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C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

ISSN 1020-8070
C

www.codexalimentarius.net 16 Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

CM 2006

MY

CY

Procedural Manual - Sixteenth edition

CMY

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is intended to
help Member Governments participate effectively in the work of the joint
FAO/Who Food Standards Programme. The manual is particularly useful for
national delegations attending Codex meetings and for international
organizations attending as observers. It sets out the basic Rules of Procedure,
PROCEDURAL MANUAL
procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts, basic
definitions and guidelines for the operation of Codex committees. Sixteenth edition
It also gives the membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

ISBN 978-92-5-105700-1 ISSN 1020-8070

FAO/WHO

9 789251 057001
TC/M/A1100E/1/04.07/2500
 Contents

CONTENTS

Introduction............................................................................................... 1
SECTION I
Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission ..................................... 3
Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission .................. 6
Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards
and Related Texts ................................................................................... 19
General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius ....................................... 30
Guidelines on Cooperation between the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and International Intergovernmental Organizations
in the Elaboration of Standards and Related Texts................................. 31
Principles Concerning the Participation of International NGO’s
in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission............................. 34
Definitions for the Purposes of the Codex Alimentarius ........................ 41
SECTION II
Guidelines for Codex Committees and Ad Hoc
Intergovernmental Task Forces .............................................................. 47
Guidelines to Host Governments.....................................................................47
Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings ..........................................................53
Guidelines to Chairpersons..............................................................................56
Guidelines on Physical Working Groups ........................................................60
Guidelines on Electronic Working Groups .....................................................63
Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities ................................... 66
Criteria For The Prioritization Process Of Compounds
For Evaluation By JMPR.................................................................................67

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Contents

Criteria for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies of the

Codex Alimentarius Commission........................................................... 71
Guidelines for the Inclusion of Specific Provisions in Codex
Standards and Related Texts................................................................... 73
Uniform System of References for Codex Documents........................... 88
Format for Codex Commodity Standards............................................... 91
Relations between Commodity Committees and General Committees .. 95
Core Functions of Codex Contact Points.............................................. 101
SECTION III
Working Principles for Risk Analysis for
Application in the Framework of the Codex Alimentarius................... 103
Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee
on Food Additives and Contaminants................................................... 110
CCFAC Policy for Exposure Assessment of
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods or Food Groups ............................ 116
SECTION IV
Sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission ................................ 121
Sessions of the Executive Committee of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission......................................................... 122
Subsidiary Bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission................. 124
Joint FAO/WHO Committee of Government Experts on the Code
of Principles Concerning Milk and Milk Products (CX-703).......................124
Codex Committee on General Principles (CX-716) .....................................125
Codex Committee on Food Additives (CX-711) ..........................................126
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CX-735)..............................127
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CX-712) ............................................128
Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CX-714)...........................................130
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CX-715) ..........131
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CX-718) .....................................132
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CX-730)....134
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 Contents

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and

Inspection Systems (CX-733)........................................................................135
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for
Special Dietary Uses (CX-720) .....................................................................136
Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (CX-708)..................137
Codex Committee on Sugars (CX-710) ........................................................138
Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CX-713)...............138
Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CX-709) ..............................................139
Codex Committee on Meat (CX-717) ...........................................................140
Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (CX-723) ............................................141
Codex Committee on Processed Meat and Poultry Products (CX-721)......141
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CX-722) .........................142
Codex Committee on Edible Ices (CX-724) .................................................143
Codex Committee on Soups and Broths (CX-726).......................................143
Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CX-729) ....................144
Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins (CX-728).....................................144
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CX-731) ......................145
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CX-703).............................146
Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (CX-719).............................146
ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
Fruit and Vegetable Juices (CX-801) ............................................................147
ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
Foods Derived from Biotechnology (CX-802) .............................................148
ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
Animal Feeding (CX-803) .............................................................................149
ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
Antimicrobial Resistance (CX-804) ..............................................................150
ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods (CX-805) ..................151
FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (CX-707)..........................151
FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (CX-727).............................152
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Contents

FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (CX-706) ........................153

FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America
and the Caribbean (CX-725)..........................................................................155
FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CX-734) ..............156
FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America
and the South West Pacific (CX-732) ...........................................................157
Joint UNECE/Codex Alimentarius Groups of Experts on Standardization .158
Joint Codex/IOOC Meeting on the Standardization of Table Olives ...........160
Membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.......................... 161
APPENDIX:
GENERAL DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSION
Statements of Principle Concerning the Role of Science
in the Codex Decision-Making Process and the Extent
to Which Other Factors are Taken into Account .................................. 164
Statements of Principle Relating to the Role of
Food Safety Risk Assessment............................................................... 166
Measures to Facilitate Consensus ......................................................... 167

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 Introduction

INTRODUCTION

The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is

intended to help Member governments participate effectively in the work of the
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The Manual is particularly
useful for national delegations attending Codex meetings and for international
organizations attending as observers. It will also be useful for Member
governments which wish to participate in Codex work by correspondence.
Section I sets out the Commission’s Statutes, Rules of Procedure and the
other internal procedures necessary to achieve the Commission’s objectives.
These include the procedures for the elaboration of Codex Standards and related
texts, general principles and some basic definitions.
Section II is devoted to guidelines for the efficient operation of Codex
Committees and Task Forces. These Committees and Task Forces are organized
and operated by Member Governments designated by the Commission. It
describes how standards are set out in a uniform manner, describes a uniform
reference system for Codex documents and working papers, and provides a
number of general principles for formulating key sections of Codex standards
and outlines the core functions of national Codex Contact Points.
Section III contains policy documents on risk analysis for application by
the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
Section IV lists the Commission’s subsidiary bodies with their Terms of
Reference and the Membership of the Commission.
General decisions of the Commission are reproduced in the Appendix.
This Sixteenth Edition of the Procedural Manual was prepared by the
Secretariat following the Twenty-ninth Session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, Rome, 2006. Further information concerning the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and its Subsidiary Bodies can be obtained from the
Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards
Programme, FAO, 00153 Rome, Italy, and from the website at
http://www.codexalimentarius.net.

1
Section I

SECTION I
ƒ Statutes
ƒ Rules of Procedure
ƒ Elaboration Procedures
ƒ General Principles
ƒ Guidelines on Cooperation between the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and International Intergovernmental Organizations in the
Elaboration of Standards and Related Texts
ƒ Principles Concerning the Participation of International Non-
Governmental Organizations in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission
ƒ Definitions

CONTENTS OF THIS SECTION

The Statutes and Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission were first established by FAO Conference and the World Health
Assembly in 1961/63 when the Commission itself was established. The Statutes
were revised in 1966 and in 2006. The Rules of Procedure have been amended
on several occasions, the last time being in 2006. The Statutes form the legal
basis of the Commission’s work and provide its mandate or terms of reference.
The Rules of Procedure describe the formal working procedures appropriate to
an intergovernmental body.
The Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards describes the way
by which Codex standards are prepared and the various Steps in the process
which ensure comprehensive review of draft standards by governments and
other interested parties. It was comprehensively revised in 1993 to provide a
uniform elaboration procedure for all Codex standards and related texts. The
Procedure underwent a major revision in 2004 to introduce the strategic
planning process and critical review.
The General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius define the scope and
purpose of Codex Standards. This Section also contains Principles and
Guidelines governing the relations between the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and international observer organizations
This Section concludes with Definitions for the Purpose of the Codex
Alimentarius which assist in the uniform interpretation of these texts.

2
 Statutes

STATUTES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

ARTICLE 1
The Codex Alimentarius Commission shall, subject to Article 5 below, be
responsible for making proposals to, and shall be consulted by, the Directors-
General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) on all matters pertaining to the implementation of the Joint
FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, the purpose of which is:
(a) protecting the health of the consumers and ensuring fair practices in
the food trade;
(b) promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by
international governmental and non governmental organizations;
(c) determining priorities and initiating and guiding the preparation of
draft standards through and with the aid of appropriate
organizations;
(d) finalizing standards elaborated under (c) above and publishing them
in a Codex Alimentarius either as regional or world wide standards,
together with international standards already finalized by other
bodies under (b) above, wherever this is practicable;
(e) amending published standards, as appropriate, in the light of
developments.
ARTICLE 2
Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and WHO which are interested in international food standards.
Membership shall comprise such of these nations as have notified the Director-
General of FAO or of WHO of their desire to be considered as Members.
ARTICLE 3
Any Member Nation or Associate Member of FAO or WHO which is not a
Member of the Commission but has a special interest in the work of the
Commission, may, upon request communicated to the Director-General of FAO
or WHO, as appropriate, attend sessions of the Commission and of its subsidiary
bodies and ad hoc meetings as observers.
ARTICLE 4
Nations which, while not Member Nations or Associate Members of FAO or
WHO, are members of the United Nations, may be invited on their request to
3
Section I

attend meetings of the Commission as observers in accordance with the

provisions of FAO and WHO relating to the grant of observer status to nations.
ARTICLE 5
The Commission shall report and make recommendations to the Conference of
FAO and the appropriate body of WHO through their respective Directors-
General. Copies of reports, including any conclusions and recommendations,
will be circulated to interested Member Nations and international organizations
for their information as soon as they become available.
ARTICLE 6
The Commission shall establish an Executive Committee whose composition
should ensure an adequate representation of the various geographical areas of
the world to which the Members of the Commission belong. Between sessions,
the Executive Committee shall act as the Executive organ of the Commission.
ARTICLE 7
The Commission may establish such other subsidiary bodies as it deems
necessary for the accomplishment of its task, subject to the availability of the
necessary funds.
ARTICLE 8
The Commission may adopt and amend its own Rules of Procedure which shall
come into force upon approval by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO,
subject to such confirmation as may be prescribed by the procedures of these
Organizations.
ARTICLE 9
The operating expenses of the Commission and of its subsidiary bodies, other
than those for which a Member has accepted the Chair, shall be borne by the
budget of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme which shall be
administered by FAO on behalf of the two Organizations in accordance with the
financial regulations of FAO. The Directors-General of FAO and WHO shall
jointly determine the respective portion of the costs of the Programme to be
borne by each Organization and prepare the corresponding annual expenditure
estimates for inclusion in the Regular Budgets of the two Organizations for
approval by the appropriate governing bodies.
ARTICLE 10
All expenses (including those relating to meetings, documents and
interpretation) involved in preparatory work on draft standards undertaken by
Members of the Commission, either independently or upon recommendation of
the Commission, shall be defrayed by the government concerned. Within the
4
 Statutes

approved budgetary estimates, the Commission may, however, recommend that

a specified part of the costs of the preparatory work undertaken by the
government on behalf of the Commission be recognized as operating expenses
of the Commission.

5
Rules of procedure

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

RULE I MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership of the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission,
hereinafter referred to as “the Commission”, is open to all Member Nations and
Associate Members of FAO and/or WHO.
2. Membership shall comprise such eligible nations as have notified the
Director-General of FAO or of WHO of their desire to be considered Members
of the Commission.
3. Membership shall also comprise regional economic integration
organizations members of either FAO or WHO that notify the Director-General
of FAO or WHO of their desire to be considered Members of the Commission.
4. Each Member of the Commission shall communicate to the Director-
General of FAO or of WHO the names of its representative and where possible
other members of its delegation before the opening of each session of the
Commission.
RULE II - MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
1. A Member Organization shall exercise membership rights on an alternative
basis with its Member States that are Members of the Commission in the areas
of their respective competence.
2. A Member Organization shall have the right to participate in matters
within its competence in any meetings of the Commission or its subsidiary
bodies in which any of its Member States is entitled to participate. This is
without prejudice to the possibility for the Member States to develop or support
the position of the Member Organization in areas within its competence.
3. A Member Organization may exercise on matters within its competence, in
any meetings of the Commission or any subsidiary body of the Commission in
which it is entitled to participate in accordance with paragraph 2, a number of
votes equal to the number of its Member States which are entitled to vote in
such meetings and present at the time the vote is taken. Whenever a Member
Organization exercises its right to vote, its Member States shall not exercise
theirs, and conversely.
4. A Member Organization shall not be eligible for election or designation,
nor to hold office in the Commission or any subsidiary body. A Member
Organization shall not participate in voting for any elective places in the
Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
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 Rules of procedure

5. Before any meeting of the Commission or a subsidiary body of the

Commission in which a Member Organization is entitled to participate, the
Member Organization or its Member States shall indicate in writing which, as
between the Member Organization and its Member States, has competence in
respect of any specific question to be considered in the meeting and which, as
between the Member Organization and its Member States, shall exercise the
right to vote in respect of each particular agenda item. Nothing in this paragraph
shall prevent a Member Organization or its Member States from making a single
declaration in the Commission and each subsidiary body in which a Member
Organization is entitled to participate for the purposes of this paragraph, which
declaration shall remain in force for questions and agenda items to be
considered at all subsequent meetings, subject to such exceptions or
modifications as may be indicated before any individual meeting.
6. Any Member of the Commission may request a Member Organization or
its Member States to provide information as to which, as between the Member
Organization and its Member States, has competence in respect of any specific
question. The Member Organization or the Member States concerned shall
provide this information on such request.
7. In cases where an agenda item covers both matters in respect of which
competence has been transferred to the Member Organization and matters which
lie within the competence of its Member States, both the Member Organization
and its Member States may participate in the discussions. In such cases the
meeting, in arriving at its decisions, 1 shall take into account only the
intervention of the party which has the right to vote.2
8. For the purpose of determining a quorum, as specified in paragraph 7 of
Rule VI, the delegation of a Member Organization shall be counted for a
number equal to the number of its Member States which are entitled to
participate in the meeting and are present at the time the quorum is sought, to
the extent that it is entitled to vote under the relevant agenda item.

1
The word ‘decisions’ should be understood to mean both voting and
situations where a decision is taken by consensus.
2
The above is without prejudice to the question of whether or not the
views of the party not having the right to vote shall be reflected in the report of
the meeting. Where the views of the party not having the right to vote are
reflected in the report, the fact that they are the views of the party not having the
right to vote shall also be reflected in the report.

7
Rules of procedure

RULE III OFFICERS

1. The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and three Vice-Chairpersons
from among the representatives, alternates and advisers (hereinafter referred to
as “delegates”) of the Members of the Commission; it being understood that no
delegate shall be eligible without the concurrence of the head of his delegation.
They shall be elected at each session and shall hold office from the end of the
session at which they were elected until the end of the following regular session.
The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons may remain in office only with the
continuing endorsement of the respective Member of the Commission of which
they were a delegate at the time of election. The Directors-General of FAO and
WHO shall declare a position vacant when advised by the Member of the
Commission that such endorsement has ceased. The Chairperson and Vice-
Chairpersons shall be eligible for re-election twice, provided that by the end of
their second term of office they have not served for a period of more than two
years.
2. The Chairperson, or in his absence a Vice-Chairperson, shall preside at
meetings of the Commission and exercise such other function as may be
required to facilitate the work of the Commission. A Vice-Chairperson acting
as Chairperson shall have the same powers and duties as the Chairperson.
3. When neither the Chairperson nor the Vice-Chairperson are able to serve
and, on the request of the outgoing Chairperson, during elections for the
Chairperson, the Directors-General of FAO and WHO shall appoint a staff
member to act as Chairperson, until either a temporary Chairperson or a new
Chairperson has been elected. Any temporary Chairperson so elected shall hold
office until the Chairperson or one of the Vice-Chairpersons is able to serve
again.
4. The Commission may appoint one or more rapporteurs from among the
delegates of the Members of the Commission.
5. The Directors-General of FAO and WHO shall be requested to appoint
from the staffs of their organizations a Secretary of the Commission and such
other officials, likewise responsible to them, as may be necessary to assist the
officers and the Secretary in performing all duties that the work of the
Commission may require.
RULE IV COORDINATORS
1. The Commission may appoint a Coordinator from among the Members of
the Commission for any of the geographic locations enumerated in Rule V.1
(hereinafter referred to as “regions”) or for any group of countries specifically
enumerated by the Commission (hereinafter referred to as ‘groups of countries’),
whenever it may find, on the basis of a proposal of a majority of the Members of

