sbull] Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of
Mycotoxin Contamination in Cereals, Including Annexes on Ochratoxin A,
Zearalenone, Fumonisins, and Trichothecenes
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins:
Revocation of maximum level for lead in milkfat.
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Principles for Exposure Assessment of
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and
Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Peanuts
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and
Reduction of Lead Contamination in Foods
[sbull] Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium
Proposed New Work:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Aflatoxins in Tree Nuts
(Almonds, Hazelnuts and Pistachios)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and
Reduction of Tin Contamination in Foods
[sbull] Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Deoxynivalenol
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Guideline Levels for Radionuclides
in Foods following Accidental Nuclear Contamination for Use in
International Trade (CAC/GL 5-1989), including Guideline Levels for
Long-Term Use
[sbull] Discussion Paper on Acrylamide
The Committee is continuing work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention and
Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts
and Pistachios)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Source Directed
Measures to Reduce Dioxin and Dioxin-like PCB Contamination of Foods
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins: Draft
Maximum Levels for Lead in Fish
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins:
Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium in Rice, Soybeans, Peanuts,
and Mollusks (including cephalopods)
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins:
Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Tin in Liquid Canned Foods Other Than
Beverages and in Canned Beverages
[sbull] Schedule 1 of the Proposed Draft Codex General Standard for
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods
[sbull] Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins: Maximum
Level for Patulin in Apple Juice Ingredients in other beverages. The
CCFAC is collecting data on the level of patulin in apple juice and
apple juice ingredients for other beverages with the intent of
reconsidering the maximum level once the Code of Practice had been
implemented (i.e., after four years)
[sbull] Position Paper on Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs
[sbull] Position Paper on Chloropropanols
[sbull] Position Paper on Aflatoxin in Tree Nuts
[sbull] Mycotoxin Contamination in Sorghum
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues recommends to the Codex
Alimentarius Commission establishment of maximum limits for pesticide
residues for specific food items or in groups of food. A Codex Maximum
Residue Limit for Pesticide (MRLP) is the maximum concentration of a
pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food
commodities and animal feeds. Foods derived from commodities that
comply with the respective MRLPs are intended to be toxicologically
acceptable, that is, consideration of the various dietary residue
intake estimates and determinations both at the national and
international level in comparison with the ADI*, should indicate that
foods complying with Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
Codex MRLPs are primarily intended to apply in international trade
and are derived from reviews conducted by the Joint Meeting on
Pesticide Residues (JMPR) following:
(a) review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised
uses including those reflecting national good agricultural practices
(GAP). Data from supervised trials conducted at the highest nationally
recommended, authorized, or registered uses are included in the review.
In order to accommodate variations in national pest control
requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher levels shown to
arise in such supervised trials, which are considered to represent
effective pest control practices, and;
(b) toxicological assessment of the pesticide and its residue.
The following items will be considered by the Commission at its
26th Session in July 2003. The relevant documents are ALINORM 03/24 and
ALINORM 03/24A.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Amendments to the Guidelines on Good Laboratory
Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis and the Introduction Section of
the Recommended Methods of Analysis for Pesticide Residues
[sbull] Draft and Draft Revised Maximum Residue Limits
To be considered at Step 5/8:
[sbull] Proposed Draft and Proposed Draft Revised Maximum Residue
Limits
To be considered at Step 5:
[[Page 33448]]
[sbull] Proposed Draft and Proposed Draft Revised Maximum Residue
Limits
The committee is continuing work on:
[sbull] Consideration of Draft and Proposed Draft Residue Limits in
Foods and Feeds
[sbull] Paper on Pilot Project for the Examination of National MRLs
as Interim Codex MRLs for Safer Alternative Pesticides
[sbull] Paper on Acute Dietary Risk Assessment
[sbull] Revision of Regional Diets and Information on Processing
[sbull] Revision of the List of Recommended Methods of Analysis for
Pesticide Residues
[sbull] Revision of the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal
Feeds
[sbull] Consideration of Elaboration of MRLs for Spices
[sbull] Revision of Codex Priority Lists of Pesticides for review
by JMPR
[sbull] Paper on the establishment of MRLs for processed
commodities.
[sbull] Paper on the elimination of environmental fate data review
from the work of JMPR
*Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of a chemical is the daily intake
which, during an entire lifetime, appears to be without appreciable
risk to the health of the consumer on the basis of all the known facts
at the time of the evaluation of the chemical by the Joint FAO/WHO
Meeting on Pesticide Residues. It is expressed in milligrams of the
chemical per kilogram of body weight.
Responsible Agency: EPA; USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling:
(a) Defines the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis
and Sampling;
(b) Serves as a coordinating body for Codex with other
international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and
quality assurance systems for laboratories;
(c) Specifies, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to
it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of
Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are
generally applicable to a number of foods;
(d) Considers, amends, if necessary, and endorses, as appropriate,
methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity)
Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues
of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of
microbiological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of
specifications for food additives do not fall within the terms of
reference of this Committee;
(e) Elaborates sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
(f) Considers specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to
it by the Commission or any of its Committees; and
(g) Defines procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for
the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality
assurance systems for laboratories.
The following guidelines and proposed amendments to the procedural
manual will be considered by the 26th Commission in July 2003. The
relevant document is ALINORM 03/23.
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft General Guidelines on Sampling
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainly
For consideration by the Commission:
[sbull] IUPAC Guidelines for Single-Laboratory Validation of
Methods of Analysis (for adoption by reference)
[sbull] Proposed amendments to the Procedural Manual:
[sbull] Amendment to the General Criteria for the Selection of
Methods of Analysis Using the Criteria Approach
[sbull] New section on Working Instructions for the Implementation
of the Criteria Approach in Codex New Work:
[sbull] Review current Analytical Terminology for Codex
The Committee will continue work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines for Evaluating Acceptable Methods
of Analysis
[sbull] Validation of methods
[sbull] Single Laboratory Validation
[sbull] Use of Proficiency Testing Schemes
[sbull] Endorsement of Methods of Analysis and Sampling Provisions
in Codex Standards
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines for Settling of Disputes on
Analytical (test) Results
[sbull] Criteria for Methods of Analysis for Foods derived from
Biotechnology
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection
Systems
The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and
Certification Systems is charged with developing principles and
guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification
systems to protect consumers and to facilitate trade. Additionally, the
Committee develops principles and guidelines for the application of
measures by competent authorities to provide assurance that foods
comply with essential requirements, especially statutory health
requirements. This encompasses work on: equivalence of food inspection
systems including equivalence agreements, processes and procedures to
ensure that sanitary measures are implemented; guidelines on food
import control systems; and guidelines on food product certification
and information exchange. The development of guidelines for the
appropriate utilization of quality assurance systems to ensure that
foodstuffs conform to requirements and to facilitate trade also are
included in the Committee's terms of reference.
The following guidelines, found in ALINORM 03/30 and 03/30A, will
be considered for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its
26th Session in July 2003:
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems
[sbull] Draft Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence on
Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification
Systems
The committee is continuing work on:
[sbull] Proposed Revised Draft Guidelines for the Exchange of
Information in Food Control Emergency Situations
[sbull] Discussion paper on the Judgement of Equivalence of
Technical Regulations Associated with Food Inspection and Certification
Systems
[sbull] Discussion paper on ``traceability/product tracing'' in the
context of inspection and certification systems
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on General Principles
The Codex Committee on General Principles deals with procedure and
general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission. The relevant documents are ALINORM 03/33 and ALINORM 03/
33A. The following items will be considered at the 26th Session of the
Commission in July 2003:
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Application
within the Framework of Codex
The Committee continues to work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis as
Guidance to National Governments
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Code of Ethics for International
Trade in Foods
[[Page 33449]]
[sbull] Guidelines for Cooperation with International
Intergovernmental Organizations
[sbull] Membership in the Codex Alimentarius Commission of Regional
Economic Integration Organizations
[sbull] Consideration of a Definition for ``Traceability''/product
tracing
[sbull] The role of the Committee in implementation of
recommendations from the Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of Codex Alimentarius
and Other FAO and WHO Work on Food Standards
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Labelling
The Codex Committee on Food Labelling is responsible for drafting
provisions on labelling issues assigned by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission. The reference documents are ALINORM 03/22 and ALINORM 03/
22A. The Committee held its Thirty-First Session in Ottawa, Canada, on
April 28-May 2, 2003. It considered the following items:
[sbull] Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling
and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods Proposed Revised Sections:
Section 5--Criteria and Annex 2--Permitted Substances
[sbull] Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling
of Prepackaged Foods--(Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods
Obtained through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/Genetic
Engineering) Section 4.2.2 (allergenicity) and Section 2. (Definitions)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (Class Names) (Milk Protein/Milk Protein
Products)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines on Nutrition
Labelling
[sbull] Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Use of Health
Claims: Proposed Draft Guidelines for the use of Nutrition and Health
Claims
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Quantitative Declaration of Ingredients
[sbull] Discussion paper on Misleading Claims
[sbull] Discussion paper on Country of Origin Labelling
[sbull] Discussion paper on ``Traceability''/Product Tracing
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene has four primary
responsibilities. First, the Committee drafts basic provisions on food
hygiene applicable to all food. These provisions normally take the form
of Codes of Hygienic Practice for a specific commodity (e.g. bottled
water) or group of commodities (e.g., milk and milk products). Second,
the Committee suggests and prioritizes areas where there is a need for
microbiological risk assessment at the international level and
considers microbiological risk management matters in relation to food
hygiene and in relation to the risk assessment activities of FAO and
WHO. This often takes the form of developing general guidance documents
such as the Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of
Microbiological Risk Assessment and the proposed draft Principles and
Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Management, but can
also take the form of developing microbiological risk management
guidance documents for the control of specific microbial pathogens in
food. Third, the Committee considers, amends if necessary, and endorses
food hygiene provisions that are incorporated into specific Codex
commodity standards by the Codex commodity committees. These provisions
normally contain generic wording referencing the Recommended Code of
Hygienic Practice: General Principles for Food Hygiene (ref: CAC/RCP 1-
1969, Rev. 3-1997) and the Principles for the Establishment and
Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997), but
may also include other provisions. Fourth, the Committee provides such
other general guidance to the Commission on matters relating to food
hygiene as is necessary. The following items will be considered by the
Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 26th Session in July 2003. The
relevant documents are ALINORM 03/13 and ALINORM 03/13A.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables
[sbull] Draft Revised Guidelines for the Application of HACCP
System
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk
Products
The committee continues to work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of
Microbiological Risk Management
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines on the Application of the General
Principles of Food Hygiene to the [management] of Listeria
monocytogenes in Foods
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines for Validation of Food Hygienic
Control Measures
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revision of the Code of Hygienic Practice
for Egg Products
[sbull] Discussion paper on Risk Management Strategies for
Salmonella spp. in Poultry
[sbull] Discussion paper on Risk Management Strategies for
Campylobacter spp. in Poultry
[sbull] Risk Profile for Enterohemorrhagic E. coli Including the
Identification of Commodities of Concern, including Sprouts, Ground
Beef and Pork
[sbull] Proposed Draft Process by Which the Committee on Food
Hygiene Could Undertake its Work in Microbiological Risk Assessment/
Risk Management
[sbull] Discussion Paper on the Proposed Draft Revision of the
Recommended International Code of Practice for Foods for Infants and
Children
[sbull] Discussion Paper on Development of Process, Procedures and
Criteria to Establish Priorities for the Work of the Codex Committee on
Food Hygiene
[sbull] Discussion Paper on the Development of Options for a Cross-
Committee Interaction Process
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; FSIS/USDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is responsible
for elaborating world-wide standards and codes of practice for fresh
fruits and vegetables. The following standards will be considered by
the 26th Session of the Commission in July 2003. The relevant document
is ALINORM 03/35.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Standard for Sweet Cassava
[sbull] Draft Standard for Pitahayas
[sbull] Section 3--Provisions concerning sizing and Section 6.2.4--
Commercial Identification in the grapefruit, lime and pummelo
standards.
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Table Grapes
The Committee continues work on:
[sbull] Draft Standard for Oranges retained at Step 7
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Tomatoes
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Apples
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guide for the Quality Control of Fresh
Fruits and Vegetables
New work subject to approval by 26th CAC:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Rambutan
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
[[Page 33450]]
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
is responsible for studying nutritional problems referred by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission. The Committee also drafts general provisions,
as appropriate, on nutritional aspects of all foods and develops
standards, guidelines, or related texts for foods for special dietary
uses. A request for new work will be made to the 26th Session of the
Commission in July 2003. The relevant documents are ALINORM 03/26 and
ALINORM 03/26A.