8
 Rules of procedure

the Commission which constitute the region or group, that work for the Codex
Alimentarius in the countries concerned so requires.
2. Appointment of Coordinators shall be made exclusively on the proposal of
a majority of the Members of the Commission which constitute the region or
group of countries concerned. In principle, they shall be nominated at each
session of the relevant Coordinating Committee established under Rule
XI.1(b)(ii), and appointed at the following regular session of the Commission.
They shall hold office from the end of this session. Coordinators may be
reappointed for a second term. The Commission shall make such arrangements
as may be necessary in order to ensure continuity in the functions of the
Coordinators.
3. The functions of the Coordinators shall be:
(i) to assist and coordinate the work of the Codex Committees set up
under Rule XI.1(b)(i) in their region or group of countries in the
preparation of draft standards, guidelines and other
recommendations for submission to the Commission;
(ii) to assist the Executive Committee and the Commission, as
required, by advising them of the views of countries and
recognized regional intergovernmental and non-government
organizations in their respective regions on matters under
discussion or of interest.
RULE V EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson and the Vice-
Chairpersons of the Commission, and the Coordinators appointed on the basis of
Rule IV together with seven further Members elected by the Commission at
regular sessions from among the Members of the Commission, one each coming
from the following geographic locations: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America
and the Caribbean, Near East, North America, South-West Pacific. Not more
than one delegate from any one country shall be a member of the Executive
Committee. Members elected on a geographic basis shall hold office from the
end of the session of the Commission at which they were elected until the end of
the second succeeding regular session and shall be eligible for re-election if they
have not served for more than two years in their current term, but after having
served two consecutive terms shall be ineligible to hold such office for the next
succeeding term.
2. The Executive Committee shall, between sessions of the Commission, act
on behalf of the Commission as its executive organ. In particular, the Executive
Committee may make proposals to the Commission regarding general
orientation, strategic planning, and programming of the work of the

9
Rules of procedure

Commission, study special problems and shall assist in the management of the
Commission’s programme of standards development, namely by conducting a
critical review of proposals to undertake work and monitoring the progress of
standards development.
3. The Executive Committee shall consider specific matters referred to it by
the Directors-General of FAO and WHO as well as the estimate of expenditure
for the Commission’s proposed programme of work as described in Rule XIII.1.
4. The Executive Committee may establish such sub-committees from
among its Members as it may deem necessary to enable it to exercise its
functions as effectively as possible. Such sub-committees should be limited in
numbers, carry out preparatory work and report to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall appoint one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the
Commission to serve as chairpersons of any such sub-committee. Consideration
should be given to an appropriate geographical balance in the membership of
sub-committees.
5. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Commission shall be
respectively the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Executive
Committee.
6. Sessions of the Executive Committee may be convened as often as
necessary by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO, in consultation with the
Chairperson. The Executive Committee shall normally meet immediately prior
to each session of the Commission.
7. The Executive Committee shall report to the Commission.
RULE VI SESSIONS
1. The Commission shall in principle hold one regular session each year at
the Headquarters of either FAO or WHO. Additional sessions shall be held as
considered necessary by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO after
consultation with the Chairperson of the Executive Committee.
2. Sessions of the Commission shall be convened and the place of the
meeting shall be determined by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO after
consultation where appropriate, with the authorities of the host country.
3. Notice of the date and place of each session of the Commission shall be
communicated to all Members of the Commission at least two months before
the session.
4. Each Member of the Commission shall have one representative, who may
be accompanied by one or more alternates and advisers.

10
 Rules of procedure

5. In plenary meetings of the Commission, the representative of a Member

may designate an alternate who shall have the right to speak and vote in the
name of his or her delegation on any question. Moreover, upon the request of the
representative or any alternate so designated, the Chairperson may allow an
adviser to speak on any particular point.
6. Meetings of the Commission shall be held in public, unless the
Commission decides otherwise.
7. The majority of the Members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum
for the purposes of making recommendations for amendments to the Statutes of
the Commission and of adopting amendments of, or additions to, the present
Rules in accordance with Rule XV.1. For all other purposes the majority of the
Members of the Commission attending the session shall constitute a quorum,
provided that such a majority shall be not less than 20 percent of the total
membership of the Commission, nor less than 25 Members. In addition, in the
case of amendment or adoption of a proposed standard for a given region or
group of countries, the quorum of the Commission shall include one third of the
Members belonging to the region or group of countries concerned.
RULE VII AGENDA
1. The Directors-General of FAO and WHO, after consultation with the
Chairperson of the Commission or with the Executive Committee, shall prepare
a Provisional Agenda for each session of the Commission.
2. The first item on the Provisional Agenda shall be the adoption of the
Agenda.
3. Any Member of the Commission may request the Directors-General of
FAO or WHO to include specific items in the Provisional Agenda.
4. The Provisional Agenda shall be circulated by the Directors-General of
FAO or WHO to all Members of the Commission at least two months before the
opening of the session.
5. Any Member of the Commission, and the Directors-General of FAO and
WHO, may, after the dispatch of the Provisional Agenda, propose the inclusion
of specific items in the Agenda with respect to matters of an urgent nature.
These items shall be placed on a supplementary list, which, if time permits
before the opening of the session, shall be dispatched by the Directors-General
of FAO and WHO to all Members of the Commission, failing which the
supplementary list shall be communicated to the Chairperson for submission to
the Commission.
6. No items included in the Agenda by the governing bodies or the Directors-
General of FAO and WHO shall be deleted therefrom. After the Agenda has

11
Rules of procedure

been adopted, the Commission may, by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast,
amend the Agenda by the deletion, addition or modification of any other item.
7. Documents to be submitted to the Commission at any session shall be
furnished by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO to all Members of the
Commission, to the other eligible Nations attending the session as observers and
to the non-member nations and international organizations invited as observers
thereto, in principle at least two months prior to the session at which they are to
be discussed.
RULE VIII VOTING AND PROCEDURES
1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Rule, each Member of the
Commission shall have one vote. An alternate or adviser shall not have the right
to vote except where substituting for the representative.
2. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, decisions of the Commission
shall be taken by a majority of the votes cast.
3. At the request of a majority of the Members of the Commission
constituting a given region or a group of countries that a standard be elaborated,
the standard concerned shall be elaborated as a standard primarily intended for
that region or group of countries. When a vote is taken on the elaboration,
amendment or adoption of a draft standard primarily intended for a region or
group of countries, only Members belonging to that region or group of countries
may take part in the voting. The adoption of the standard may, however, take
place only after submission of the draft text to all Members of the Commission
for comments. The provisions of this paragraph shall not prejudice the
elaboration or adoption of a corresponding standard with a different territorial
scope.
4. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 of this Rule and paragraph 2 of
Rule XII, any Member of the Commission may request a roll-call vote, in which
case the vote of each Member shall be recorded.
5. Elections shall be decided by secret ballot, except that, where the number
of candidates does not exceed the number of vacancies, the Chairperson may
submit to the Commission that the election be decided by clear general consent.
Any other matter shall be decided by secret ballot if the Commission so
determines.
6. Formal proposals relating to items of the Agenda and amendments thereto
shall be introduced in writing and handed to the Chairperson, who shall circulate
them to representatives of Members of the Commission.

12
 Rules of procedure

7. The provisions of Rule XII of the General Rules of FAO shall apply
mutatis mutandis to all matters which are not specifically dealt with under Rule
VIII of the present Rules.
RULE IX OBSERVERS
1. Any Member Nation and any Associate Member of FAO or WHO which is
not a Member of the Commission but has a special interest in the work of the
Commission, may, upon request communicated to the Director-General of FAO
or WHO, attend sessions of the Commission and of its subsidiary bodies as an
observer. It may submit memoranda and participate without vote in the
discussion.
2. Nations which, while not Member Nations or Associate Members of FAO
or WHO, are Members of the United Nations, may, upon their request and
subject to the provisions relating to the granting of observer status to nations
adopted by the Conference of FAO and the World Health Assembly, be invited
to attend in an observer capacity sessions of the Commission and of its
subsidiary bodies. The status of nations invited to such sessions shall be
governed by the relevant provisions adopted by the Conference of FAO.
3. Any Member of the Commission may attend as an observer the sessions of
the subsidiary bodies and may submit memoranda and participate without vote
in the discussions.
4. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Rule, the Directors-
General of FAO or WHO may invite intergovernmental and international non-
governmental organizations to attend as observers sessions of the Commission
and of its subsidiary bodies.
5. Participation of intergovernmental organizations in the work of the
Commission and the relations between the Commission and such organizations
shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitutions of FAO or
WHO, as well as by the applicable regulations of FAO or WHO on relations
with intergovernmental organizations; such relations shall be handled by the
Director-General of FAO or WHO, as appropriate.
6. Participation of international non-governmental organizations in the work
of the Commission and the relations between the Commission and such
organizations shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the Constitution of
FAO or WHO, as well as by applicable regulations of FAO or WHO on
relations with international non-governmental organizations. Such relations
shall be handled by the Director-General of FAO or WHO, as appropriate, on
the advice of the Executive Committee. The Commission shall develop and
keep under review principles and criteria concerning the participation of

13
Rules of procedure

international non-governmental organizations in its work, consistent with the

applicable regulations of FAO or WHO
RULE X RECORDS AND REPORTS
1. At each session the Commission shall approve a report embodying its
views, recommendations and conclusions, including when requested a statement
of minority views. Such other records for its own use as the Commission may
on occasion decide shall also be maintained.
2. The report of the Commission shall be transmitted to the Directors-General
of FAO and WHO at the close of each session, who shall circulate it to the
Members of the Commission, to other countries and to organizations that were
represented at the session, for their information, and upon request to other
Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and WHO.
3. Recommendations of the Commission having policy, programme or
financial implications for FAO and/or WHO shall be brought by the Directors-
General to the attention of the governing bodies of FAO and/or WHO for
appropriate action.
4. Subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Directors-General
of FAO and WHO may request Members of the Commission to supply the
Commission with information on action taken on the basis of recommendations
made by the Commission.
RULE XI SUBSIDIARY BODIES
1. The Commission may establish the following types of subsidiary bodies:
(a) subsidiary bodies which it deems necessary for the accomplishment
of its work in the finalization of draft standards;
(b) subsidiary bodies in the form of:
(i) Codex Committees for the preparation of draft standards for
submission to the Commission, whether intended for world-
wide use, for a given region or for a group of countries
specifically enumerated by the Commission.
(ii) Coordinating Committees for regions or groups of countries
which shall exercise general coordination in the preparation of
standards relating to such regions or groups of countries and
such other functions as may be entrusted to them.
2. Subject to paragraph 3 below, membership in these subsidiary bodies shall
consist, as may be determined by the Commission, either of such Members of
the Commission as have notified the Directors-General of FAO or WHO of their

14
 Rules of procedure

desire to be considered as Members thereof, or of selected Members designated

by the Commission.
3. Membership of subsidiary bodies established under Rule XI.1(b)(i) for the
preparation of draft standards intended primarily for a region or group of
countries, shall be open only to Members of the Commission belonging to such
a region or group of countries.
4. Representatives of members of subsidiary bodies shall, insofar as possible,
serve in a continuing capacity and shall be specialists active in the fields of the
respective subsidiary bodies.
5. Subsidiary bodies may only be established by the Commission except
where otherwise provided in these Rules. Their terms of reference and reporting
procedures shall be determined by the Commission.
6. Sessions of subsidiary bodies shall be convened by the Directors-General
of FAO and WHO:
(a) in the case of bodies established under Rule XI.1(a), in consultation
with the Chairperson of the Commission;
(b) in the case of bodies established under Rule XI.1(b)(i) (Codex
Committees), in consultation with the chairperson of the respective Codex
Committee and also, in the case of Codex Committees for the preparation
of draft standards for a given region or group of countries, with the
Coordinator, if a Coordinator has been appointed for the region or group of
countries concerned;
(c) in the case of bodies established under Rule XI.1(b)(ii) (Coordinating
Committees), in consultation with the Chairperson of the Coordinating
Committee.
7. The Directors-General of FAO and WHO shall determine the place of
meeting of bodies established under Rule XI.1(a) and Rule XI.1(b)(ii) after
consultation, where appropriate, with the host country concerned and, in the
case of bodies established under Rule XI.1(b)(ii), after consultation with the
Coordinator for the region or group of countries concerned, if any.
8. Notice of the date and place of each session of bodies established under
Rule XI.1(a) shall be communicated to all Members of the Commission at least
two months before the session.
9. The establishment of subsidiary bodies under Rule XI.1(a) and Rule
XI.1(b)(ii) shall be subject to the availability of the necessary funds, as shall the
establishment of subsidiary bodies under Rule XI.1(b)(i) when any of their
expenses are proposed to be recognized as operating expenses within the budget
of the Commission in accordance with Article 10 of the Statutes of the
15
Rules of procedure

Commission. Before taking any decision involving expenditure in connection

with the establishment of such subsidiary bodies, the Commission shall have
before it a report from the Director-General of FAO and/or WHO, as
appropriate, on the administrative and financial implications thereof.
10. The Members who shall be responsible for appointing Chairpersons of
subsidiary bodies established under Rule XI.1(b)(i) and Rule XI.1(b)(ii) shall be
designated at each session by the Commission and shall be eligible for re-
designation. All other officers of subsidiary bodies shall be elected by the body
concerned and shall be eligible for re-election.
11. The Rules of Procedure of the Commission shall apply mutatis mutandis to
its subsidiary bodies.
RULE XII ELABORATION AND ADOPTION OF STANDARDS
1. Subject to the provisions of these Rules of Procedure, the Commission
may establish the procedures for the elaboration of world-wide standards and of
standards for a given region or group of countries, and, when necessary, amend
such procedures.
2. The Commission shall make every effort to reach agreement on the
adoption or amendment of standards by consensus. Decisions to adopt or amend
standards may be taken by voting only if such efforts to reach consensus have
failed.
RULE XIII BUDGET AND EXPENSES
1. The Directors-General of FAO and WHO shall prepare for
consideration by the Commission at its regular sessions an estimate of
expenditure based on the proposed programme of work of the Commission and
its subsidiary bodies, together with information concerning expenditures for the
previous financial period. This estimate, with such modifications as may be
considered appropriate by the Directors-General in the light of
recommendations made by the Commission, shall subsequently be incorporated
in the Regular Budgets of the two Organizations for approval by the appropriate
governing bodies.
2. The estimate of expenditure shall make provisions for the operating
expenses of the Commission and the subsidiary bodies of the Commission
established under Rule XI.1(a) and XI.1(b)(ii) and for the expenses relating to
staff assigned to the Programme and other expenditures incurred in connection
with the servicing of the latter.
3. The estimate of expenditure shall make provision for the travel
expenses (including a daily subsistence allowance) of members of the Executive

16
 Rules of procedure

Committee from developing countries for the purpose of participating in

meetings of the Executive Committee.
4. The operating costs of subsidiary bodies established under Rule
XI.1(b)(i) (Codex Committees) shall be borne by each Member accepting the
Chair of such a body. The estimate of expenditure may include a provision for
such costs involved in preparatory work as may be recognized as operating
expenses of the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of
the Statutes of the Commission.
5. Except as provided for in Rule XIII.3, the estimate of expenditure shall
make no provision for expenses, including travel, incurred by delegations of the
Members of the Commission or of observers referred to in Rule IX, in
connection with their attendance at sessions of the Commission or its subsidiary
bodies. Should experts be invited by the Directors-General of FAO or WHO to
attend sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies in their individual
capacity, their expenses shall be borne out of the regular budgetary funds
available for the work of the Commission.
RULE XIV LANGUAGES
1. The languages of the Commission and of its subsidiary bodies set up under
Rule XI.1(a) shall be not less than three of the working languages, as shall be
determined by the Commission, which are working languages both of FAO and
of the Health Assembly of WHO.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 above, other languages
which are working languages either of FAO or of the Health Assembly of WHO
may be added by the Commission if
(a) the Commission has before it a report from the Directors-General of
FAO and WHO on the policy, financial and administrative implications of
the addition of such languages; and
(b) the addition of such languages has the approval of the Directors-
General of FAO and WHO.
3. Where a representative wishes to use a language other than a language of
the Commission he shall himself provide the necessary interpretation and/or
translation into one of the languages of the Commission.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Rule, the
languages of subsidiary bodies set up under Rule XI.1(b) shall include at least
two of the languages of the Commission.

17
Rules of procedure

RULE XV AMENDMENTS AND SUSPENSION OF RULES

1. Amendments of or additions to these Rules may be adopted by a two thirds
majority of the votes cast, provided that 24 hours’ notice of the proposal for the
amendment or addition has been given. Amendments of or additions to these
Rules shall come into force upon approval by the Directors-General of FAO and
WHO, subject to such confirmation as may be prescribed by the procedures of
the two Organizations.
2. The Rules of the Commission, other than Rule I, Rule III.1, 2, 3 and 5,
Rule V, Rule VI.2 and 7, Rule VII.1, 4 and 6, Rule VIII.1, 2 and 3, Rule IX,
Rule X.3 and 4, Rule XI.5, 7 and 9, Rule XIII, Rule XV and Rule XVI, may be
suspended by the Commission by a two thirds majority of the votes cast,
provided that 24 hours’ notice of the proposal for suspension has been given.
Such notice may be waived if no representative of the Members of the
Commission objects.
RULE XVI ENTRY INTO FORCE
1. In accordance with Article 8 of the Statutes of the Commission, these
Rules of Procedure shall come into force upon approval by the Directors-
General of FAO and WHO, subject to such confirmation as may be prescribed
by the procedures of the two Organizations. Pending the coming into force of
these Rules, they shall apply provisionally.