The committee continues work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Processed Cereal-Based
Foods for Infants and Young Children
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Infant Formula
[sbull] Proposed Draft Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral
Supplements
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revision of the Advisory Lists of Nutrient
Compounds for Use in Foods for Special Dietary Uses intended for use by
Infants and Young Children
New Work:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of
Health Claims
When new scientific information becomes available, the committee
plans to resume work on:
[sbull] Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims--Draft Table of
Conditions for Nutrient Contents Claims (Part B containing Provisions
on Dietary Fibre)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standards for Gluten-Free Foods
[sbull] Discussion Paper on Energy Conversion Factors
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
The Fish and Fishery Products Committee is responsible for
elaborating standards for fresh, frozen and otherwise processed fish,
crustaceans and mollusks. The following will be considered by the 26th
Session of the Commission when it meets in July 2003. The relevant
document is ALINORM 03/18.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Standard for Dried Salted Anchovies
[sbull] Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products
(specific sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 16)
To be considered at Step 5/8:
[sbull] Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products
(section 9, Surimi)
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Model Certificate for Fish and Fishery
Products (sanitary certificate)
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen
Lobsters (inclusion of the species Pleurooncondes monodon and
Cervimundia johni)
New Work:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Sturgeon Caviar
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Salted Fish
and Dried Salted Fish of the Gadidae family (Determination of water and
salt by selecting certain sections of the fish)
The Committee continues work on the following:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Salted Atlantic Herring and
Salted Sprats at Step 6
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery
Products (other sections 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 18)
at Step 3
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Live and Processed Bivalve
Mollusks
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Smoked Fish
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Quick Frozen Scallop Adductor
Muscle Meat
[sbull] Fish Content Definition and its Method of Determination in
Fish Sticks
[sbull] Revision of the Procedure for the Inclusion of Species
[sbull] Proposed Draft Model Certificate for Fish and Fishery
Products (other than sanitary)
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDC/NOAA/NMFS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products is responsible for
establishing international codes and standards for milk and milk
products. The following will be considered by the 26th Session of the
Commission when it meets in July 2003. The relevant document is ALINORM
03/11.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Cream and Prepared
Creams
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Fermented Milk Products
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Whey Powders
To be considered at Steps 5/8:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex General Standard for
Cheese (Appendix on cheese rind, surface, and coating)
The Committee continues work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Standard for Products in Which Milk
Components are Substituted by Non-Milk Components
[sbull] Evaporated Skimmed Milk with Vegetable Fat
[sbull] Sweetened Condensed Skimmed Milk with Vegetable Fat
[sbull] Skimmed Milk Powder with Vegetable Fat
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendment to Section 3.3 (Composition) of
the Codex General Standard for Cheese
[sbull] Proposed Draft Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk
Products
[sbull] Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Milk Products
[sbull] Draft Revised Standards for Individual Cheeses
[sbull] Draft Revised Standard for Processed Cheese
[sbull] Draft Revised Standard for Dairy Spreads
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Whey Cheese
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils is responsible for elaborating
standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable, and marine origin.
The relevant document is ALINORM 03/17. The following will be
considered by the Commission at its 26th Session in July 2003.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Revised Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils
[sbull] Draft Amendment to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils
[sbull] Palm superolein
[sbull] Mid-oleic sunflower oil
[sbull] Inclusion of new desmethysterol data and tocopherol and
tocotrienol data for palm olien, palm stearin
New Work:
[sbull] Amendment to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils: Rice
Bran Oil
The Committee continues work on:
[sbull] Draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads
[sbull] Proposed Draft Amendments to the List of Acceptable
Previous Cargoes
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/ARS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate
The Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate is responsible
for elaborating world-wide standards for cocoa products and chocolate.
The following standard will be considered by the 26th Session of the
Commission in July 2003. The relevant document is ALINORM 03/14.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft Revised Standard for Chocolate and Chocolate Products
[[Page 33451]]
The Committee agreed to adjourn sine die as it had completed its
program of work.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables is
responsible for elaborating standards for Processed Fruits and
Vegetables. After having been adjourned sine die, the Committee
reconvened in Washington, DC, in March 1998 to begin work revising the
standards. The following standards will be considered by the 26th
Session of the Commission in July 2003. The relevant document is
ALINORM 03/27.
To be considered at step 8:
[sbull] Draft Standard for Bamboo Shoots
[sbull] Draft Revised Standard for Canned Stone Fruits
[sbull] Draft Codex Guidelines for Packing Media for Canned Fruit
[sbull] Draft Codex Standard for Aqueous Coconut Products--Coconut
Milk and Coconut Cream
The committee is continuing work on:
[sbull] Draft Codex Standard for Pickled Products
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Standards for:
[sbull] Processed Tomato Concentrates
[sbull] Canned Tomatoes
[sbull] Canned Vegetables including Guidelines for Packing Media
for Canned Vegetables
[sbull] Jams, Jellies and Marmalades
[sbull] Soy Sauce
[sbull] Canned Citrus Fruits
Other work:
[sbull] Methods of Analysis for Processed Fruits and Vegetables
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Processing and
Handling of Quick Frozen Foods
[sbull] Priority List for the Standardization of Processed Fruits
and Vegetables
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS; HHS/FDA.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Codex Committee on Meat and Poultry Hygiene
The 24th Session of the Commission decided to reactivate the Codex
Committee on Meat Hygiene and agreed to rename it the Codex Committee
on Meat and Poultry Hygiene, with New Zealand as Host Government. The
Terms of Reference were amended to reflect the inclusion of poultry in
its mandate. The following, contained in ALINORM 03/16 and ALINORM 03/
16A, will be considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its
26th Session in July 2003.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft General Principles of Meat Hygiene
Other:
[sbull] Request to change the name back to the Codex Committee on
Meat Hygiene
To be considered at Step 5:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat
[sbull] Requested the Commission to change the name back to the
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene
The Committee continues to work on:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Annex on Risk-Based Post-Mortem Examination
Procedures for Meat
[sbull] Proposed Draft Annex on Microbiological Verification of
Process Control of Meat Hygiene
[sbull] Discussion paper on Hygiene Provisions for Processed Meat
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Certain Codex Commodity Committees \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Adjourned sine die. The main tasks of these Committees are
completed. However, the committees may be called to meet again if
required.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several Codex Alimentarius Commodity Committees have adjourned sine
die. The following Committees fall into this category:
[sbull] Cereals, Pulses and Legumes
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/GIPSA
U.S. Participation: Yes
[sbull] Natural Mineral Water
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes
[sbull] Sugars
Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS; HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes
[sbull] Vegetable Proteins
Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS, HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
The Commission established this task force to develop standards,
guidelines, or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived from
biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by biotechnology, on the
basis of scientific evidence, risk analysis and having regard, where
appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant to the health of
consumers and the promotion of fair trade practices. The Task Force,
established by the 23rd (1999) Session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission for a four year period of time, has completed its work. The
following, contained in ALINORM 03/34 and ALINORM 03/34A, will be
considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 26th Session in
July 2003.
To be considered at Step 8:
[sbull] Draft General Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods
Derived from Modern Biotechnology
[sbull] Draft Guidelines for the Conduct of Safety Assessment of
Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants
[sbull] Draft Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment
of Recombinant-DNA Microorganisms
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/APHIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding
The Commission at its 23rd Session established the Ad Hoc
Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding to develop guidelines or
standards, as appropriate, on good animal feeding practices. An Interim
Report of the work of the Task Force, as required under its Terms of
Reference, was presented to the 24th Commission by Denmark, the host
government. The Task Force held its 4th Session on March 25-28, 2003.