18
 Elaboration procedures

PROCEDURES FOR THE ELABORATION OF CODEX STANDARDS AND

RELATED TEXTS

Note: These procedures apply to the elaboration of Codex standards and

related texts (e.g. codes of practice, guidelines) adopted by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission as recommendations for governments.

INTRODUCTION
The full procedure for the elaboration of Codex standards is as follows.
1. The Commission shall implement a unified approach in the area of
standards development by taking its decisions, based on a strategic planning
process (“standards management”) (See Part 1 of this document).
2. An on-going critical review shall ensure that proposals for new work
and draft standards submitted to the Commission for adoption continue to meet
the strategic priorities of the Commission and can be developed within a
reasonable period of time, taking into account the requirements and availability
of scientific expert advice (See Part 2 of this document).
3. The Commission decides, taking into account the outcome of the on-going
critical review conducted by the Executive Committee, that a standard should be
elaborated and also which subsidiary body or other body should undertake the
work. Decisions to elaborate standards may also be taken by subsidiary bodies
of the Commission in accordance with the above-mentioned outcome subject to
subsequent approval by the Commission at the earliest possible opportunity. The
Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a “proposed draft standard” which is
circulated to governments for comments and is then considered in the light of
these by the subsidiary body concerned which may present the text to the
Commission as a “draft standard”. If the Commission adopts the “draft
standard” it is sent to governments for further comments and in the light of these
and after further consideration by the subsidiary body concerned, the
Commission reconsiders the draft and may adopt it as a “Codex standard”. The
procedure is described in Part 3 of this document.
4. The Commission or any subsidiary body, subject to the confirmation of the
Commission may decide that the urgency of elaborating a Codex standard is
such that an accelerated elaboration procedure should be followed. While taking
this decision, all appropriate matters shall be taken into consideration, including
the likelihood of new scientific information becoming available in the
immediate future. The accelerated elaboration procedure is described in Part 4
19
Elaboration procedures

of this document.
5. The Commission or the subsidiary body or other body concerned may
decide that the draft be returned for further work at any appropriate previous
Step in the Procedure. The Commission may also decide that the draft be held at
Step 8.
6. The Commission may authorise, on the basis of two-thirds majority of votes
cast, the omission of Steps 6 and 7, where such an omission is recommended by
the Codex Committee entrusted with the elaboration of the draft.
Recommendations to omit steps shall be notified to Members and interested
international organizations as soon as possible after the session of the Codex
Committee concerned. When formulating recommendations to omit Steps 6 and
7, Codex Committees shall take all appropriate matters into consideration,
including the need for urgency, and the likelihood of new scientific information
becoming available in the immediate future.
7. The Commission may at any stage in the elaboration of a standard entrust
any of the remaining Steps to a Codex Committee or other body different from
that to which it was previously entrusted.
8. It will be for the Commission itself to keep under review the revision of
“Codex standards”. The procedure for revision should, mutatis mutandis, be that
laid down for the elaboration of Codex standards, except that the Commission
may decide to omit any other step or steps of that Procedure where, in its
opinion, an amendment proposed by a Codex Committee is either of an editorial
nature or of a substantive nature but consequential to provisions in similar
standards adopted by the Commission at Step 8.
9. Codex standards and related texts are published and are sent to
governments as well as to international organizations to which competence in
the matter has been transferred by their Member States (see Part 5 of this
document).
PART 1. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
1. Taking into account the “Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities”,
the strategic plan shall state broad priorities against which individual proposals
for standards (and revision of standards) can be evaluated during the critical
review process.
2. The strategic plan shall cover a six-year period and shall be renewed every
two years on a rolling basis.

20
 Elaboration procedures

PART 2. CRITICAL REVIEW

Proposals to Undertake New Work or to Revise a Standard

1. Prior to approval for development, each proposal for new work or revision
of a standard, shall be accompanied by a project document, prepared by the
Committee or Member proposing new work or revision of a standard, detailing :
• the purposes and the scope of the standard ;
• its relevance and timeliness ;
• the main aspects to be covered ;
• an assessment against the Criteria for the establishment of work
priorities ;
• relevance to the Codex strategic objectives ;
• information on the relation between the proposal and other existing
Codex documents;
• identification of any requirement for and availability of expert
scientific advice ;
• identification of any need for technical input to the standard from
external bodies so that this can be planned for;
• the proposed time-line for completion the new work, including the start
date, the proposed date for adoption at Step 5, and the proposed date
for adoption by the Commission ; the time frame for developing a
standard should not normally exceed five years.
2. The decision to undertake new work or to revise standards shall be taken by
the Commission taking into account a critical review conducted by the
Executive Committee.
3. The critical review includes:
• examination of proposals for development/revision of standards, taking
into account the “Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities",
the strategic plan of the Commission and the required supporting work
of independent risk assessment;
• identifying the standard setting needs of developing countries;
• advice on establishment and dissolution of committees and task forces,
including ad hoc cross-committee task forces (in areas where work
falls within several committee mandates); and
21
Elaboration procedures

• preliminary assessment of the need for expert scientific advice and the
availability of such advice from FAO, WHO or other relevant expert
bodies, and the prioritisation of that advice.
4. The decision to undertake new work or revision of individual maximum
residue limits for pesticides or veterinary drugs, or the maintenance of the
3
General Standard on Food Additives , the General Standard on Contaminants
4
and Toxins in Foods , the Food Categorisation System and the International
Numbering System, shall follow the procedures established by the Committees
concerned and endorsed by the Commission.
Monitoring Progress of Standards Development

5. The Executive Committee shall review the status of development of draft

standards against the time frame agreed by the Commission and shall report its
findings to the Commission.
6. The Executive Committee may propose an extension of the time frame;
cancellation of work; or propose that the work be undertaken by a Committee
other than the one to which it was originally entrusted, including the
establishment of a limited number of subsidiary bodies, if appropriate.
7. The critical review process shall ensure that progress in the development of
standards is consistent with the envisaged time frame, that draft standards
submitted to the Commission for adoption have been fully considered at
Committee level.
8. Monitoring shall take place against the time line deemed necessary and
revisions in the coverage of the standard shall need to be specifically endorsed
by the Commission.
This shall therefore include:
• monitoring of progress in developing standards and advising what
corrective action should be taken;
• examining proposed standards from Codex committees, before they are
submitted to the Commission for adoption :
− for consistency with the mandate of Codex, the decisions of the
Commission, and existing Codex texts,

3
including related methods of analysis and sampling plans
4
including related methods of analysis and sampling plans
22
 Elaboration procedures

− to ensure that the requirements of the endorsement procedure

have been fulfilled, where appropriate,
− for format and presentation, and
− for linguistic consistency.

PART 3. UNIFORM PROCEDURE FOR THE ELABORATION OF

CODEX STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS
Steps 1, 2 and 3
(1) The Commission decides, taking into account the outcome of the critical
review conducted by the Executive Committee, to elaborate a World-wide
Codex Standard and also decides which subsidiary body or other body
should undertake the work. A decision to elaborate a World-wide Codex
Standard may also be taken by subsidiary bodies of the Commission in
accordance with the above mentioned outcome, subject to subsequent
approval by the Commission 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 Core
Assessment Group on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Any other relevant
information regarding risk assessment work conducted by FAO and WHO
should also be made available. 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.

23
Elaboration procedures

Step 5
The proposed draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the
Executive Committee for critical review and to the Commission with a view to
its adoption as a draft standard 5 . In taking any decision at this step, the
Commission will give due consideration to the outcome of the critical review
and 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. 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. In taking 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
thereof 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 Executive
Committee for critical review and 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 taking
any decision at this step, the Commission will give due consideration to the
outcome of the critical review and to any comments that may be submitted by

5
Without prejudice to the outcome of the critical review conducted by the
Executive Committee and/or any decision that may be taken by the Commission at Step 5,
the proposed draft standard may be sent by the Secretariat for government comments
prior to its consideration at Step 5, when, in the opinion of the subsidiary body or other
body concerned, the time between the relevant session of the Commission and the
subsequent session of the subsidiary body or other body concerned requires such action
in order to advance the work
24
 Elaboration procedures

any of its Members regarding the implications which the draft standard or any
provisions thereof may have for their economic interests. 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 4. UNIFORM ACCELERATED PROCEDURE FOR THE
ELABORATION OF CODEX STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS
Steps 1, 2 and 3
(1) The Commission, on the basis of a two-thirds majority of votes cast, taking
into account the outcome of the critical review conducted by the Executive
Committee, shall identify those standards which shall be the subject of an
accelerated elaboration process.6 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.
(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 Core
Assessment Group on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Any other relevant
information regarding risk assessment work conducted by FAO and WHO
should also be made available. 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

6
Relevant considerations could include, but need not be limited to, matters
concerning new scientific information; new technology(ies); urgent problems related to
trade or public health; or the revision or up-dating of existing standards.
25
Elaboration procedures

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 proposed draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to
the Executive Committee for critical review and 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 the outcome of the critical review and 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.
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
proposed draft.
PART 5. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE CONCERNING
PUBLICATION OF CODEX STANDARDS
The Codex standard is published and issued to all Member States and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO and to the international organizations concerned.
The above mentioned publications will constitute the Codex Alimentarius.
SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE CONCERNING PUBLICATION AND POSSIBLE
EXTENSION OF TERRITORIAL APPLICATION OF THE STANDARD
The Codex Regional Standard is published and issued to all Member States and
Associate Members of FAO and/or WHO and to the international organizations
concerned.
It is open to the Commission to consider at any time the possible extension of
the territorial application of a Codex Regional Standard or its conversion into a
World-wide Codex Standard.
GUIDE TO THE PROCEDURE FOR THE REVISION AND AMENDMENT OF
CODEX STANDARDS
1. Proposals for the amendment or revision of Codex standards should be
submitted to the Commission’s Secretariat in good time (not less than three
months) before the session of the Commission at which they are to be
considered. The proposer of an amendment should indicate the reasons for the
proposed amendment and should also state whether the proposed amendment
had been previously submitted to and considered by the Codex committee
26
 Elaboration procedures

concerned and/or the Commission. If the proposed amendment has already

been considered by the Codex committee and/or Commission, the outcome of
the consideration of the proposed amendment should be stated.
2. Taking into account such information regarding the proposed amendment,
as may be supplied in accordance with paragraph 1 above, and the outcome of
the on-going critical review conducted by the Executive Committee, the
Commission will decide whether the amendment or revision of a standard is
necessary. If the Commission decides in the affirmative, and the proposer of the
amendment is other than a Codex committee, the proposed amendment will be
referred for consideration to the appropriate Codex committee, if such
committee is still in existence. If such committee is not in existence, the
Commission will determine how best to deal with the proposed amendment. If
the proposer of the amendment is a Codex committee, it would be open to the
Commission to decide that the proposed amendment be circulated to
governments for comments prior to further consideration by the sponsoring
Codex Committee. In the case of an amendment proposed by a Codex
Committee, it will also be open to the Commission to adopt the amendment at
Step 5 or Step 8 as appropriate, where in its opinion the amendment is either of
an editorial nature or of a substantive nature but consequential to provisions in
similar standards adopted by it at Step 8.
3. The procedure for amending or revising a Codex standard is laid down in
paragraph 8 of the Introduction to the Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex
Standards and Related Texts.
4. When the Commission has decided to amend or revise a standard, the
unrevised standard will remain the applicable Codex standard until the revised
standard has been adopted by the Commission.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AMENDMENT OF CODEX STANDARDS

ELABORATED BY CODEX COMMITTEES WHICH HAVE ADJOURNED SINE
DIE

1. The need to consider amending or revising adopted Codex standards arises

from time to time for a variety of reasons amongst which can be:
(a) changes in the evaluation of food additives, pesticides and
contaminants;
(b) finalization of methods of analysis;
(c) editorial amendments of guidelines or other texts adopted by the
Commission and related to all or a group of Codex standards e.g.

27
Elaboration procedures

“Guidelines on Date Marking”, “Guidelines on Labelling of Non-retail

Containers”, “Carry-over Principle”;
(d) consequential amendments to earlier Codex standards arising from
Commission decisions on currently adopted standards of the same type of
products;
(e) consequential and other amendments arising from either revised or
newly elaborated Codex standards and other texts of general applicability
which have been referenced in other Codex standards (Revision of General
Principles of Food Hygiene, Codex Standard for the Labelling of
Prepackaged Foods);
(f) technological developments or economic considerations e.g. provisions
concerning styles, packaging media or other factors related to composition
and essential quality criteria and consequential changes in labelling
provisions;
2. The “Guide to the Procedure for the Revision and Amendment of Codex
Standards” covers sufficiently amendments to Codex standards which have been
elaborated by still active Codex Committees. In the case of amendments
proposed to Codex standards elaborated by Codex Committees which have
adjourned sine die, the procedure places an obligation on the Commission to
“determine how best to deal with the proposed amendment”. In order to
facilitate consideration of such amendments, the Commission has established
more detailed guidance within the existing procedure for the amendment and
revision of Codex standards.
3. In the case where Codex committees have adjourned sine die:
(a) the Secretariat keeps under review all Codex standards originating
from Codex Committees adjourned sine die and to determine the need for
any amendments arising from decisions of the Commission, in particular
amendments of the type mentioned in para. 1(a), (b), (c), (d) and those of
(e) if of an editorial nature. If a need to amend the standard appears
appropriate then the Secretariat should prepare a text for adoption in the
Commission;
(b) amendments of the type in para (f) and those of (e) of a substantive
nature, the Secretariat in cooperation with the national secretariat of the
adjourned Committee and, if possible, the Chairperson of that Committee,
should agree on the need for such an amendment and prepare a working
paper containing the wording of a proposed amendment and the reasons
for proposing such amendment, and request comments from Member
Governments: (a) on the need to proceed with such an amendment and (b)
on the proposed amendment itself. If the majority of the replies received

28
 Elaboration procedures

from Member Governments is affirmative on both the need to amend the

standard and the suitability of the proposed wording for the amendment or
an alternative proposed wording, the proposal should be submitted to the
Commission with a request to approve the amendment of the standard
concerned. In cases where replies do not appear to offer an
uncontroversial solution then the Commission should be informed
accordingly and it would be for the Commission to determine how best to
proceed.

29
General principles

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

PURPOSE OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

1. The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally adopted food
standards presented in a uniform manner. These food standards aim at
protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade. The
Codex Alimentarius also includes provisions of an advisory nature in the form
of codes of practice, guidelines and other recommended measures intended to
assist in achieving the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius. The publication of
the Codex Alimentarius is intended to guide and promote the elaboration and
establishment of definitions and requirements for foods to assist in their
harmonization and in doing so to facilitate international trade.
SCOPE OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS
2. The Codex Alimentarius includes standards for all the principle foods,
whether processed, semi-processed or raw, for distribution to the consumer.
Materials for further processing into foods should be included to the extent
necessary to achieve the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius as defined. The
Codex Alimentarius includes provisions in respect of food hygiene, food
additives, pesticide residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, methods
of analysis and sampling. It also includes provisions of an advisory nature in
the form of codes of practice, guidelines and other recommended measures.
NATURE OF CODEX STANDARDS
3. Codex standards contain requirements for food aimed at ensuring for
the consumer a sound, wholesome food product free from adulteration, correctly
labelled and presented. 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.
REVISION OF CODEX STANDARDS
4. The Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies are
committed to revision as necessary of Codex standards and related texts to
ensure that they are consistent with and reflect current scientific knowledge and
other relevant information. When required, a standard or related text shall be
revised or removed using the same procedures as followed for the elaboration of
a new standard. Each member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is
responsible for identifying, and presenting to the appropriate committee, any
new scientific and other relevant information which may warrant revision of any
existing Codex standards or related texts.

30
 Guidelines on IGO Cooperation

GUIDELINES ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CODEX

ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND INTERNATIONAL
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ELABORATION OF
STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS

SCOPE AND APPLICATION

1) These guidelines establish the modalities of cooperation between the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and international intergovernmental
organizations when elaborating food standards or related texts.
2) These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the "Uniform
Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts".
TYPES OF COOPERATION
3) The Codex Alimentarius Commission may undertake the elaboration of any
standard or related text in cooperation with another international
intergovernmental body or organization.
4) Such cooperation may consist of:
a) Cooperation at the initial drafting stages of a Codex standard or related
text;
b) Cooperation through mutual exchange of information and participation in
meetings.
COOPERATING INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATION
5) The cooperating international intergovernmental organization shall have
observer status with the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
6) The cooperating international intergovernmental organization shall have the
same principles of membership7 that form the basis for membership in the

7
“The same principles of membership” shall be taken to mean that the
membership of the organization is open to all Members and Associate Members of FAO
and of WHO.
31
Guidelines on IGO Cooperation

Codex Alimentarius Commission and equivalent principles of standards-

8
setting .
COOPERATION AT THE INITIAL DRAFTING STAGES OF A CODEX
STANDARD OR RELATED TEXT9
7) The Commission, or a subsidiary body of the Commission subject to
approval by the Commission and taking into account the Critical review
conducted by the Executive Committee, as appropriate, may entrust the
initial drafting of a proposed draft standard or related text to an
international intergovernmental organisation with competence in the
relevant field, in particular one of those referred to in Annex A of the
World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (WTO/SPS Agreement), on a case-by case basis,
provided that the willingness of the cooperating organization to undertake
such work has been ascertained. Such texts shall be circulated at Step 3 of
the « Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and
Related Texts ». When appropriate, the international intergovernmental
organisations referred to Annex A of the WTO/SPS Agreement shall be
associated in the drafting of standards or related texts at Step 2 of the
Elaboration Procedure. The Commission shall entrust the remaining steps to
the relevant Codex subsidiary body within the Codex Elaboration
Procedure.
8) The Commission, or a subsidiary body of the Commission, may use, in
whole or in part, an international standard or related text developed by an
international intergovernmental organization with competence in the
relevant field as a basis for preparing a proposed draft standard or related
text at Step 2 of the Elaboration Procedure, subject to concurrence of the
cooperating organization. The proposed draft standard or related text shall
be circulated at Step 3 of the "Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Related Texts".

8
“Equivalent principles of standards-setting” refers to the General Decisions of
the Commission set out in the Appendix to the Procedural Manual.
9
See also Article 1 of the Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Step
2 of the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts,
and the Terms of reference of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
32
 Guidelines on IGO Cooperation

COOPERATION THROUGH MUTUAL EXCHANGE OF

INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS
9) The Commission or a subsidiary body of the Commission may identify an
international intergovernmental organization having specific expertise of
particular importance to the work of the Commission. Such organization
may be encouraged to actively participate in the elaboration of standards by
the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
10) The Commission or a subsidiary body of the Commission may invite a
cooperating organization having specific expertise of particular importance
to the work of the Commission to report about its relevant work at their
sessions on an ad hoc or regular basis.
11) The Commission or a subsidiary body of the Commission may recommend
that the Chairperson of the Commission, the Chairperson of the subsidiary
body, or, if they are not available, a Vice-chairperson or the Secretary of the
Commission, as appropriate, participate in meetings of the cooperating
organization, subject to the concurrence of the cooperating organization.
12) The Commission or a subsidiary body of the Commission may recommend
that the Chairperson or the Secretary of the Commission forward
comments, opinions or other relevant information of the Commission to the
cooperating organization as regards international standard setting work in
areas of mutual interest.
13) The Codex Alimentarius Commission may recommend to the Directors-
General of FAO and WHO the conclusion of an appropriate arrangement
with the executive head of the cooperating organization with a view to
agreeing upon specific modalities to facilitate continuing cooperation
between the Commission and the cooperating organization, as set out in the
paragraphs above.

33
Principles concerning NGO Participation

PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF INTERNATIONAL

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORK OF THE
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

1. PURPOSE
The purpose of collaboration with International Non-Governmental
Organizations is to secure for the Codex Alimentarius Commission, expert
information, advice and assistance from international non-governmental
organizations and to enable organizations which represent important sections of
public opinion and are authorities in their fields of professional and technical
competence to express the views of their members and to play an appropriate
role in ensuring the harmonizing of intersectoral interests among the various
sectoral bodies concerned in a country, regional or global setting. Arrangements
made with such organizations shall be designed to advance the purposes of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission by securing maximum cooperation from
International Non-Governmental Organizations in the execution of its
programme.
2. TYPES OF RELATIONSHIP
Only one category of relationship shall be recognized, namely “Observer
Status”; all other contacts, including working relations, shall be considered to be
of an informal character.

3. ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR "OBSERVER STATUS"

The following shall be eligible for Observer Status:
• International Non-Governmental Organizations in consultative
status, specialized consultative status or liaison status with FAO;
• International Non-Governmental Organizations having official
relations with WHO; and
• International Non-Governmental Organizations that:
(a) are international in structure and scope of activity, and
representative of the specialized field of interest in which
they operate;
(b) are concerned with matters covering a part or all of the
Commission’s field of activity;
(c) have aims and purposes in conformity with the Statutes of
the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
34
 Principles concerning NGO Participation

(d) have a permanent directing body and Secretariat, authorized

representatives and systematic procedures and machinery
for communicating with its membership in various
countries. Its members shall exercise voting rights in
relation to its policies or action or shall have other
appropriate mechanisms to express their views; and
(e) have been established at least three years before they apply
for observer status.
For the purpose of paragraph (a), International Non-Governmental
Organizations shall be considered "international in structure and scope of
activity" if they have members and carry out activities in at least three countries.
The Directors-General of FAO and WHO may, upon the advice of the Executive
Committee, grant observer status to Organizations not meeting this requirement
if it is clear from their application that they would make a significant
contribution to advancing the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
4. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING "OBSERVER STATUS"
4.1 International Non-Governmental Organizations Having Status
with FAO and/or Official Relations with WHO
“Observer status” shall be accorded to those International Non-Governmental
Organizations in consultative status, specialized consultative status or liaison
status with FAO or International Non-Governmental Organizations having
official relations with WHO that inform the Secretary of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission of their desire to participate in the work of the
10
Commission and/or any or all of the Commission’s subsidiary bodies on a
regular basis. They may also request invitations to participate at specific
sessions of the Commission or its subsidiary bodies on an ad hoc basis.
4.2 International Non-Governmental Organizations neither Having
Status with FAO nor Official Relations with WHO
Before any form of formal relationship is established with a Non-Governmental
Organization, such Organization shall supply the Secretary of the Commission
with the information outlined in the Annex to these Procedures.
The Secretary of the Commission will verify the completeness of the
information provided by the Organization, and will also perform an initial
assessment of whether the Organization appears to meet the requirements
indicated in Section 3 of these Principles. In case of doubts, he or she will

10
The term “subsidiary bodies” means any body established under Rule XI of the
Commission's Rules of Procedure.
35
Principles concerning NGO Participation

consult with the Directors-General of FAO and WHO and may seek further
information and clarifications from the Organization as appropriate.
Upon satisfactory completion of the verification and assessment referred to in
the previous paragraph, the Secretary of the Commission will submit the
application and all relevant information received from the applicant to the
Executive Committee for its advice, pursuant to Rule IX.6 of the Rules of
Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
The Secretary of the Commission will transmit the application, together with all
relevant information received from the applicant and the advice of the Executive
Committee, to the Directors-General who will decide whether an Organization
is to be granted observer status. In case of rejection of an application, a re-
application by the same Organization shall not normally be considered until two
years have elapsed since the Directors-General's decision on the original
application.
The Secretary of the Commission shall inform each Organization of the
Directors-General's decision on its application, and shall provide a written
explanation of the decision in case of rejection.
Observer Status at specific meetings will not normally be granted to individual
organizations that are members of a larger organization authorized and that
intends to represent them at these meetings.
5. PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS
International Non-governmental Organizations in Observer status shall
have the following privileges and obligations:
5.1 Privileges of International Non-Governmental Organizations in
"Observer Status"
An Organization in Observer Status:
(a) shall be entitled to send an observer (without the right to vote) to sessions of
the Commission, who may be accompanied by advisers; to receive from the
Secretary of the Commission, in advance of the session, all working documents
and discussion papers; to circulate to the Commission its views in writing,
without abridgement; and to participate in discussions when invited by the
Chairperson11;

11
An invitation to a Codex meeting and representation thereat by an observer
shall not imply the granting to an international non-governmental organization of a status
different from that which it already enjoys.
36
 Principles concerning NGO Participation

(b) shall be entitled to send an observer (without the right to vote) to sessions of
specified Subsidiary Bodies, who may be accompanied by advisers; to receive
from the Secretaries of the Subsidiary Bodies, in advance of the session, all
working documents and discussion papers; to circulate to these Bodies its views
in writing, without abridgement; and to participate in discussions when invited
by the Chairperson;
(c) may be invited by the Directors-General to participate in meetings or
seminars on subjects organized under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards
Programme which fall within its fields of interest, and if it does not so
participate it may submit its views in writing to any such meeting or seminar;
(d) will receive documentation and information about meetings planned
on subjects agreed upon with the Secretariat;
(e) may submit, under the authority of its governing body, written statements on
matters before the Commission, in one of the languages of Commission, to the
Secretary, who may communicate them to the Commission or the Executive
Committee as appropriate.
5.2 Obligations of International Non-Governmental Organizations in
"Observer Status"
An Organization in Observer Status shall undertake:
(a) to cooperate fully with the Codex Alimentarius Commission for the furtherance of the
objectives of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme;
(b) in cooperation with the Secretariat, to determine the ways and means of co-
ordinating activities within the scope of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards
Programme, with a view to avoiding duplication and overlapping;
(c) to contribute, as far as possible, and at the request of the Directors-General,
to the promotion of a better knowledge and understanding of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
through appropriate discussions or other forms of publicity;
(d) to send to the Secretary of the Commission on an exchange basis, its reports
and publications concerned with matters covering all or part of the
Commission’s field of activity;
(e) to promptly report to the Secretary of the Commission changes it its structure
and membership, important changes in its secretariat as well as any other
important changes in the information provided in accordance with the Annex to
the present Principles.

37
Principles concerning NGO Participation

6. REVIEW OF "OBSERVER STATUS"

The Directors-General may terminate observer status if an Organization no
longer meets the criteria that applied at the time it was granted observer status,
or for reasons of exceptional nature, in accordance with the procedures set out in
this section.
Without prejudice to the preceding paragraph, an international non-
governmental organization in Observer Status which has neither attended any
meetings nor provided any written comments during a period of four years shall
be deemed not to have sufficient interest to warrant the continuance of such
relationship.
If, in the view of the Directors-General, the conditions indicated in the previous
paragraphs materialize, they shall inform the Organization concerned
accordingly and invite it to submit its observations. The Directors-General will
seek the advice of the Executive Committee and will submit any observation
received from the Organization to it. The Directors-General, taking into account
the advice of the Executive Committee and any observation submitted by the
Organization, shall decide whether to terminate its observer status. A re-
application from the same Organization shall not normally be considered until
two years have elapsed since the Directors-General's decision to terminate its
observer status.
The Secretary shall report to the Codex Alimentarius Commission on the
relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and international
nongovernmental organizations established in accordance with the present
Procedures and shall provide a list of organizations granted Observer Status,
with an indication of the membership that they represent. He or she shall also
report to the Commission the termination of the observer status of any
Organization.
The Commission shall periodically review these principles and procedures and
shall consider, as necessary, any amendments which may seem desirable.

38
 Principles concerning NGO Participation

ANNEX: INFORMATION REQUIRED OF INTERNATIONAL NON-

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTING “OBSERVER
STATUS”
(a) Official name of the organization in different languages (with initials)
(b) Full postal address, Telephone, Facsimile and Email, as well as Telex and
website addresses as appropriate
(c) Aims and subject fields (mandate) of organization, and methods of operation.
(Enclose charter, constitution, by-laws, rules of procedures, etc.). Date of
establishment
(d) Member organizations (name and address of each national affiliate, method
of affiliation, giving number of members where possible, and names of principal
officers. If the organization has individual members, please indicate
approximate number in each country. If the organization is of a federal nature
and has international non-governmental organizations as members, please
indicate whether any of those members already enjoy observer status with the
Codex Alimentarius Commission)
(e) Structure (assembly or conference; council or other form of governing body;
type of general secretariat; commissions on special topics, if any; etc.)
(f) Indication of source of funding (e.g., membership contributions, direct
funding, external contributions, or grants)
(g) Meetings (indicate frequency and average attendance; send report of
previous meeting, including any resolutions passed) that are concerned with
matters covering all or part of the Commission’s field of activity
(h) Relations with other international organizations:
- UN and its organs (indicate consultative status or other relationship, if
any)
- Other international organizations (document substantive activities)
(i) Expected contribution to the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
(j) Past activities on behalf of, or in relation to, the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (indicate any
relationship by national affiliates with the Regional Coordinating Committees
and/or the National Codex Contact Points or Committees for at least the last
three years preceding the application)
(k) Area of activity in which participation as an observer is requested
(Commission and/or Subsidiary Bodies). If more than one organization with
similar interests is requesting observer status in any field of activity, such
organizations will be encouraged to form themselves into a federation or
association for the purpose of participation. If the formation of such a single
organization is not feasible, the application should explain why this is so.

39
Principles concerning NGO Participation

(l) Previous applications for observer status with the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, including those made by a member organization of the applicant
organization. If successful, please indicate why and when observer status was
terminated. If unsuccessful, please indicate the reasons you were given.
(m) Languages (English, French or Spanish) in which documentation should be
sent to the international non-governmental organization
(n) Name, Function and address of the person providing the information
(o) Signature and date

40
 Definitions

DEFINITIONS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

For the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius:

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.
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.
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 term does not include “contaminants” or substances added to food
for maintaining or improving nutritional qualities.
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 matter.
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 or
after harvest to protect the commodity from deterioration during storage and
transport. The term normally excludes fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients,
food additives, and animal drugs.
Pesticide Residue means any specified substance in food, agricultural
commodities, or animal feed resulting from the use of a pesticide. The term

41
Definitions

includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as conversion products, metabolites,

reaction products, and impurities considered to be of toxicological significance.
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 highest authorised use, applied in a manner
which 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.
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. MRLs are based on GAP data and foods
derived from commodities that comply with the respective MRLs are intended
to be toxicologically acceptable.
Codex MRLs, which are primarily intended to apply in international trade, are
derived from estimations made by the JMPR following:
(a) toxicological 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 MRLs 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 MRLs are safe for human
consumption.
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 behaviour.

42
 Definitions

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.
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 µg/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 a food.
It is based on the type and amount of residue considered to be without any
toxicological 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. It also takes into account other relevant public health risks as well
as food technological aspects.
When establishing an MRL, consideration is also given to residues that occur in
food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore, the MRL 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.
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 practical conditions.
Processing aid means any substance or material, not including apparatus or
utensils, and not consumed as a food ingredient by itself, intentionally used in
the processing of raw materials, foods or its ingredients, to fulfil 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.
Traceability/Product Tracing: the ability to follow the movement of a food
through specified stage(s) of production, processing and distribution.
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.

43
Definitions

Risk Assessment: A scientifically based process consisting of the following

steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) hazard characterization, (iii) exposure
assessment, and (iv) risk characterization.
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, risk-related 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.
Risk Assessment Policy: Documented guidelines on the choice of options and
associated judgements for their application at appropriate decision points in the
risk assessment such that the scientific integrity of the process is maintained.
Risk Profile: The description of the food safety problem and its context.
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 Estimate: The quantitative estimation of risk resulting from 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 which 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.

44
 Definitions

Food Safety Objective (FSO): The maximum frequency and/or concentration of

a hazard in a food at the time of consumption that provides or contributes to the
appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
Performance Criterion (PC): The effect in frequency and/or concentration of a
hazard in a food that must be achieved by the application of one or more control
measures to provide or contribute to a PO or an FSO.
Performance Objective (PO): The maximum frequency and/or concentration of
a hazard in a food at a specified step in the food chain before the time of
consumption that provides or contributes to an FSO or ALOP, as applicable.