The following will be considered by the Commission at its 26th Session
in July 2003:
To be considered at Step 5/8:
[sbull] Revised Draft Code of Practice for Good Animal Feeding
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA/CVM; USDA/APHIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Fruit and Vegetable Juices
The Commission at its 23rd Session established this Task Force to
revise and consolidate the existing Codex standards and guidelines for
fruit and vegetable juices and related products, giving preference to
general standards. These standards were originally developed by the
Joint UNECE/Codex Group of Experts on the Standardization of Fruit
Juices which had been abolished by its parent organizations. The Task
Force held its third session in Brasilia, Brazil, on May 6-9, 2003. The
reference documents are ALINORM 03/39 and 03/39A.
The committee is discussing:
[sbull] Proposed Draft Codex General Standard for Fruit Juices and
Nectars
[sbull] Proposed Draft Revised Codex General Standard for Vegetable
Juices
[sbull] Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Fruit and Vegetable
Juices and Nectars
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA; USDA/AMS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is made up of an Executive
Committee,
[[Page 33452]]
as well as approximately 30 subsidiary bodies. Included in these
subsidiary bodies are coordinating committees for groups of countries
located in proximity to each other who share common concerns. There are
currently six Regional Coordinating Committees:
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for Africa
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for Asia
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for Europe
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for the Near East
[sbull] Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West
Pacific
The United States participates as an active member of the
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific,
and is informed of the other coordinating committees through meeting
documents, final reports, and representation at meetings. Each regional
committee:
[sbull] Defines the problems and needs of the region concerning
food standards and food control;
[sbull] Promotes within the committee contacts for the mutual
exchange of information on proposed regulatory initiatives and problems
arising from food control and stimulates the strengthening of food
control infrastructures;
[sbull] Recommends to the Commission the development of world-wide
standards for products of interest to the region, including products
considered by the committee to have an international market potential
in the future; and
[sbull] Exercises a general coordinating role for the region and
such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission.
Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West
Pacific
The Coordinating Committee is responsible for defining problems and
needs concerning food standards and food control of all Codex member
countries of the region. The Seventh Session of the Committee was
hosted by Canada October 29-November 1, 2002. Items on the agenda
included:
[sbull] Trust Fund for the Participation of Developing Countries in
Codex Standard Setting Procedures
[sbull] Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and
other FAO and WHO Work on Food Standards
[sbull] Consideration of the Draft Medium-Term Plan 2003-2007
[sbull] Consideration of Traceability/Product Tracing
[sbull] Strategic Plan for the Coordinating Committee for North
America and the Southwest Pacific
[sbull] Nomination of Samoa as the next Coordinator for the Region
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS.
U.S. Participation: Yes.
Attachment 2
U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials Codex Committee Chairpersons
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
Dr. Karen Hulebak, Senior Advisor for Scientific Affairs, Office of the
Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3130, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : 202-720-8609, Fax
: 202-720-9893, E-mail: karen.hulebak@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables,
Mr. David L. Priester, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit &
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2049, South Building, Stop 0140, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0240, Phone : (202) 720-
2185, Fax : (202) 720-8871, E-mail: david.priester@usda.gov
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food
and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place (HFV-1), Rockville, MD
20855, Phone : (301) 827-2950, Fax : (301) 827-8401,
E-mail: ssundlof@cvm.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (adjourned sine die)
Mr. Steven N. Tanner, Director, Technical Services Division, Grain
Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 10383 N. Executive Hills Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64153-
1394, Phone : (816) 891-0401, Fax : (816) 891-0478,
E-mail: stanner@tsd.fgiskc.usda.gov
Listing of U.S. Delegates and Alternates Worldwide General Subject
Codex Committees
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (Host
Government--United States)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Pamela L. Chamberlain, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and
Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Place HFV-130, Rockville, MD 20855,
Phone : (301) 827-8566, FAX : (301) 827-4299, E-mail:
pchambe1@cvm.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Alice Thaler, Staff Director, Animal and Egg Production Food Safety
Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : (202) 690-2683, Fax
: (202) 720-8213, E-mail: alice.thaler@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (Host Government--
The Netherlands)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and
Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-300), Food
and Drug Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1700, Fax : (301) 436-2632, E-mail:
Terry.Troxell@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Dennis M. Keefe, Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-255), Food and Drug
Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch
Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (202) 418-3113,
Fax : (202) 418-3131, E-mail: dennis.keefe@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Host Government--the
Netherlands)
U.S. Delegate
Edward Zager, Associate Director, Health Effects Division, Office
of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios
Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Phone
: (703) 305-5035, Fax : (703) 305-5147, E-mail:
Zager.Ed@epamail.epa.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Robert Epstein, Associate Deputy Administrator, Science and
Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Room 3522S, Mail Stop 0222, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20090, Phone : (202)
720-2158, Fax : (202) 720-1484, E-mail:
Robert.Epstein@usda.gov
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Host Government--
Hungary)
U.S. Delegate
[[Page 33453]]
Dr. Gregory Diachenko, Director, Division of Chemistry, Office of
Food Additive Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
(CFSAN), Food and Drug Administration (HFS-245), Harvey W. Wiley
Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-
3835, Phone : (301) 436-1898, Fax : (301) 436-2364,
E-mail: Gregory.Diachenko@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Thomas B. Whitaker, Senior Scientist, Agricultural Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 124 Weaver Laboratory, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625, Phone :
(919) 515-6731, Fax : (919) 515-7760, E-mail: Thomas --
whitaker @ ncsu.edu
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection
Systems (Host Government--Australia)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Catherine Carnevale, Director, Office of Constituent
Operations, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-550), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-2380, Fax : (301) 436-2618, E-mail: Catherine.Carnevale@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Ms. Karen Stuck, Chief, International Policy Staff, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2137, South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700,
Phone : 202-720-3470, Fax : 202-720-7990, E-mail:
Karen.Stuck@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on General Principles (Host Government--France)
U.S. Delegate
Note: A member of the Steering Committee heads the delegation to
meetings of the General Principles Committee.
Codex Committee on Food Labeling (Host Government--Canada)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Christine Taylor, Director, Office of Nutritional Products,
Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Harvey E. Wiley Federal
Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS-800), College Park, MD 20740-
3835, Phone : (301) 436-2373, Fax : (301) 436-2636,
E-mail: Christine.Taylor@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Robert Post, Director, Labeling & Consumer Protection Staff,
Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 300 12th Street, SW., Room
602, Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : (202)
205-0279, Fax : (202) 205-3625, E-mail: Robert.Post@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Host Government--United States)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Robert L. Buchanan, Director, Office of Science, Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-
006), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301) 436-2369, Fax
: (301) 436-2642, E-mail: Robert.Buchanan@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegates
Mr. John Mowbray, Food Technologist, Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-306), Harvey W.
Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, Room 1B064, College
Park, MD 20740, Phone : (301) 436-1490, Fax : (301)
436-2632 E-mail: John.Mowbray@cfsan.fda.gov
Dr. Barbara Masters, Acting Associate Deputy Administrator, Field
Operations, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : (202) 720-
3697, Fax : (202) 720-5439, E-mail: Barbara.Masters@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (Host
Government--Germany)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Elizabeth Yetley, FDA Lead Scientist for Nutrition, Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-
006), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301) 436-1671, Fax
: (301) 436-2641, E-mail: Elizabeth.Yetley@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Christine Taylor, Director, Office of Nutritional Products,
Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal
Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway (HFS-800), College Park, MD 20740-
3835, Phone : (301) 436-2373, Fax : (301) 436-2636,
E-mail: Christine.Taylor@cfsan.fda.gov
Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government--
Mexico)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. David Priester, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit &
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2069, South Building 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250 Phone : (202) 720-2184, Fax :
(202) 720-0016, E-mail: david.priester@usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Mr. Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and
Vegetables Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2086, South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250, Phone
: (202) 690-4944, Fax : (202) 720-4722, E-mail:
dorian.lafond@usda.gov
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (Host Government--Norway)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Philip C. Spiller, Director, Office of Seafood, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-400),
Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College
Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301) 436-2300, Fax :
(301) 436-2599, E-mail: Philip.Spiller@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Vacant
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (Host Government--United
States)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities Staff,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-585), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1714, Fax : (301) 436-2618, E-mail:
Charles.Cooper@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Mr. David Shipman, Deputy
[[Page 33454]]
Administrator, Federal Grain Inspection Division, Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Room 1661, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20250, Phone : (202) 720-9170, Fax : (202) 205-
9237, E-mail: dshipman@gipsadc.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Host Government--New
Zealand)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Duane Spomer, Chief, Dairy Standardization Branch, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2750,
South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250,
Phone : (202) 720-9382, Fax : (202) 720-2643, E-mail:
duane.spomer@usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
John F. Sheehan, Director, Division of Dairy and Egg Safety, Office
of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-306), Harvey W.
Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD
20740, Phone : (301) 436-1488, Fax : (301) 436-2632,
E-mail: john.sheehan@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Host Government--United Kingdom)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities Staff,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-585), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1714, Fax : (301) 436-2618, E-mail:
Charles.Cooper@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Ms. Kathleen Warner, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 N.
University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, Phone : (309) 681-6584,
Fax : (309) 681-6668, E-mail: warnerk@ncaur.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (Host Government--
Switzerland)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities Staff,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-585), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1714, Fax : (301) 436-2618, E-mail:
Charles.Cooper@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Michelle Smith, Food Technologist, Office of Plant and Dairy
Foods and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food
and Drug Administration (HFS-306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building,
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone
: (301) 436-2024, Fax : (301) 436-2651, E-mail:
Michelle.Smith@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Sugars (Host Government--United Kingdom)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Thomas L. Tew, Research Geneticist, Sugarcane Research Unit,
Agricultural Research, USDA--FSIS, 5883 USDA Road, Houma, LA 70360,
Phone : (504) 872-5042, Fax : (504) 868-8369, E-mail:
ttew@nola.srrc.usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Dennis M. Keefe, Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (HFS-
255), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (202) 418-3113, Fax
: (202) 418-3131, E-mail: dennis.keefe@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government--
United States)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Dorian Lafond, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit and
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2086, South Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250, Phone : (202) 690-4944, Fax :
(202) 720-0016, E-mail: Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities Staff,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-585), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1714, Fax : (301) 436-2618, E-mail:
Charles.Cooper@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins (Host Government--Canada)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Wilda H. Martinez, Area Director, ARS North Atlantic Area,
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 600 E.
Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, Phone : (215) 233-6593, Fax
: (215) 233-6719, E-mail: wmartinez@ars.usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Jeanne Rader, Director, Division of Research and Applied
Technology, Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary
Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
Drug Administration, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1786, Fax : (301) 436-2640, E-mail:
Jeanne.Rader@cfsan.fda.gov
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (Host Government--New Zealand)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Perfecto Santiago, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Office of
Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 402, Cotton
Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : (202) 205-0699, Fax
: (202) 401-1760, E-mail: Perfecto.Santiago@fsis.usda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. William James, Director, Food Animal Sciences Division, Office
of Public Health and Science, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Mail Drop 343, 900 D Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024, Phone : (202) 690-6572, Fax :
(202) 690-6565, E-mail: william.james@fsis.usda.gov
Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (Host Government--
Switzerland)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and
Beverages, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-300), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1700, Fax : (301) 436-2632, E-mail:
Terry.Troxell@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Ms. Shellee Anderson, Division of Nutritional Products, Labeling,
and
[[Page 33455]]
Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food
and Drug Administration (HFS-820), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building,
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone
: (301) 436-1491, Fax : (301) 436-2637, E-mail:
Shellee.Anderson@cfsan.fda.gov
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task
Force on Fruit and Vegetable Juices (Host government--Brazil)
U.S. Delegate
Mr. Martin Stutsman, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages,
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
Administration (HFS-306), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint
Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301)
436-1642, Fax : (301) 436-2651, E-mail:
Martin.Stutsman@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Mr. David Priester, International Standards Coordinator, Fruit &
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 2069, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 720-2184, Fax: (202) 720-0016, E-
mail: david.priester@usda.gov
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived From Biotechnology
(Host government--Japan)
U.S. Delegate
L. Robert Lake, Director, Office of Regulations and Policy, Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration
(HFS-004), Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835, Phone : (301) 436-2379, Fax
: (301) 436-2668, E-mail: RLake@cfsan.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Sally L. McCammon, Science Advisor to the Administrator, Animal
Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4700
River Road (Unit 98), Riverdale, MD 20737, Phone : (301) 734-
5761, Fax : (301) 734-5992, E-mail: Sally.L.Mccammon@usda.gov
Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Group on Animal Feeding (Host
government--Denmark)
U.S. Delegate
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine,
Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Place (HFV-1), Metro Park
N. 4, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone : (301) 827-2950, Fax
: (301) 827-4401, E-mail: ssundlof@cvm.fda.gov
Alternate Delegate
Dr. Lawrence E. Miller, Program Manager, Veterinary Regulatory
Support, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, Unit 129, Room 4D79, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD
20737, Phone : (301) 734-7633, Fax : (301) 734-8538,
E-mail: Lawrence.E.Miller@usda.gov
There are six regional coordinating committees:
Coordinating Committee for Africa
Coordinating Committee for Asia
Coordinating Committee for Europe
Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean
Coordinating Committee for the Near East
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific
Contact
Dr. F. Edward Scarbrough, Manager, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, Room 4861, South Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone : (202) 205-
7760, Fax : (202) 720-3157, E-mail:
ed.scarbrough@fsis.usda.gov
Attachment 3.--Timetable of Codex Sessions
[June 2002 through June 2004]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002:
CX 702-50............... Executive Committee of 26-28 June.......... Rome.
the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (50th
Session).
CX 706-23............... FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 10-13 September..... Bratislava.
Coordinating Committee
for Europe (23th
Session).
CX 727-13............... FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 17-20 September..... Kuala Lumpur.