45
Section II

SECTION II
ƒ Guidelines for Codex Committees and Task Forces
ƒ Criteria for Work Priorities and for Establishing Subsidiary Bodies
ƒ Guidelines for the Inclusion of Specific Provisions in Codex Standards
ƒ Reference System for Documents
ƒ Format for Codex Commodity Standards
ƒ Relations between Codex Committees
ƒ Core Functions of Codex Contact Points

Contents of this section

This Section of the Procedural Manual sets out the working procedures of
the subsidiary bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
The Guidelines for Codex Committees and Task Forces describe the
organization and conduct of meetings and the preparation and distribution
of working papers and reports. A section describes the criteria for the
establishment of work priorities and for establishing new subsidiary
bodies.
The Format for Codex standards and an explanatory note on how
Committees and Task Forces should draft Codex standards are described
here.
To ensure that the appropriate sections of Codex commodity standards
have been reviewed for food safety, nutrition, consumer protection and
food analysis, a section on the Relations between Commodity Committees
and General Committees is included for guidance to Codex Committees
and Task Forces.
A section on Core Functions of Codex Contact Points lists the main tasks
of Codex Contact Points at the national level.

46
 Guidelines for Committees

GUIDELINES FOR CODEX COMMITTEES AND AD HOC

INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCES

GUIDELINES TO HOST GOVERNMENTS OF CODEX

COMMITTEES AND AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK
FORCES
INTRODUCTION
By virtue of Article 7 of the Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and Rule XI.1(b) of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission has established a
number of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces to
prepare standards in accordance with the Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Coordinating Committees to exercise general coordination
of its work in specific regions or groups of countries. The Rules of Procedure of
the Commission shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to Codex Committees,
Coordinating Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces. The
Guidelines applying to Codex Committees, as described in this Section, apply
also to Coordinating Committees and to Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task
Forces.

COMPOSITION OF CODEX COMMITTEES

MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Codex Committees is open to Members of the Commission who
have notified the Director-General of FAO or WHO of their desire to be
considered as members thereof or to selected members designated by the
Commission. Membership of Regional Coordinating Committees is open only
to Members of the Commission belonging to the region or group of countries
concerned.

OBSERVERS
Any other Member of the Commission or any Member or Associate Member of
FAO or WHO which has not become a Member of the Commission may
participate as an observer at any Codex Committee if it has notified the
Director-General of FAO or WHO of its wish to do so. Such countries may
participate fully in the discussions of the Committee and shall be provided with
the same opportunities as other Members to express their point of view
(including the submission of memoranda), but without the right to vote or to
move motions either of substance or of procedure. International organizations
which have formal relations with either FAO or WHO should also be invited to

47
Guidelines for Committees

attend in an observer capacity sessions of those Codex Committees which are of

interest to them.

ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES

CHAIRPERSON
The Codex Alimentarius Commission will designate a member country of the
Commission, which has indicated its willingness to accept financial and all
other responsibility, as having responsibility for appointing a chairperson of the
Committee. The member country concerned is responsible for appointing the
chairperson of the Committee from among its own nationals. Should this person
for any reason be unable to take the chair, the member country concerned shall
designate another person to perform the functions of the chairperson for as long
as the chairperson is unable to do so. A Committee may appoint at any session
one or more rapporteurs from among the delegates present.

SECRETARIAT
A member country to which a Codex Committee has been assigned is
responsible for providing all conference services including the secretariat. The
secretariat should have adequate administrative support staff able to work easily
in the languages used at the session and should have at its disposal adequate
word processing and document reproducing equipment. Interpretation,
preferably simultaneous, should be provided from and into all languages used at
the session, and if the report of the session is to be adopted in more than one of
the working languages of the Committee, then the services of a translator should
be available. The Committee secretariat and the Joint FAO/WHO (Codex)
Secretariat are charged with the preparation of the draft report in consultation
with the rapporteurs, if any.

DUTIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

The duties of a Codex Committee shall include:

(a) the drawing up of a list of priorities as appropriate, among the subjects

and products within its terms of reference,
(b) consideration of the types of safety and quality elements (or
recommendations) to be covered, whether in standards for general
application or in reference to specific food products,
(c) consideration of the types of product to be covered by standards, e.g.,
whether materials for further processing into food should be covered,
(d) preparation of draft Codex standards within its terms of reference,
48
 Guidelines for Committees

(e) reporting to each session of the Commission on the progress of its work
and, where necessary, on any difficulties caused by its terms of reference,
together with suggestions for their amendment.
(f) the review and, as necessary, revision of existing standards and related
texts on a scheduled, periodic basis to ensure that the standards and
related texts within its terms of reference are consistent with current
scientific knowledge and other relevant information.

SESSIONS
DATE AND PLACE
A member country to which a Codex Committee has been assigned is consulted
by the Directors-general of FAO and WHO before they determine when and
where a session of this Committee shall be convened.
The member country should consider arrangements for holding Codex sessions
in developing countries.

INVITATIONS AND PROVISIONAL AGENDA

Sessions of Codex Committees and Coordinating Committees will be convened
by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO in consultation with the chairperson
of the respective Codex Committee. The letter of invitation and provisional
agenda shall be prepared by the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission,
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome, in consultation with
the chairperson of the Committee for issue by the Directors-General to all
Members and Associate Members of FAO and WHO or, in the case of
Coordinating Committees, to the countries of the region or group of countries
concerned, Codex Contact Points and interested international organizations in
accordance with the official mailing lists of FAO and WHO. Chairpersons
should, before finalizing the drafts, inform and consult with the national Codex
Contact Point where one has been established, and, if necessary, obtain
clearance from the national authorities concerned (Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, or as the case may be). The
invitation and Provisional Agenda will be translated and distributed by
FAO/WHO in the working languages of the Commission at least four months
before the date of the meeting.
Invitations should include the following:
(a) title of the Codex Committee,
(b) time and date of opening and date of closing of the session,
(c) place of the session,

49
Guidelines for Committees

(d) languages to be used and arrangements for interpretation, i.e., whether

simultaneous or not,
(e) if appropriate, information on hotel accommodation,
(f) request for the names of the chief delegate and other members of the
delegation, and for information on whether the chief delegate of a
government will be attending as a representative or in the capacity of an
observer.
Replies to invitations will normally be requested to be sent to reach the
chairperson as early as possible and in any case not less than 30 days before the
session. A copy should be sent also to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius
Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome. It is
of the utmost importance that by the date requested a reply to invitations should
be sent by all those governments and international organizations which intend to
participate. The reply should specify the number of copies and the language of
the documents required.

The Provisional Agenda should state the time, date and place of the meeting and
should include the following items:
(a) adoption of the agenda,
(b) if considered necessary, election of rapporteurs,
(c) items relating to subject matter to be discussed, including, where
appropriate, the step in the Commission’s Procedure for the Elaboration
of Standards at which the item is being dealt with at the session. There
should also be reference to the Committee papers relevant to the item,
(d) any other business,
(e) consideration of date and place of next session,
(f) adoption of draft report.
The work of the Committee and the length of the meeting should be so arranged
as to leave sufficient time at the end of the session for a report of the
Committee’s transactions to be agreed.

ORGANIZATION OF WORK
A Codex or Coordinating Committee may assign specific tasks to countries,
groups of countries or to international organizations represented at meetings of
the Committee and may ask member countries and international organizations
for views on specific points.
Ad hoc working groups established to accomplish specific tasks shall be
50
 Guidelines for Committees

disbanded once the tasks have been accomplished as determined by the

Committee.
A Codex or Coordinating Committee may not set up standing sub-committees,
whether open to all Members of the Commission or not, without the specific
approval of the Commission.

PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PAPERS

Papers for a session should be sent by the chairperson of the Codex Committee
concerned at least two months before the opening of the session to the
following:
(i) all Codex Contact Points,
(ii) chief delegates of member countries, of observer countries and of
international organizations, and
(iii) other participants on the basis of replies received. Twenty copies of all
papers in each of the languages used in the Committee concerned
should be sent to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint
FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome.
Papers for a session prepared by participants must be drafted in one of the
working languages of the Commission, which should, if possible, be one of the
languages used in the Codex Committee concerned. These papers should be sent
to the chairperson of the Committee, with a copy to the Secretary, Codex
Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO,
Rome, in good time to be included in the distribution of papers for the session.

Documents circulated at a session of a Codex Committee other than draft

documents prepared at the session and ultimately issued in a final form, should
subsequently receive the same distribution as other papers prepared for the
Committee.
Codex Contact Points will be responsible for ensuring that papers 12 are
circulated to those concerned within their own country and for ensuring that all
necessary action is taken by the date specified.
Consecutive reference numbers in suitable series should be assigned to all
documents of Codex Committees. The reference number should appear at the
top right-hand corner of the first page together with a statement of the language
in which the document was prepared and the date of its preparation. A clear
statement should be made of the provenance (origin or author country) of the

12
See Uniform System of References for Codex Documents.
51
Guidelines for Committees

paper immediately under the title. The text should be divided into numbered
paragraphs. At the end of these guidelines is a series of references for Codex
documents adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for its own sessions
and those of its subsidiary bodies.
Members of the Codex Committees should advise the Committee chairperson
through their Codex Contact Point of the number of copies of documents
normally required.
Working papers of Codex Committees may be circulated freely to all those
assisting a delegation in preparing for the business of the Committee; they
should not, however, be published. There is, however, no objection to the
publication of reports of the meetings of Committees or of completed draft
standards.

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 Guidelines for Committees

GUIDELINES ON THE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS OF CODEX

COMMITTEES AND AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK
FORCES
INTRODUCTION
By virtue of Article 7 of the Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and Rule XI.1(b) of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission has established a
number of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces to
prepare standards in accordance with the Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Coordinating Committees to exercise general coordination
of its work in specific regions or groups of countries. The Rules of Procedure of
the Commission shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to Codex Committees,
Coordinating Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces. The
Guidelines applying to the conduct of meetings of Codex Committees as
described in this Section apply also to those of Coordinating Committees and to
those of Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.

CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Meetings of Codex and Coordinating Committees shall be held in public unless
the Committee decides otherwise. Member countries responsible for Codex and
Coordinating Committees shall decide who should open meetings on their
behalf.
Meetings should be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Only the chief delegates of members, or of observer countries or of international
organizations have the right to speak unless they authorize other members of
their delegations to do so.
The representative of a regional economic integration organization shall provide
the chairperson of the Committee, before the beginning of each session, with a
written statement outlining where the competence lies between this organization
and its members for each item, or subparts thereof, as appropriate, of the
provisional agenda, pursuant to the Declaration of Competence submitted
according to Rule II of the Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission by this organization. In areas of shared ("mixed") competence
between this organization and its members, this statement shall make clear
which party has the voting right.
Delegations and delegations from observer countries who wish their opposition
to a decision of the Committee to be recorded may do so, whether the decision
has been taken by a vote or not, by asking for a statement of their position to be
contained in the report of the Committee. This statement should not merely use
53
Guidelines for Committees

a phrase such as: “The delegation of X reserved its position” but should make
clear the extent of the delegation’s opposition to a particular decision of the
Committee and state whether they were simply opposed to the decision or
wished for a further opportunity to consider the question.
REPORTS
In preparing reports, the following points shall be borne in mind:
(a) decisions should be clearly stated; action taken in regard to economic
impact statements should be fully recorded; all decisions on draft standards
should be accompanied by an indication of the step in the Procedure that
the standards have reached;
(b) if action has to be taken before the next meeting of the Committee, the
nature of the action, who is to take it and when the action must be
completed should be clearly stated;
(c) where matters require attention by other Codex Committees, this should be
clearly stated;
(d) if the report is of any length, summaries of points agreed and the action to
be taken should be included at the end of the report, and in any case, a
section should be included at the end of the report showing clearly in
summary form:
- standards considered at the session and the steps they have reached;
- standards at any step of the Procedure, the consideration of which has
been postponed or which are held in abeyance and the steps which they
have reached;
- new standards proposed for consideration, the probable time of their
consideration at Step 2 and the responsibility for drawing up the first
draft.

The following appendices should be attached to the report:

(a) list of participants with full postal addresses,
(b) draft standards with an indication of the step in the Procedure which has
been reached.
The Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat should ensure that, as soon as possible and in
any event not later than one month after the end of the session, copies of the
final report, as adopted in the languages of the Committee, are sent to all
members and observers of the Commission.

54
 Guidelines for Committees

Circular Letters should be attached to the report, as required, requesting

comments on Proposed Draft or Draft Standards or Related Texts at Step 5, 8
or Step 5 (Accelerated), with the indication of the date by which comments or
proposed amendments must be received in writing, so as to allow such
comments to be considered by the Commission.

DRAWING UP OF CODEX STANDARDS

A Codex Committee, in drawing up standards and related texts, should bear in
mind the following:
(a) the guidance given in the General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius;
(b) that all standards and related texts should have a preface containing the
following information:
- the description of the standard or related text,
- a brief description of the scope and purpose(s) of the standard or
related text,
- references including the step which the standard or related text has
reached in the Commission’s Procedures for the Elaboration of
Standards, together with the date on which the draft was approved,
- matters in the draft standard or related text requiring endorsement or
action by other Codex Committees.
(c) that for standards or any related text for a product which includes a number
of sub-categories, the Committee should give preference to the
development of a general standard or related text with specific provisions as
necessary for sub-categories.

55
Guidelines for Committees

GUIDELINES TO CHAIRPERSONS OF CODEX COMMITTEES

AND AD HOC INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCES
INTRODUCTION
By virtue of Article 7 of the Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and Rule XI.1(b) of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission has established a
number of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces to
prepare standards in accordance with the Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Coordinating Committees to exercise general coordination
of its work in specific regions or groups of countries. The Rules of Procedure of
the Commission shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to Codex Committees,
Coordinating Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces. The
Guidelines applying to the Chairpersons of Codex Committees as described in
this Section apply also to those of Coordinating Committees and to those of
Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.

DESIGNATION
The Codex Alimentarius Commission will designate a member country of the
Commission, which has indicated its willingness to accept financial and all
other responsibility, as having responsibility for appointing a chairperson of the
Committee. The member country concerned is responsible for appointing the
chairperson of the Committee from among its own nationals. Should this person
for any reason be unable to take the chair, the member country concerned shall
designate another person to perform the functions of the chairperson for as long
as the chairperson is unable to do so.

CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSONS

By virtue of Article 7 of its Statutes, the Commission may establish such
subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary for the accomplishment of its task.

The Member countries who shall be designated, under Rule XI.10, as

responsible for appointing Chairpersons of subsidiary bodies established under
Rule XI.1(b)(i) and Rule XI.1(b)(ii), shall retain the right to appoint a
chairperson of their choice.

56
 Guidelines for Committees

The following criteria may be considered during the selection of the appointee:
• to be a national of the member country responsible for appointing the
chairperson of the Committee;
• to have a general knowledge in the fields of the subsidiary body
concerned and to be able to understand and analyse technical issues;
• insofar as possible, to be able to serve in a continuing capacity;
• to be familiar with the system of Codex and its rules, and to have
experience in the work of relevant international, governmental or non-
governmental organizations;
• to be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing in one of
the working languages of the Commission;
• to have demonstrated ability in chairing meetings with objectivity and
impartiality, and in facilitating consensus building;
• to exercise tact and sensitivity to issues of particular importance to
members of the Commission;
• not to engage and/or not to have engaged in activities which could give
rise to a conflict of interest on any item on the agenda of the
Committee.
CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
The chairperson should invite observations from members of the Committee
concerning the Provisional Agenda and in the light of such observations
formally request the Committee to adopt the Provisional Agenda or the amended
agenda.
Meetings should be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission. Attention is particularly drawn to Rule VIII.7
which reads: “The provisions of Rule XII of the General Rules of FAO shall
apply mutatis mutandis to all matters which are not specifically dealt with under
Rule VIII of the present Rules.”
Rule XII of the General Rules of FAO, a copy of which will be supplied to all
chairpersons of Codex and Coordinating Committees, gives full instructions on
the procedures to be followed in dealing with voting, points of order,
adjournment and suspension of meetings, adjournment and closure of
discussions on a particular item, reconsideration of a subject already decided
and the order in which amendments should be dealt with.
Chairpersons of Codex Committees should ensure that all questions are fully
discussed, in particular statements concerning possible economic implications of
standards under consideration at Steps 4 and 7.

57
Guidelines for Committees

Chairpersons should also ensure that the written comments, received in a timely
manner, of members and observers not present at the session are considered by
the Committee; that all issues are put clearly to the Committee. This can usually
best be done by stating what appears to be the generally acceptable view and
asking delegates whether they have any objection to its being adopted.
Chairpersons should use the statement submitted by the representatives of the
regional economic integration organizations on the matters of respective
competence between these organizations and their members in the conduct of
meetings, including assessing of the situation with regard to the party which has
the right to vote.