Coordinating Committee
for Asia (13th Session).
CX 713-21............... Codex Committee on 23-27 September..... San Antonio, TX.
Processed Fruits and
Vegetables (21st
Session).
CX 732-7................ FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 29 October-1 Vancouver, BC.
Coordinating Committee November.
for North America and
the South-West Pacific
(7th Session).
CX 720-24............... Codex Committee on 4-8 November........ Berlin.
Nutrition and Foods for
Special Dietary Uses
(24th Session).
CX 715-24............... Codex Committee on 18-22 November...... Budapest.
Methods of Analysis and
Sampling (24th Session).
CX-707-15............... FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 25-29 November...... Kampala.
Coordinating Committee
for Africa (15th
Session).
CX 725-13............... FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 3-6 December........ Santo Domingo.
Committee for Latin
America and the
Caribbean (13th Session).
2003:
CX-734-2................ FAO/WHO (Codex) Regional 20-23 January....... Cairo.
Coordinating Committee
for the Near East (2nd
Session).
CX 712-35............... Codex Committee on Food 27 January-1 Orlando, FL.
Hygiene (35th Session). February.
CX 709-18............... Codex Committee on Fats 3-7 February........ London.
and Oils (18th Session).
CX-702-51............... Executive Committee of 10-11 February...... Geneva.
the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (51st
[Extraordinary] Session).
CX-701-25............... Codex Alimentarius 12-15 February...... Geneva.
Commission (25th
[Extraordinary] Session).
CX 723-9................ Codex Committee on Meat 17-21 February...... Wellington.
Hygiene (9th Session).
CX 730-14............... Codex Committee on 4-7 March........... Arlington, VA.
Residues of Veterinary
Drugs in Foods (14th
Session).
[[Page 33456]]
CX 802-4................ Ad hoc Intergovernmental 10-14 March......... Yokohama.
Task Force on
Biotechnology (4th
Session).
CX 711-35............... Codex Committee on Food 17-21 March......... Arusha.
Additives and
Contaminants (35th
Session).
CX 803-4................ Ad hoc Intergovernmental 24-26 March......... Copenhagen.
Task Force on Animal
Feeding (4th Session).
CX 718-35............... Codex Committee on 31 March-4 April.... Rotterdam.
Pesticide Residues (35th
Session).
CX 716-18............... Codex Committee on 7-11 April.......... Paris.
General Principles (18th
Session).
CX 714-31............... Codex Committee on Food 28 April-2 May...... Ottawa.
Labelling (31st Session).
CX 801-3................ Ad hoc Intergovernmental 6-9 May............. Brasilia.
Task Force on Fruit and
Vegetable Juices (3rd
Session).
CX 702-52............... Executive Committee of 26-27 June.......... Rome.
the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (52st
Session).
CX 701-26............... Codex Alimentarius 30 June-5 July...... Rome.
Commission (26th
Session).
CX 731-11............... Codex Committee on Fresh 8-12 September...... Mexico City.
Fruits and Vegetables.
CX 722-26............... Codex Committee on Fish 13-17 October....... Aalesund, Norway.
and Fishery products.
CX-720-25............... Codex Committee on 3-7 November........ Berlin.
Nutrition and Foods for
Special Dietary Uses.
CX-733-123.............. Codex Committee on Food 1-5 December........ TBA.
Import and Export
Inspection and
Certification.
2004:
CX 702-53............... Executive Committee of 4-6 February........ Geneva.
the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (53rd
Session).
CX-723-10............... Codex Committee on Meat 16-20 February...... Auckland.
and Poultry Hygiene
(10th Session).
CX 715-25............... Codex Committee on 7-14 March.......... Budapest.
Methods of Analysis and
Sampling (25th Session).
CX 711-36............... Codex Committee on Food 22-26 March......... Rotterdam.
Additives and
Contaminants (36th
Session).
CX 712-36............... Codex Committee on Food 29 March-3 April.... Washington, DC.
Hygiene (36th Session).
CX 718-36............... Codex Committee on 19-24 April......... New Delhi.
Pesticide Residues (36th
Session).
CX-703-06............... Codex Committee on Milk 26-30 April......... Auckland.
and Milk Products (6th
Session).
CX 716-19............... Codex Committee on 3-7 May............. Paris.
General Principles (19th
Session).
CX 714-32............... Codex Committee on Food 10-14 May........... Ottawa.
Labelling (32nd Session).
CX-702-54............... Executive Committee (54th 24-26 June.......... Geneva.
Session).
CX-701-27............... Codex Alimentarius 28 June-2 July...... Geneva.
Commission (27th
Session).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachment 4
Definitions for the Purpose of Codex Alimentarius
Words and phrases have specific meanings when used by the Codex
Alimentarius. For the purposes of Codex, the following definitions
apply:
1. Food means any substance, whether processed, semi-processed or
raw, which is intended for human consumption, and includes drink,
chewing gum, and any substance which has been used in the manufacture,
preparation or treatment of ``food'' but does not include cosmetics or
tobacco or substances used only as drugs.
2. Food hygiene comprises conditions and measures necessary for the
production, processing, storage and distribution of food designed to
ensure a safe, sound, wholesome product fit for human consumption.
3. Food additive means any substance not normally consumed as a
food by itself and not normally used as a typical ingredient of the
food, whether or not it has nutritive value, the intentional addition
of which to food for a technological (including organoleptic) purpose
in the manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing,
packaging, transport, or holding of such food results, or may be
reasonably expected to result, (directly or indirectly) in it or its
by-products becoming a component of or otherwise affecting the
characteristics of such foods. The food additive term does not include
``contaminants'' or substances added to food for maintaining or
improving nutritional qualities.
4. Contaminant means any substance not intentionally added to food,
which is present in such food as a result of the production (including
operations carried out in crop husbandry, animal husbandry, and
veterinary medicine), manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment,
packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food or as a result of
environmental contamination. The term does not include insect
fragments, rodent hairs and other extraneous matters.
5. Pesticide means any substance intended for preventing,
destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling any pest including
unwanted species of plants or animals during the production, storage,
transport, distribution and processing of food, agricultural
commodities, or animal feeds or which may be administered to animals
for the control of ectoparasites. The term includes substances intended
for use as a plant-growth regulator, defoliant, desiccant, fruit
thinning agent, or sprouting inhibitor and substances applied to crops
either before of after harvest to protect the commodity from
deterioration during storage and transport. The term pesticides
excludes fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives, and
animal drugs.
6. Pesticide residue means any specified substance in food,
agricultural commodities, or animal feed resulting from the use of a
pesticide. The term includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as
conversion products, metabolites, reaction products, and impurities
considered to be of toxological significance.
7. Good Agricultural Practice in the Use of Pesticides (GAP)
includes the nationally authorized safe uses of pesticides under actual
conditions necessary for effective and reliable pest control. It
encompasses a range of levels of pesticide applications up to the
[[Page 33457]]
highest authorized use, applied in a manner that leaves a residue,
which is the smallest amount practicable.
Authorized safe uses are determined at the national level and
include nationally registered or recommended uses, which take into
account public and occupational health and environmental safety
considerations.
Actual conditions include any stage in the production, storage,
transport, distribution and processing of food commodities and animal
feed.
8. Codex Maximum Limit for Pesticide Residues (MRLP) is the maximum
concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on
food commodities and animal feeds. MRLPs are based on their toxological
effects and on GAP data and foods derived from commodities that comply
with the respective MRLPs are intended to be toxologically acceptable.
Codex MRLPs, which are primarily intended to apply in international
trade, are derived from reviews conducted by the JMPR following:
(a) toxological assessment of the pesticide and its residue, and
(b) review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised
uses including those reflecting national good agricultural practices.
Data from supervised trials conducted at the highest nationally
recommended, authorized, or registered uses are included in the review.
In order to accommodate variations in national pest control
requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher levels shown to
arise in such supervised trials, which are considered to represent
effective pest control practices.
Consideration of the various dietary residue intake estimates and
determinations both at the national and international level in
comparison with the ADI, should indicate that foods complying with
Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
9. Veterinary Drug means any substance applied or administered to
any food-producing animal, such as meat or milk-producing animals,
poultry, fish or bees, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic or
diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or
behavior.
10. Residues of Veterinary Drugs include the parent compounds and/
or their metabolites in any edible portion of the animal product, and
include residues of associated impurities of the veterinary drug
concerned.
11. Codex Maximum Limit for Residues of Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is
the maximum concentration of residue resulting from the use of a
veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or [mu]g/kg on a fresh weight
basis) that is recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be
legally permitted or recognized as acceptable in or on food.
An MRLVD is based on the type and amount of residue considered to
be without any toxological hazard for human health as expressed by the
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), or on the basis of a temporary ADI that
utilizes an additional safety factor. An MRLVD also takes into account
other relevant public health risks as well as food technological
aspects.
When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues
that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore,
the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the
use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical and analytical
methods are available.
12. Good Practice in the Use of Veterinary Drugs (GPVD) is the
official recommended or authorized usage including withdrawal periods
approved by national authorities, of veterinary drugs under practicable
conditions.
13. Processing Aid means any substance or material, not including
apparatus or utensils, not consumed as a food ingredient by itself,
intentionally used in the processing of raw materials, foods or its
ingredients, to fulfill a certain technological purpose during
treatment or processing and which may result in the non-intentional but
unavoidable presence of residues or derivatives in the final product.
Definitions of Risk Analysis Terms Related to Food Safety
Hazard: A biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition
of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.
Risk: A function of the probability of an adverse health effect and
the severity of that effect, consequential to a hazard(s) in food.
Risk analysis: A process consisting of three components: risk
assessment, risk management and risk communication.
Risk assessment: A scientifically based process consisting of the
following steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) hazard
characterization, (iii) exposure assessment, and (iv) risk
characterization.
Hazard identification: The identification of biological, chemical,
and physical agents capable of causing adverse health effects and which
may be present in a particular food or group of foods.
Hazard characterization: The qualitative and/or quantitative
evaluation of the nature of the adverse health effects associated with
biological, chemical and physical agents that may be present in food.
For chemical agents, a dose-response assessment should be performed.
For biological or physical agents, a dose-response assessment should be
performed if the data are obtainable.
Dose-response assessment: The determination of the relationship
between the magnitude of exposure (dose) to a chemical, biological or
physical agent and the severity and/or frequency of associated adverse
health effects (response).
Exposure assessment: The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation
of the likely intake of biological, chemical, and physical agents via
food as well as exposures from other sources if relevant.
Risk characterization: The qualitative and/or quantitative
estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of
occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in
a given population based on hazard identification, hazard
characterization and exposure assessment.
Risk management: The process, distinct from risk assessment, of
weighing policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested
parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the
health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade
practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control
options.
Risk communication: The interactive exchange of information and
opinions throughout the risk analysis process concerning risk, related
risk factors and risk perceptions, among risk assessors, risk managers,
consumers, industry, the academic community and other interested
parties, including the explanation of risk assessment findings and the
basis of risk management decisions.
Attachment 5
Part 1
Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related
Texts
Steps 1, 2 and 3
(1) The Commission decides, taking into account the ``Criteria for
the Establishment of Work Priorities and for the Establishment of
Subsidiary Bodies,'' to elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard and also
decides which
[[Page 33458]]
subsidiary body or other body should undertake the work. A decision to
elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard may also be taken by subsidiary
bodies of the Commission in accordance with the above-mentioned
criteria, subject to subsequent approval by the Commission or its
Executive Committee at the earliest possible opportunity. In the case
of Codex Regional Standards, the Commission shall base its decision on
the proposal of the majority of members belonging to a given region or
group of countries submitted at a session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission.
(2) The Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a proposed
draft standard. In the case of Maximum Limits for Residues of
Pesticides or Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat distributes the
recommendations for maximum limits, when available from the Joint
Meetings of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and
the Environment and the WHO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA). In the cases of milk and milk products or individual standards
for cheeses, the Secretariat distributes the recommendations of the
International Dairy Federation (IDF).
(3) The proposed draft standard is sent to members of the
Commission and interested international organizations for comment on
all aspects including possible implications of the proposed draft
standard for their economic interests.
Step 4
The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary
body or other body concerned which has the power to consider such
comments and to amend the proposed draft standard.
Step 5
The proposed draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to
the Commission or to the Executive Committee with a view to its
adoption as a draft standard. When making any decision at this step,
the Commission or the Executive Committee will give due consideration
to any comments that may be submitted by any of its members regarding
the implications which the proposed draft standard or any provisions of
the standard may have for their economic interests. In the case of
Regional Standards, all members of the Commission may present their
comments, take part in the debate and propose amendments, but only the
majority of the Members of the region or group of countries concerned
attending the session can decide to amend or adopt the draft. When
making any decisions at this step, the members of the region or group
of countries concerned will give due consideration to any comments that
may be submitted by any of the members of the Commission regarding the
implications which the proposed draft standard or any provisions of the
proposed draft standard may have for their economic interests.
Step 6
The draft standard is sent by the Secretariat to all members and
interested international organizations for comment on all aspects,
including possible implications of the draft standard for their
economic interests.
Step 7
The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary
body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such
comments and amend the draft standard.
Step 8
The draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the
Commission together with any written proposals received from members
and interested international organizations for amendments at Step 8
with a view to its adoption as a Codex Standard. In the case of
Regional standards, all members and interested international
organizations may present their comments, take part in the debate and
propose amendments but only the majority of members of the region or
group of countries concerned attending the session can decide to amend
and adopt the draft.