CONSENSUS13
The chairpersons should always try to arrive at a consensus and should not ask
the Committee to proceed to voting if agreement on the Committee’s decision
can be secured by consensus.
The Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts
allows for full discussion and exchange of views on the issue under
consideration, in order to ensure the transparency of the process and arrive at
compromises that would facilitate consensus.
Much of the responsibility for facilitating the achievement of consensus would
lie in the hands of the Chairpersons.
When working out the means of progressing the work of a Committee, the
chairperson should consider:
(a) the need for timely progress in developing standards ;
(b) the need to achieve consensus among the members as to the content of,
and justification for, proposed standards;
(c) the importance of achieving consensus at all stages of the elaboration of
standards and that draft standards should, as a matter of principle, be
submitted to the Commission for adoption only where consensus has
been achieved at the technical level.
The chairperson should also consider implementing the following measures in
order to facilitate consensus building in the elaboration of standards at the
Committee stage:

13
Reference is made to the Measures to facilitate consensus (see Appendix:
General Decisions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission).
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 Guidelines for Committees

(a) ensuring that: (i) the scientific basis is well established on current data
including, wherever possible, scientific data and intake and exposure
information from the developing countries; (ii) where data from
developing countries are not available, an explicit request for collecting
and making available such data is made; and (iii) where necessary,
further studies are carried out in order to clarify controversial issues;
(b) ensuring that issues are thoroughly discussed at meetings of the
Committees concerned;
(c) organizing informal meetings of the parties concerned where
disagreements arise, provided that the objectives of any such meetings
are clearly defined by the Committee concerned and that participation is
open to all interested delegations and observers in order to preserve
transparency;
(d) requesting the Commission, where possible, for a redefinition of the
scope of the subject matter being considered for the elaboration of
standards in order to cut out issues on which consensus cannot be
reached;
(e) ensuring that matters are not progressed from step to step until all
relevant concerns are taken into account and adequate compromises
worked out14;
(f) facilitating increased involvement and participation of developing
countries.

14
This does not preclude square bracketing of parts of a text in the early stages of
the elaboration of a standard, where there is consensus on the large majority of the text.
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Guidelines for Committees

GUIDELINES ON PHYSICAL WORKING GROUPS

INTRODUCTION
Working groups should be ad hoc, open to all members, take into account the
problems of developing country participation and only be established where
there is consensus in the Committee to do so and other strategies have been
considered.
The Rules of Procedure and the guidelines governing the work of a Codex
Committee shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the working groups this Committee
establishes, unless stated otherwise in these Guidelines.15
The Guidelines applying to physical working groups (hereinafter, "working
groups") established by Codex Committees as described in these guidelines
apply also to those established by Regional Coordinating Committees and by
Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.
COMPOSITION OF WORKING GROUPS
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of a working group is notified to the chairperson of the Codex
Committee and to the host country secretariat of the Committee.
When establishing a working group, a Codex Committee should ensure, as far
as possible, that the membership is representative of the membership of the
Commission.
OBSERVERS
Observers should notify the Chairperson of the Codex Committee and to the
host country secretariat of the Committee of their wish to participate in a
working group. Observers may participate in all sessions and activities of a
working group, unless otherwise specified by the Committee members.
ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES
A Codex Committee may decide that the working groups will be managed by
the Host Government Secretariat, or by another member of the Commission,
having volunteered to undertake this responsibility and having been accepted by
the Committee (hereinafter "the Host").

15
The provisions of the "Guidelines to Host Governments of Codex Committees
and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces", the "Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings
of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces" and the "Guidelines to
Chairpersons of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces" are
especially relevant in this matter.
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 Guidelines for Committees

CHAIRPERSON
The Host is responsible for appointing the chairperson of the working group.
While selecting of the appointee, the Host may consider applying, where
relevant, the Codex Criteria for the Appointment of Chairpersons16.
SECRETARIAT
The Host is responsible for providing all conference services, including the
secretariat, for the working group and should meet all the requirements agreed
upon by the Committee, when the working group was established.
DUTIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
The terms of reference of the working group shall be established by the
Committee during its plenary session, shall be limited to the immediate task at
hand and normally shall not be subsequently modified.
The terms of reference shall clearly state the objective(s) to be achieved by the
establishment of the working group and the language(s) to be used.
Interpretation and translation services should be provided in all languages of the
Committee, unless decided otherwise by the Committee.
The terms of reference shall clearly state the time frame by which the work is
expected to be completed. The proposals/recommendations of a working group
shall be presented to the Committee for consideration.
They shall not be binding on the Committee.
The working group shall be dissolved after the specified work has been
completed or when the time limit allocated for the work has expired or at any
other point in time, if the Codex Committee which has established it, so decides.
No decision on behalf of the Committee, nor vote, either on point of substance
or of procedure, shall take place in working groups.
SESSIONS
DATE
A session of a working group may be held at any time, in-between two sessions
or in conjunction with the session of the Committee, which has established it.
When convened in-between two sessions of the Committee, the session of the
working group should be scheduled as to allow the working group to report to
the Committee well in advance of the next meeting so that countries and other

16
Reference is made to the Guidelines to Chairpersons of Codex Committees and
ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces.
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Guidelines for Committees

interested parties, that were not members of the working group, can comment on
the proposals that the working group might put to the Committee.
When convened during a session of a Committee, a working group should be
scheduled so as to allow participation of all delegations present at the session.
WORKING GROUP NOTIFICATION AND PROVISIONAL AGENDA
Sessions of a working group shall be convened by the Chairperson designated
by the Host.
If the working group is scheduled in-between two sessions of the Committee, a
notice of the working group meeting and provisional agenda shall be prepared,
translated and distributed by the Host. It shall be issued to all Members and
Observers who have expressed the willingness to attend the meeting. These
documents should be distributed as far in advance of the meeting as possible.
ORGANIZATION OF WORK
Written comments will be circulated to all concerned by the secretariat of the
Host.
PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PAPERS
The secretariat of the Host should circulate the papers at least two months
before the opening of the session.
Paper for the session prepared by the participants should be sent to the
secretariat of the Host, in good time.
CONCLUSIONS
The Secretariat of the Host should, as soon as possible after the end of the
session of a working group, send a copy of the final conclusions, in the form of
either a discussion paper or a working document, and the list of participants, to
the Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat and to the host country secretariat of the
Committee.
Conclusions of a working group shall be distributed to all Codex Contact Points
and observers by the Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat in time to allow full
consideration of the working group’s recommendations.
The Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat should ensure that these conclusions are
included in the distribution of papers for the next session of the Codex
Committee.
The working group shall report, through its Chairperson, on the progress of its
work at the next session of the Committee, which has established the working
group.

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 Guidelines for Committees

GUIDELINES ON ELECTRONIC WORKING GROUPS

INTRODUCTION
The search for world-wide consensus and for greater acceptability of Codex
Standards requires the involvement of all the Members of Codex and the active
participation of developing countries.
Special efforts are needed to enhance the participation of developing countries
in Codex Committees, by increased use of written communications, especially
through remote participation via email, internet and other modern technologies,
in the work done between sessions of Committees.
Codex Committees, when deciding to undertake work between sessions, should
give the first priority to considering the establishment of electronic working
groups.
The Rules of Procedure and the guidelines governing the work of a Committee
shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the electronic working groups this Committee
establishes, unless stated otherwise in these Guidelines.17
The Guidelines applying to electronic working groups established by Codex
Committees, as described in these Guidelines, apply also to those established by
Regional Coordinating Committees and by Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental
Task Forces.
COMPOSITION OF ELECTRONIC WORKING GROUPS
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of an electronic working group is notified the chairperson of the
Codex Committee and to the host country secretariat of the Committee.
When establishing an electronic working group, a Codex Committee should
ensure, as far as possible, that the membership is representative of the
membership of the Commission.
OBSERVERS
Observers should notify the Chairperson of the Committee and to the host
country secretariat of the Committee, of their wish to participate in a working

17
The provisions of the "Guidelines to Host Governments of Codex Committees
and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces", the "Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings
of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces", the "Guidelines to
Chairpersons of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces" and the
"Guidelines on Physical Working Groups" are especially relevant in this matter.
63
Guidelines for Committees

group. Observers may participate in all the activities of an electronic working

group, unless otherwise specified by Committee members.
ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES
Codex Committees may decide that the electronic working group will be
managed by the Host Government Secretariat, or by another member of the
Commission, having volunteered to undertake this responsibility and having
been accepted by the Committee (hereinafter "the Host"). The Host should be
notified of the participants in an electronic working group by Codex Members
through their Codex Contact Points and by Observer organizations.
MANAGEMENT
The Host is responsible for the management of the electronic working group for
which it has been appointed.
The business of an electronic working group is transacted exclusively by
electronic means.
SECRETARIAT
The Host is responsible for providing the secretariat of the electronic working
group with all services needed for its functioning, including suitable Information
Technology (IT) equipment, and should meet all the requirements agreed upon
by the Committee.
DUTIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
The terms of reference of the electronic working group shall be established by
the Committee during its plenary session, shall be limited to the immediate task
at hand and normally shall not be subsequently modified.
The terms of reference shall clearly state the objective(s) to be achieved by the
establishment of the electronic working group and the language(s) to be used.
Interpretation and translation services should be provided in all languages of the
Committee, unless decided otherwise by the Committee.
The terms of reference shall clearly state the time frame by which the work is
expected to be completed.
The electronic working group shall be dissolved after the specified work has
been completed or when the time limit allocated for the work has expired or at
any other point in time, if the Codex Committee which has established it, so
decides.
No decision on behalf of the Committee, nor vote, either on point of substance
or of procedure, shall take place in electronic working groups.

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 Guidelines for Committees

ELECTRONIC WORKING GROUP NOTIFICATION AND PROGRAMME OF WORK

A notice indicating when the electronic working group starts to operate and a
programme of work shall be prepared, translated and distributed by the Host to
all Members and Observers who have expressed the willingness to contribute.
ORGANIZATION OF WORK
Circulation of drafts and calls for comments shall include a request for the
names, positions and e-mail addresses of all the persons willing to contribute to
the business of the electronic working group.
Comments from participants should be submitted exclusively by electronic
means. These submissions shall be circulated to all concerned by the Host.
Any participant should be made aware of the materials contributed by all others.
An update on the progress of its work shall be presented by the Host at each
session of the Codex Committee which has established it, indicating the number
of countries having sent contributions by mail. A compilation of these
contributions should be made available.
PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS
Materials should be sent to the secretariat of the Host, in good time.
The Host is responsible for the distribution of all the materials submitted by a
participant during the business of the electronic working group to all other
participants of the electronic working group.
Attention should be given to constraints of a technical nature (file sizes and
formats, limited band width, …) and special care should be taken to ensure the
widest distribution of all the available materials.
CONCLUSIONS
As soon as possible after the end of the business of an electronic working group,
the secretariat of the Host should send a copy of the final conclusions, in the
form of either a discussion paper or a working document and of the list of
participants to the Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat and to the host country
secretariat of the Committee.
The conclusions of an electronic working group and the list of participants shall
be distributed to Codex Contact Points and observers by the Joint FAO/WHO
Secretariat in time to allow full consideration of the electronic working group's
recommendations.
The Joint FAO/WHO Secretariat should ensure that these conclusions are
included in the distribution of papers for the next session of the Codex
Committee, which has established the electronic working group.
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Work priorities

CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORK PRIORITIES

When a Codex Committee proposes to elaborate a standard, code of practice or

related text within its terms of reference, it should first consider the priorities
established by the Commission in the Strategic Plan, the relevant outcomes of
the critical review conducted by the Executive Committee, and the prospect of
completing the work within a reasonable period of time. It should also assess the
proposal against the criteria set out below.
If the proposal falls in an area outside the Committee’s terms of reference the
proposal should be reported to the Commission in writing together with
proposals for such amendments to the Committee’s terms of reference as may
be required.
CRITERIA
GENERAL CRITERION
Consumer protection from the point of view of health, food safety, ensuring fair
practices in the food trade and taking into account the identified needs of
developing countries.
CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO GENERAL SUBJECTS
(a) Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant or potential
impediments to international trade.
(b) Scope of work and establishment of priorities between the various sections
of the work.
(c) Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field
and/or suggested by the relevant international intergovernmental body(ies).
CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO COMMODITIES
(a) Volume of production and consumption in individual countries and volume
and pattern of trade between countries.
(b) Diversification of national legislations and apparent resultant or potential
impediments to international trade.
(c) International or regional market potential.
(d) Amenability of the commodity to standardisation.
(e) Coverage of the main consumer protection and trade issues by existing or
proposed general standards.

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 Work priorities

(f) Number of commodities which would need separate standards indicating

whether raw, semi-processed or processed.
(g) Work already undertaken by other international organizations in this field
and/or suggested by the relevant international intergovernmental body(ies).
CRITERIA FOR THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS OF
COMPOUNDS FOR EVALUATION BY JMPR
1. GENERAL CRITERIA
1.1 Criteria for Inclusion of Compounds on the Priority List
Before a pesticide can be considered for the Priority List it:
i must be registered for use in a member country;
ii must be available for use as a commercial product;
iii must not have been already accepted for consideration; and
iv must give rise to residues in or on a food or feed commodity moving
in international trade, the presence of which is (or may be) a matter of public
health concern and thus create (or have the potential to create) problems in
international trade.
1.2 Criteria for Selecting Food Commodities for which Codex MRLs
or EMRLs Should Be Established
The commodity for which the establishment of a Codex MRL or EMRL is
sought should be such that it may form a component in international trade. A
higher priority will be given to commodities that represent a significant
proportion of the diet.
Note
Before proposing a pesticide/commodity for prioritization, it is recommended
that governments check if the pesticide is already in the Codex system.
Pesticide/commodity combinations that are already included in the Codex
system or under consideration are found in a working document prepared for
and used as a basis of discussion at each Session of the Codex Committee on
Pesticide Residues. Consult the document of the latest session to see whether or
not a given pesticide has already been considered.
2. CRITERIA FOR PRIORITISATION
2.1 New Chemicals
When prioritizing new chemicals for evaluation by the JMPR, the Committee
will consider the following criteria:

67
Work priorities

1. If the chemical has a reduced acute and/or chronic toxicity risk to

humans compared with other chemicals in its classification (insecticide,
fungicide, herbicide);
2. The date when the chemical was nominated for evaluation;
3. Commitment by the sponsor of the compound to provide supporting
data for review with a firm date for data submission;
4. The availability of regional/national reviews and risk assessments, and
coordination with other regional/national lists; and
5. Allocating priorities to new chemicals, so that at least 50% of
evaluations are for new chemicals, if possible.

Note
In order to satisfy the criterion that the proposed new chemical is a “safer” or
“reduced risk” replacement chemical, the nominating country is required to
provide:
i the name(s) of the chemicals for which the proposed chemical is likely
to be an alternative;
ii a comparison of the acute and chronic toxicities of the proposed
chemical with other chemicals in its classification (insecticide, fungicide,
herbicide);
iii a summary of acute and chronic dietary exposure calculations
encompassing the range of diets considered by CCPR; and
iv other relevant information to support classification of the proposed
chemical as a safer alternative chemical.
2.2 Periodic Re-Evaluation
When prioritizing chemicals for periodic re-evaluation by the JMPR, the
Committee will consider the following criteria:
1. If the intake and/or toxicity profile indicate some level of public
health concern;
2. Chemicals that have not been reviewed toxicologically for more than
15 years and/or not having a significant review of maximum residue limits for
15 years;
3. The year the chemical is listed in the list for Candidate Chemicals for
Periodic Re-evaluation –Not Yet Scheduled;

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 Work priorities

4. The date that data will be submitted;

5. Whether the CCPR has been advised by a national government that
the chemical has been responsible for trade disruption;
6. If there is a closely related chemical that is a candidate for periodic re-
evaluation that can be evaluated concurrently; and
7. The availability of current labels arising from recent national re-
evaluations.
2.3 Evaluations
When prioritizing proposed toxicological or residue evaluations by the JMPR
the Committee will consider the following criteria:
1. The date the request was received;
2. Commitment by the sponsor to provide the required data for review
with a firm date of submission;
3. Whether the data is submitted under the 4-year rule for evaluations;
and
4. The nature of the data to be submitted, and the reason for its
submission; for example, a request from CCPR.

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Work priorities

Note:
Where a pesticide has already been evaluated by the JMPR and MRLs, EMRLs
or GLs have been established, new evaluations may be initiated if one or more
of the following situations arise:
i New toxicological data becomes available to indicate a significant
change in the ADI or ARfD.
ii The JMPR may note a data deficiency in a Periodic Re-evaluation or
New Chemical evaluation. In response, national governments or other
interested parties may pledge to supply the information to the
appropriate Joint Secretary of the JMPR with a copy for consideration
by the CCPR. Following scheduling in the JMPR tentative schedule,
the data should be submitted subsequently to the appropriate Joint
Secretary of the JMPR.
iii The CCPR may place a chemical under the four-year rule, in which
case the government or industry should indicate support for the
specific MRLs to the FAO Joint Secretary of the JMPR. Following
scheduling in the JMPR tentative schedule, any data in support of
maintenance of the MRL(s) would be submitted to the FAO Joint
Secretary of the JMPR.
iv A government member may seek to expand the use of an existing
Codex chemical: that is, obtain MRLs for one or more new
commodities where some MRLs already exist for other commodities.
Such requests should be directed to the FAO Joint Secretary of the
JMPR and submitted for consideration by the CCPR. Following
scheduling in the JMPR tentative schedule, the data would be
submitted to the FAO Joint Secretary of the JMPR.
v A government member may seek to review a MRL due to a change in
GAP. For example a new GAP may necessitate a larger MRL. In this
case the request should be made to the FAO Joint Secretary with a
copy for consideration by the Committee. Following scheduling in the
JMPR tentative schedule, the data would be submitted to the FAO
Joint Secretary of the JMPR.
vi The CCPR may request a clarification or reconsideration of a
recommendation from the JMPR. In such cases the relevant Joint
Secretary will schedule the request for the next JMPR.
vii A serious public health concern may emerge in relation to a particular
pesticide for which MRLs exist. In such cases government members
should notify the WHO Joint Secretary of the JMPR promptly and
provide appropriate data to the WHO Joint Secretary.
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 Criteria for subsidiary bodies

CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

When there is a proposal for the elaboration of a standard, code of practice or

related text in an area not covered by the terms of reference of any existing
subsidiary body18, or the revision of standards, codes of practice or other texts
elaborated by subsidiary bodies adjourned sine die, such a proposal should be
accompanied by a written statement to the Commission explaining its
justification in light of the Commission’s Medium-Term Objectives and
containing, as far as practicable, the information contained in the Criteria for the
Establishment of Work Priorities.
Should the Commission decide to establish a Subsidiary Body for the purpose of
elaborating an appropriate draft standard or related text or for the purpose of
revising an existing standard(s) or related text(s), first consideration should be
given to the establishment of an ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force under
Rule XI.1(b)(i) of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure under the following
conditions:
1. TERMS OF REFERENCE
• the terms of reference of the proposed ad hoc Intergovernmental Task
Force shall be limited to the immediate task at hand and normally shall
not be subsequently modified;
• the terms of reference shall clearly state the objective(s) to be achieved
by the establishment of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force;
• the terms of reference shall clearly state either (i) the number of sessions
to be convened, or (ii) the date (year) by which the work is expected to
be completed, which in any case shall not exceed five years.
2. REPORTING
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall report to the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and to the Executive Committee on the progress of its
work. The reports of the ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be
transmitted to all Members of the Commission and interested international
organization.

18
The Commission may wish to consider extending the Terms of Reference of an
appropriate existing body to accommodate the proposal.
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Criteria for subsidiary bodies

3. OPERATING EXPENSES
No provision shall be made concerning the operating expenditures of the ad hoc
Intergovernmental Task Force in the estimate of expenditures of the Joint
FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, except insofar as costs involved in
preparatory work are recognized as operating expenses of the Commission in
accordance with Article 10 of its Statutes.
4. HOST GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The Commission, at the time of the establishment of the ad hoc
Intergovernmental Task Force, shall ascertain that there will be appropriate host
government arrangements adequate to ensure the functioning of the Task Force
for the duration of its assignment.19
5. WORKING PROCEDURES
Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces shall be open to all Members of the
Commission and the Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards
and Related Texts shall apply mutatis mutandis to ad hoc Intergovernmental
Task Forces.
6. DISSOLUTION
The ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force shall be dissolved after the specified
work has been completed or when the number of sessions or the time limit
allocated for the work has expired.

19
This may involve Host Government arrangements with one or more Members
of the Commission.
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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

GUIDELINES FOR THE INCLUSION OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN CODEX

STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS

GUIDELINES ON THE ELABORATION AND/OR REVISION OF

CODES OF HYGIENIC PRACTICE FOR SPECIFIC COMMODITIES
The establishment of additional food hygiene requirements for specific food
items or food groups should be limited to the extent necessary to meet the
defined objectives of individual codes.
Codex Codes of Hygienic Practice should serve the primary purpose of
providing advice to governments on the application of food hygiene provisions
within the framework of national and international requirements.
The Revised Recommended International Code of Practice - General Principles
of Food Hygiene (including the Guidelines for the Application of the Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System) and the Revised Principles
for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods are
the base documents in the field of food hygiene.
All Codex Codes of Hygienic Practice applicable to specific food items or food
groups shall refer to the General Principles of Food Hygiene and shall only
contain material additional to the General Principles which is necessary to take
into account the particular requirements of the specific food item or food group.
Provisions in Codex Codes of Hygienic Practice should be drafted in a
sufficiently clear and transparent manner such that extended explanatory
material is not required for their interpretation.
The above considerations should also apply to Codex Codes of Practice which
contain provisions relating to food hygiene.
PRINCIPLES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CODEX METHODS
OF ANALYSIS
PURPOSE OF CODEX METHODS OF ANALYSIS
The methods are primarily intended as international methods for the verification
of provisions in Codex standards. They should be used for reference, in
calibration of methods in use or introduced for routine examination and control
purposes.

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Specific provisions in Codex texts

METHODS OF ANALYSIS
Definition of types of methods of analysis
(a) Defining Methods (Type I)
Definition: A method which determines a value that can only be arrived at in
terms of the method per se and serves by definition as the only method for
establishing the accepted value of the item measured.
Examples: Howard Mould Count, Reichert-Meissl value, loss on drying, salt in
brine by density.
(b) Reference Methods (Type II)
Definition: A Type II method is the one designated Reference Method where
Type I methods do not apply. It should be selected from Type III methods (as
defined below). It should be recommended for use in cases of dispute and for
calibration purposes.
Example: Potentiometric method for halides.
(c) Alternative Approved Methods (Type III)
Definition: A Type III Method is one which meets the criteria required by the
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for methods that may
be used for control, inspection or regulatory purposes.
Example: Volhard Method or Mohr Method for chlorides
(d) Tentative Method (Type IV)
Definition: A Type IV Method is a method which has been used traditionally or
else has been recently introduced but for which the criteria required for
acceptance by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
have not yet been determined.
Examples: chlorine by X-ray fluorescence, estimation of synthetic colours in
foods.
General Criteria for the Selection of Methods of Analysis
(a) Official methods of analysis elaborated by international organizations
occupying themselves with a food or group of foods should be preferred.
(b) Preference should be given to methods of analysis the reliability of which
have been established in respect of the following criteria, selected as
appropriate:
(i) specificity
(ii) accuracy
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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

(iii) precision; repeatability intra-laboratory (within laboratory),

reproducibility inter-laboratory (within laboratory and between
laboratories)
(iv) limit of detection
(v) sensitivity
(vi) practicability and applicability under normal laboratory conditions
(vii) other criteria which may be selected as required.
(c) The method selected should be chosen on the basis of practicability and
preference should be given to methods which have applicability for routine
use.
(d) All proposed methods of analysis must have direct pertinence to the Codex
Standard to which they are directed.
(e) Methods of analysis which are applicable uniformly to various groups of
commodities should be given preference over methods which apply only to
individual commodities.
General Criteria for the Selection of Methods of Analysis using the Criteria
Approach
In the case of Codex Type II and Type III methods, method criteria may be
identified and values quantified for incorporation into the appropriate Codex
commodity standard. Method criteria which are developed will include the
criteria in section Methods of Analysis, paragraph (c) above together with other
appropriate criteria, e.g., recovery factors.”
General Criteria for the Selection of Single-Laboratory Validated Methods of
Analysis
Inter-laboratory validated methods are not always available or applicable,
especially in the case of multi-analyte/multi substrate methods and new analytes.
The criteria to be used to select a method are included in the General Criteria for
the Selection of Methods of Analysis. In addition the single-laboratory validated
methods must fulfil the following criteria:
i. the method is validated according to an internationally recognized
protocol (e.g. those referenced in the harmonized IUPAC Guidelines
for Single-Laboratory Validation of Methods of Analysis)
ii. the use of the method is embedded in a quality system in compliance
with the ISO/IEC 17025: 1999 Standard or Principles of Good
Laboratory Practice;

75
Specific provisions in Codex texts

The method should be complemented with information on accuracy

demonstrated for instance with:
− regular participation in proficiency schemes, where available;
− calibration using certified reference materials, where applicable;
− recovery studies performed at the expected concentration of the analytes;
− verification of result with other validated method where available
WORKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRITERIA
APPROACH IN CODEX
Any Codex Commodity Committee may continue to propose an appropriate
method of analysis for determining the chemical entity, or develop a set of
criteria to which a method used for the determination must comply. In some
cases a Codex Commodity Committee may find it easier to recommend a
specific method and request the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and
Sampling (CCMAS) to “convert” that method into appropriate criteria. The
Criteria will then be considered by the CCMAS for endorsement and will, after
the endorsement, form part of the commodity standard replacing the
recommended method of analysis. If a Codex Commodity Committee wishes to
develop the criteria by itself rather than allowing the CCMAS to do so, it should
follow instructions given for the development of specific criteria as outlined
below. These criteria must be approved for the determination in question.
However, the primary responsibility for supplying methods of analysis and
criteria resides with the Commodity Committee. If the Commodity Committee
fails to provide a method of analysis or criteria despite numerous requests, then
the CCMAS may supply an appropriate method and “convert” that method into
appropriate criteria.
The minimum “approved” Codex analytical characteristics will include the
following numeric criteria as well as the general criteria for methods laid down
in the Analytical Terminology for Codex Use:
• precision (within and between laboratories, but generated from
collaborative trial data rather than measurement uncertainty
considerations)
• recovery
• selectivity (interference effects etc.)
• applicability (matrix, concentration range and preference given to
'general' methods)
• detection/determination limits if appropriate for the determination
being considered
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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

• linearity
CCMAS will generate the data corresponding to the above criteria.
CONVERSION OF SPECIFIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS TO METHOD
CRITERIA BY THE CCMAS
When a Codex Commodity Committee submits a Type II or Type III method to
CCMAS for endorsement, it should also submit information on the criteria listed
below to enable the CCMAS to convert it into suitable generalized analytical
characteristics:
• accuracy
• applicability (matrix, concentration range and preference given to
'general' methods)
• detection limit
• determination limit
• precision; repeatability intra-laboratory (within laboratory),
reproducibility inter-laboratory (within laboratory and between
laboratories), but generated from collaborative trial data rather than
measurement uncertainty considerations
• recovery
• selectivity
• sensitivity
• linearity
These terms are defined in the Analytical Terminology for Codex Use, as are
other terms of importance.
The CCMAS will assess the actual analytical performance of the method which
has been determined in its validation. This will take account of the appropriate
precision characteristics obtained in collaborative trials which may have been
carried out on the method together with results from other development work
carried out during the course of the method development. The set of criteria that
are developed will form part of the report of the CCMAS and will be inserted in
the appropriate Codex Commodity Standard.
In addition, the CCMAS will identify numeric values for the criteria for which it
would wish such methods to comply.

77
Specific provisions in Codex texts

ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PRECISION CHARACTERISTICS

OF A METHOD OF ANALYSIS

The calculated repeatability and reproducibility values can be compared with

existing methods and a comparison made. If these are satisfactory then the
method can be used as a validated method. If there is no method with which to
compare the precision parameters then theoretical repeatability and
reproducibility values can be calculated from the Horwitz equation. (M.
Thompson, Analyst, 2000, 125, 385-386).
ANALYTICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR CODEX USE
Result: The final value reported for a measured or computed quantity, after
performing a measuring procedure including all sub-procedures and evaluations.
Notes:
When a result is given, it should be made clear whether it refers to:
• the indication [signal];
• the uncorrected result;
• the corrected result; and
• whether several values were averaged.
A complete statement of the result of a measurement includes information about
the uncertainty of measurement.
Selectivity: Selectivity is the extent to which a method can determine particular
analyte(s) in mixtures or matrices without interferences from other components
of similar behaviour.
Selectivity is the recommended term in analytical chemistry to express the
extent to which a particular method can determine analyte(s) in the presence of
interferences from other components. Selectivity can be graded. The use of the
term specificity for the same concept is to be discouraged as this often leads to
confusion.
Accuracy: The closeness of agreement between a test result and the accepted
reference value.
Note:
The term accuracy, when applied to a set of test results, involves a combination
of random components and a common systematic error or bias component.

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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

Trueness: The closeness of agreement between the average value obtained from
a series of test results and an accepted reference value.
Notes:
1 The measure of trueness is usually expressed in terms of bias.
2 Trueness has been referred to as “accuracy of the mean”. This usage is
not recommended.

Bias: The difference between the expectation of the test results and an accepted
reference value.
Notes:
Bias is the total systematic error as contrasted to random error. There may be
one or more systematic error components contributing to bias. A larger
systematic difference from the accepted reference value is reflected by a larger
bias value.
When the systematic error component(s) must be arrived at by a process that
includes random error, the random error component is increased by propagation
of error considerations and reduced by replication.
Precision: The closeness of agreement between independent test results
obtained under stipulated conditions.
Notes:
Precision depends only on the distribution of random errors and does not relate
to the true value or to the specified value.
The measure of precision is usually expressed in terms of imprecision and
computed as a standard deviation of the test results. Less precision is reflected
by a larger standard deviation.
“Independent test results” means results obtained in a manner not influenced by
any previous result on the same or similar test object. Quantitative measures of
precision depend critically on the stipulated conditions. Repeatability and
reproducibility conditions are particular sets of extreme conditions.
Repeatability [Reproducibility]: Precision under repeatability [reproducibility]
conditions.
Repeatability conditions: Conditions where independent test results are
obtained with the same method on identical test items in the same laboratory by
the same operator using the same equipment within short intervals of time.

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Specific provisions in Codex texts

Reproducibility conditions: Conditions where test results are obtained with the
same method on identical test items in different laboratories with different
operators using different equipment.
Notes:
When different methods give test results that do not differ significantly, or when
different methods are permitted by the design of the experiment, as in a
proficiency study or a material-certification study for the establishment of a
consensus value of a reference material, the term “reproducibility” may be
applied to the resulting parameters. The conditions must be explicitly stated.
Repeatability [Reproducibility] standard deviation: The standard deviation of
test results obtained under repeatability [reproducibility] conditions.
Notes:
Repeatability [Reproducibility] standard deviation is a measure of the dispersion
of the distribution of test results under repeatability [reproducibility] conditions.
Similarly “repeatability [reproducibility] variance” and “repeatability
[reproducibility] coefficient of variation” could be defined and used as
measures of the dispersion of test results under repeatability [reproducibility]
conditions.
Repeatability [Reproducibility] limit: The value less than or equal to which the
absolute difference between two test results obtained under repeatability
[reproducibility] conditions may be expected to be with a probability of 95%.
Notes:
The symbol used is r [R].
When examining two single test results obtained under repeatability
[reproducibility] conditions, the comparison should be made with the
repeatability [reproducibility] limit r [R] = 2.8 sr[sR].
When groups of measurements are used as the basis for the calculation of the
repeatability [reproducibility] limits (now called the critical difference), more
complicated formulae are required that are given in ISO 5725-6:1994, 4.2.1 and
4.2.2.
Interlaboratory Study: A study in which several laboratories measure a
quantity in one or more “identical” portions of homogeneous, stable materials
under documented conditions, the results of which are compiled into a single
document.
Notes:
The larger the number of participating laboratories, the greater the confidence
that can be placed in the resulting estimates of the statistical parameters. The
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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