Part 2
Uniform Accelerated Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards
and Related Texts
Steps 1, 2 and 3
(1) The Commission or the Executive Committee between Commission
sessions, on the basis of a two-thirds majority of votes cast, taking
into account the ``Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities
and for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies'', shall identify those
standards which shall be the subject of an accelerated elaboration
process. The identification of such standards may also be made by
subsidiary bodies of the Commission, on the basis of a two-thirds
majority of votes cast, subject to confirmation at the earliest
opportunity by the Commission or its Executive Committee by a two-
thirds majority of votes cast.
(2) The Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a proposed
draft standard. In the case of Maximum Limits for Residues of
Pesticides or Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat distributes the
recommendations for maximum limits, when available from the Joint
Meetings of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and
the Environment and the WHO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA). In the cases of milk and milk products or individual standards
for cheeses, the Secretariat distributes the recommendations of the
International Dairy Federation (IDF).
(3) The proposed draft standard is sent to Members of the
Commission and interested international organizations for comment on
all aspects including possible implications of the proposed draft
standard for their economic interests. When standards are subject to an
accelerated procedure, this fact shall be notified to the Members of
the Commission and the interested international organizations.
Step 4
The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary
body or other body concerned which has the power to consider such
comments and to amend the proposed draft standard.
Step 5
In the case of standards identified as being subject to an
accelerated elaboration procedure, the draft standard is submitted
through the Secretariat to the Commission together with any written
proposals received from Members and interested international
organizations for amendments with a view to its adoption as a Codex
standard. In taking any decision at this step, the Commission will give
due consideration to any comments that may be submitted by any of its
Members regarding the implications which the proposed draft standard or
any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests.
Attachment 6
Nature of Codex Standards
Codex standards contain requirements for food aimed at ensuring for
the consumer a sound, wholesome food product free from adulteration,
and correctly labelled. A Codex standard for any food or foods should
be drawn up in accordance with the Format for Codex Commodity Standards
and contain, as appropriate, the criteria listed therein.
[[Page 33459]]
Format for Codex Commodity Standards Including Standards Elaborated
under the Code of Principles Concerning Milk and Milk Products
Introduction
The format is also intended for use as a guide by the subsidiary
bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in presenting their
standards, with the object of achieving, as far as possible, a uniform
presentation of commodity standards. The format also indicates the
statements which should be included in standards as appropriate under
the relevant headings of the standard. The sections of the format
required to be completed for a standard are only those provisions that
are appropriate to an international standard for the food in question.
Name of the Standard
Scope
Description
Essential Composition and Quality Factors
Food Additives
Contaminants
Hygiene
Weights and Measures
Labelling
Methods of Analysis and Sampling
Format for Codex Standards
Name of the Standard
The name of the standard should be clear and as concise as
possible. It should usually be the common name by which the food
covered by the standard is known or, if more than one food is dealt
with in the standard, by a generic name covering them all. If a fully
informative title is inordinately long, a subtitle could be added.
Scope
This section should contain a clear, concise statement as to the
food or foods to which the standard is applicable unless the name of
the standard clearly and concisely identifies the food or foods. A
generic standard covering more than one specific product should clearly
identify the specific products to which the standard applies.
Description
This section should contain a definition of the product or products
with an indication, where appropriate, of the raw materials from which
the product or products are derived and any necessary references to
processes of manufacture. The description may also include references
to types and styles of product and to type of pack. The description may
also include additional definitions when these additional definitions
are required to clarify the meaning of the standard.
Essential Composition and Quality Factors
This section should contain all quantitative and other requirements
as to composition including, where necessary, identity characteristics,
provisions on packing media and requirements as to compulsory and
optional ingredients. It should also include quality factors that are
essential for the designation, definition, or composition of the
product concerned. Such factors could include the quality of the raw
material, with the object of protecting the health of the consumer,
provisions on taste, odor, color, and texture which may be apprehended
by the senses, and basic quality criteria for the finished products,
with the object of preventing fraud. This section may refer to
tolerances for defects, such as blemishes or imperfect material, but
this information should be contained in appendix to the standard or in
another advisory text.
Food Additives
This section should contain the names of the additives permitted
and, where appropriate, the maximum amount permitted in the food. It
should be prepared in accordance with guidance given on page 84 of the
Codex Procedural Manual and may take the following form:
``The following provisions in respect of food additives and their
specifications as contained in section * * * of the Codex Alimentarius
are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee
on Food Additives and Contaminants.''
A tabulation should then follow, viz.:
``Name of additive, maximum level (in percentage or mg/kg).''
Contaminants
(a) Pesticide Residues: This section should include, by reference,
any levels for pesticide residues that have been established by the
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues for the product concerned.
(b) Other Contaminants: In addition, this section should contain
the names of other contaminants and where appropriate the maximum level
permitted in the food, and the text to appear in the standard may take
the following form:
``The following provisions in respect of contaminants, other than
pesticide residues, are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by
the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants.''
A tabulation should then follow, viz.:
``Name of contaminant, maximum level (in percentage or mg/kg).''
Hygiene
Any specific mandatory hygiene provisions considered necessary
should be included in this section. They should be prepared in
accordance with the guidance given in the Codex Procedural Manual.
Reference should also be made to applicable codes of hygienic practice.
Any parts of such codes, including in particular any end-product
specifications, should be set out in the standard, if it is considered
necessary that they should be made mandatory. The following statement
should also appear:
``The following provisions in respect of the food hygiene of the
product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex
Committee on Food Hygiene.''
Weights and Measures
This section should include all provisions, other than labelling
provisions, relating to weights and measures, e.g., where appropriate,
fill of container, weight, measure or count of units determined by an
appropriate method of sampling and analysis. Weights and measures
should be expressed in S.I. units. In the case of standards which
include provisions for the sale of products in standardized amounts,
e.g. multiples of 100 grams, S.I. units should be used, but this would
not preclude additional statements in the standards of these
standardized amounts in approximately similar amounts in other systems
of weights and measures.
Labelling
This section should include all the labelling provisions contained
in the standard and should be prepared in accordance with the guidance
given in the Codex Procedural Manual. Provisions should be included by
reference to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged
Foods. The section may also contain provisions which are exemptions
from, additions to, or which are necessary for the interpretation of
the General Standard in respect of the product concerned provided that
these can be justified fully. The following statement should also
appear:
``The following provisions in respect of the labelling of this
product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex
Committee on Food Labelling.''
[[Page 33460]]
Methods of Analysis and Sampling
This section should include, either specifically or by reference,
all methods of analysis and sampling considered necessary and should be
prepared in accordance with the guidance given in the Codex Procedural
Manual. If two or more methods have been proved to be equivalent by the
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, these could be
regarded as alternatives and included in this section either
specifically or by reference. The following statement should also
appear:
``The methods of analysis and sampling described hereunder are to
be endorsed [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Methods of
Analysis and Sampling.''
[FR Doc. 03-13771 Filed 6-3-03; 8:45 am]