IUPAC-1987 protocol (Pure & Appl. Chem., 66, 1903-1911(1994)) requires a

minimum of eight laboratories for method-performance studies.
Method-Performance Study: An interlaboratory study in which all laboratories
follow the same written protocol and use the same test method to measure a
quantity in sets of identical test samples. The reported results are used to
estimate the performance characteristics of the method. Usually these
characteristics are within-laboratory and among-laboratories precision, and
when necessary and possible, other pertinent characteristics such as systematic
error, recovery, internal quality control parameters, sensitivity, limit of
determination, and applicability.
Notes:
The materials used in such a study of analytical quantities are usually
representative of materials to be analyzed in actual practice with respect to
matrices, amount of test component (concentration), and interfering components
and effects. Usually the analyst is not aware of the actual composition of the
test samples but is aware of the matrix.
The number of laboratories, number of test samples, number of determinations,
and other details of the study are specified in the study protocol. Part of the
study protocol is the procedure which provides the written directions for
performing the analysis.
The main distinguishing feature of this type of study is the necessity to follow
the same written protocol and test method exactly.
Several methods may be compared using the same test materials. If all
laboratories use the same set of directions for each method and if the statistical
analysis is conducted separately for each method, the study is a set of method-
performance studies. Such a study may also be designated as a method-
comparison study.
Laboratory-Performance (Proficiency) Study: An interlaboratory study that
consists of one or more measurements by a group of laboratories on one or more
homogeneous, stable, test samples by the method selected or used by each
laboratory. The reported results are compared with those from other
laboratories or with the known or assigned reference value, usually with the
objective of improving laboratory performance.
Notes:
Laboratory-performance studies can be used to support accreditation of
laboratories or to audit performance. If a study is conducted by an organization
with some type of management control over the participating laboratories—
organizational, accreditation, regulatory, or contractual—the method may be
specified or the selection may be limited to a list of approved or equivalent
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Specific provisions in Codex texts

methods. In such situations, a single test sample is insufficient to judge

performance.
A laboratory-performance study may be used to select a method of analysis that
will be used in a method-performance study. If all laboratories, or a sufficiently
large subgroup, of laboratories , use the same method, the study may also be
interpreted as a method-performance study, provided that the test samples cover
the range of concentration of the analyte.
Laboratories of a single organization with independent facilities, instruments,
and calibration materials, are treated as different laboratories.
Material-Certification Study: An interlaboratory study that assigns a reference
value (“true value”) to a quantity (concentration or property) in the test material,
usually with a stated uncertainty.
Note:
A material-certification study often utilizes selected reference laboratories to
analyze a candidate reference material by a method(s) judged most likely to
provide the least-biased estimates of concentration (or of a characteristic
property) and the smallest associated uncertainty.
Applicability: The analytes, matrices, and concentrations for which a method of
analysis may be used satisfactorily to determine compliance with a Codex
standard.
Note:
In addition to a statement of the range of capability of satisfactory performance
for each factor, the statement of applicability (scope) may also include warnings
as to known interference by other analytes, or inapplicability to certain matrices
and situations.
Sensitivity: Change in the response divided by the corresponding change in the
concentration of a standard (calibration) curve; i.e., the slope, si, of the
analytical calibration curve.
Note:
This term has been used for several other analytical applications, often referring
to capability of detection, to the concentration giving 1% absorption in atomic
absorption spectroscopy, and to ratio of found positives to known, true positives
in immunological and microbiological tests. Such applications to analytical
chemistry should be discouraged.
A method is said to be sensitive if a small change in concentration, c, or quantity,
q, causes a large change in the measure, x; that is, when the derivative dx/dc or
dx/dq is large.

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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

Although the signal may vary with the magnitude of ci or qi, the slope, si, is
usually constant over a reasonable range of concentrations. si may also be a
function of the c or q of other analytes present in the sample.
Ruggedness: The ability of a chemical measurement process to resist changes
in results when subjected to minor changes in environmental and procedural
variables, laboratories, personnel, etc.
TERMS TO BE USED IN THE CRITERIA APPROACH
Detection Limit: The detection limit is conventionally defined as field blank +
3σ, where is the standard deviation of the field blank value signal (IUPAC
definition).
However, an alternative definition which overcomes most of the objections to
the above approach (i.e. the high variability at the limit of measurement can
never be overcome) is to base it on the rounded value of the reproducibility
relative standard deviation when it goes out of control (where 3 σR = 100%; σR
= 33%, rounded to 50% because of the high variability). Such a value is directly
related to the analyte and to the measurement system and is not based on the
local measurement system.
Determination limit: As for detection limit except that 6 or 10 is required rather
than 3.
However, an alternative definition that corresponds to that proposed for the
detection limit is to use σR = 25%. This value does not differ much from that
assigned to the detection limit because the upper limit of the detection limit
merges indistinguishably into the lower limit of the determination limit.
Recovery: Proportion of the amount of analyte present or added to the test
material which is extracted and presented for measurement.
Selectivity: Selectivity is the extent to which a method can determine particular
analyte(s) in mixtures or matrices without interferences from other components
of similar behaviour.
Selectivity is the recommended term in analytical chemistry to express the extent
to which a particular method can determine analyte(s) in the presence of
interferences from other components. Selectivity can be graded. The use of the
term specificity for the same concept is to be discouraged as this often leads to
confusion.
Linearity: The ability of a method of analysis, within a certain range, to provide
an instrumental response or results proportional to the quality of analyte to be
determined in the laboratory sample. This proportionality is expressed by an a
priori defined mathematical expression. The linearity limits are the
experimental limits of concentrations between which a linear calibration model
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Specific provisions in Codex texts

can be applied with a known confidence level (generally taken to be equal to

1%).
PRINCIPLES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OR SELECTION OF
CODEX SAMPLING PROCEDURES
PURPOSE OF CODEX METHODS OF SAMPLING
Codex Methods of Sampling are designed to ensure that fair and valid sampling
procedures are used when food is being tested for compliance with a particular
Codex commodity standard. The sampling methods are intended for use as
international methods designed to avoid or remove difficulties which may be
created by diverging legal, administrative and technical approaches to sampling
and by diverging interpretation of results of analysis in relation to lots or
consignments of foods, in the light of the relevant provision(s) of the applicable
Codex standard.
METHODS OF SAMPLING
Types of Sampling Plans and Procedures
(a) Sampling Plans for Commodity Defects:
These are normally applied to visual defects (e.g. loss of colour, mis-graded for
size, etc.) and extraneous matter. They will normally be attributes plans, and
plans such as those included in the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Sampling
Plans for Prepackaged Foods (AQL 6.5)20 may be applied.
(b) Sampling Plans for Net Contents:
These are sampling plans which apply to pre-packaged foods generally and are
intended to serve to check compliance of lots or consignments with provisions
for net contents.
(c) Sampling Plans for Compositional Criteria:
Such plans are normally applied to analytically determined compositional
criteria (e.g., loss on drying in white sugar, etc.). They are predominantly based
on variable procedures with unknown standard deviation.
(d) Specific Sampling Plans for Health-related Properties:
Such plans are generally applied to heterogeneous conditions, e.g., in the
assessment of microbiological spoilage, microbial by-products or sporadically
occurring chemical contaminants.

20
Codex Alimentarius: Volume 13.
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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

General Instructions for the Selection of Methods of Sampling

(a) Official methods of sampling as elaborated by international organizations
occupying themselves with a food or a group of foods are preferred. Such
methods, when attracted to Codex standards, may be revised using Codex
recommended sampling terms (to be elaborated).
(b) The appropriate Codex Commodity Committee should indicate, before it
elaborates any sampling plan, or before any plan is endorsed by the Codex
Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, the following:
(i) the basis on which the criteria in the Codex Commodity standards
have been drawn up (e.g. whether on the basis that every item in a lot,
or a specified high proportion, shall comply with the provision in the
standard or whether the average of a set of samples extracted from a
lot must comply and, if so, whether a minimum or maximum
tolerance, as appropriate, is to be given);
(ii) whether there is to be any differentiation in the relative importance of
the criteria in the standards and, if so, what is the appropriate
statistical parameter each criterion should attract, and hence, the basis
for judgement when a lot is in conformity with a standard.
(c) Instructions on the procedure for the taking of samples should indicate the
following:
(i) the measures necessary in order to ensure that the sample taken is
representative of the consignment or of the lot;
(ii) the size and the number of individual items forming the sample taken
from the lot or consignment;
(iii) the administrative measures for taking and handling the sample.
(d) The sampling protocol may include the following information:
(i) the statistical criteria to be used for acceptance or rejection of the lot
on the basis of the sample;
(ii) the procedures to be adopted in cases of dispute.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
(a) The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling should
maintain closest possible relations with all interested organizations working on
methods of analysis and sampling.
(b) The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling should
organize its work in such a manner as to keep under constant review all methods
of analysis and sampling published in the Codex Alimentarius.
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Specific provisions in Codex texts

(c) In the Codex methods of analysis, provision should be made for variations
in reagent concentrations and specifications from country to country.
(d) Codex methods of analysis which have been derived from scientific
journals, theses, or publications, either not readily available or available in
languages other than the official languages of FAO and WHO, or which for
other reasons should be printed in the Codex Alimentarius in extenso, should
follow the standard layout for methods of analysis as adopted by the Codex
Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling.
(e) Methods of analysis which have already been printed as official methods
of analysis in other available publications and which are adopted as Codex
methods need only be quoted by reference in the Codex Alimentarius.
THE USE OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS: SAMPLING PLANS,
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ANALYTICAL RESULTS, THE
MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY, RECOVERY FACTORS AND
PROVISIONS IN CODEX STANDARDS
ISSUES INVOLVED
There are a number of analytical and sampling considerations which prevent
the uniform implementation of legislative standards. In particular, different
approaches may be taken regarding sampling procedures, the use of
measurement uncertainty and recovery corrections.
At present there is no official guidance on how to interpret analytical results in
the framework of Codex. Significantly different decisions may be taken after
analysis of the “same sample”. For example some countries use an “every-
item-must-comply” sampling regime, others use an “average of a lot” regime,
some deduct the measurement uncertainty associated with the result, others do
not, some countries correct analytical results for recovery, others do not. This
interpretation may also be affected by the number of significant figures
included in any commodity specification.
It is essential that analytical results be are interpreted in the same way if there
is to be harmonization in the framework of Codex.
It is stressed that this is not an analysis or sampling problem as such but an
administrative problem which has been highlighted as the result of recent
activities in the analytical sector, most notably the development of International
Guidelines on the Use of Recovery Factors when Reporting Analytical Results
and various Guides prepared dealing with Measurement Uncertainty.

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 Specific provisions in Codex texts

RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that when a Codex Commodity Committee discusses and
agrees on a commodity specification and the analytical methods concerned, it
states the following information in the Codex Standard:
1. Sampling Plans
The appropriate sampling plan, as outlined in the Guidelines for Sampling
(CAC/GL 50-2004), Section 2.1.2 Guidelines on Sampling to control
conformity of products with the specification. This should state:
ƒ whether the specification applies to every item in a lot, or to the
average in a lot, or the proportion non-conforming;
ƒ the appropriate acceptable quality level to be used;
ƒ the acceptance conditions of a lot controlled, in relation to the
qualitative/quantitative characteristic determined on the sample.
2. Measurement Uncertainty
An allowance is to be made for the measurement uncertainty when deciding
whether or not an analytical result falls within the specification. This
requirement may not apply in situations when a direct health hazard is
concerned, such as for food pathogens.
3. Recovery
Analytical results are to be expressed on a recovery corrected basis where
appropriate and relevant, and when corrected it has to be so stated.
If a result has been corrected for recovery, the method by which the recovery
was taken into account should be stated. The recovery rate is to be quoted
wherever possible.
When laying down provisions for standards, it will be necessary to state
whether the result obtained by a method used for analysis within conformity
checks shall be expressed on an recovery-corrected basis or not..
4. Significant Figures
The units in which the results are to be expressed and the number of significant
figures to be included in the reported result.

87
Document reference system

UNIFORM SYSTEM OF REFERENCES FOR CODEX DOCUMENTS

In referencing Codex documents, the Document Reference given in the table

below appear first, followed by the year in which the session will be held, the
session number, and finally the consecutive number of the document.
For example, documents prepared for the 20th session of the Codex Committee
on General Principles meeting in 2004, are identified by the series CX/GP
04/20/1, 2, 3 etc.
Prior to 2003, most documents are identified by the Document Reference, year,
and series number only (except for the Executive Committee).

Statutory Bodies Document

Reference
Codex Alimentarius Commission ALINORM
Executive Committee CX/EXEC

Subsidiary Bodies
Codex Committees
General Principles CX/GP
Food Additives CX/FA
Contaminants CX/CF
Food Hygiene CX/FH
Food Labelling CX/FL
Methods of Analysis and Sampling CX/MAS
Pesticide Residues CX/PR
Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods CX/RVDF
Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification CX/FICS
Systems
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses CX/NFSDU
Cereals, Pulses and Legumes CX/CPL

88
 Document reference system

Cocoa Products and Chocolate CX/CPC

Fats and Oils CX/FO
Fish and Fishery Products CX/FFP
Milk and Milk Products CX/MMP
Meat Hygiene CX/MH
Natural Mineral Waters CX/NMW
Processed Fruits and Vegetables CX/PFV
Sugars CX/S
Vegetable Proteins CX/VP
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables CX/FFV

FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees

Africa CX/AFRICA
Asia CX/ASIA
Europe CX/EURO
Latin America and the Caribbean CX/LAC
Near East CX/NEA
North America and the South West Pacific CX/NASWP

Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

Foods derived from Biotechnology CX/FBT
Antimicrobial Resistance CX/AMR
Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods CX/QFF

Statutory Bodies Abolished, Dissolved or Renamed

(for archival reference only)
Codex Committee on Edible Ices CX/IE
Codex Committee on Soups and Broths CX/SB

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Document reference system

Codex Committee on Processed Meat and Poultry CX/PMPP

Products
Codex Committee on Food Additives and CX/FAC
Contaminants
Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal CX/AF
Feeding
Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Fruit and CX/FJ
Vegetable Juices
Joint Codex/IOOC Meeting on the Standardization of CX/TO
Table Olives
Joint ECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on CX/FJ
the Standardization of Fruit Juices
Joint ECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on CX/QFF
the Standardization of Quick Frozen Foods

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 Format for commodity standards

FORMAT FOR CODEX COMMODITY STANDARDS

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 require to be completed in a standard only insofar as such provisions 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
NOTES ON THE HEADINGS
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 should be 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 this is self-explanatory in the name of
the standard. In the case of a general standard covering more than one specific
product, it should be made clear as to which specific products the standard
applies.
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Format for commodity standards

DESCRIPTION
This section should contain a definition of the product or products with an
indication, where appropriate, of the raw materials from which it is derived and
any necessary references to processes of manufacture. It may also include
references to types and styles of product and to type of pack. There may also be
additional definitions when these 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 which 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, odour, colour 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 an 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 in the section on Food Additives and
Contaminants in the Relations between Commodity Committees and General
Committees, 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 .”
Then should follow a tabulation, viz.:
“Name of additive, maximum level (in percentage or mg/kg).”

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 Format for commodity standards

CONTAMINANTS
Pesticide Residues:
This section should include, by reference, any levels for pesticide residues that
have been established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for the product
concerned. 21
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 Contaminants in Foods.”
Then should follow a tabulation, 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 section on Food Hygiene in the Relations between
Commodity Committees and General Committees. 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 this 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

21
N.B. This Procedure has not been followed for practical reasons. Codex
maximum limits for pesticide residues are published separately in Volume 2 of the Codex
Alimentarius.
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Format for commodity standards

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 section on
Food Labelling in the Relations between Commodity Committees and General
Committees. 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.”
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 section on Methods of Analysis and
Sampling in the Relations between Commodity Committees and General
Committees. 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 alternative 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.” 22

22
Methods of analysis should be indicated as being “defining”, “reference”,
“alternative approved” or “tentative” methods, as appropriate.
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 Relations between Committees

RELATIONS BETWEEN COMMODITY COMMITTEES AND GENERAL

COMMITTEES

Codex Committees may ask the advice and guidance of committees having
responsibility for matters applicable to all foods on any points coming within
their province.
The Codex Committees on Food Labelling; Food Additives; Contaminants in
Foods; Methods of Analysis and Sampling; Food Hygiene; Nutrition and
Foods for Special Dietary Uses; and Food Import and Export Inspection and
Certification Systems may establish general provisions on matters within their
terms of reference. These provisions should only be incorporated into Codex
Commodity Standards by reference unless there is a need for doing otherwise.
Codex Commodity standards shall contain sections on hygiene, labelling and
methods of analysis and sampling and these sections should contain all of the
relevant provisions of the standard. Provisions of Codex General Standards,
Codes or Guidelines shall only be incorporated into Codex Commodity
Standards by reference unless there is a need for doing otherwise. Where Codex
Committees are of the opinion that the general provisions are not applicable to
one or more commodity standards, they may request the responsible
Committees to endorse deviations from the general provisions of the Codex
Alimentarius. Such requests should be fully justified and supported by available
scientific evidence and other relevant information. Sections on hygiene,
labelling, and methods of analysis and sampling which contain specific
provisions or provisions supplementing the Codex General Standards, Codes or
Guidelines shall be referred to the responsible Codex Committees at the most
suitable time during Steps 3, 4 and 5 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards and Related Texts, though such reference should not be
allowed to delay the progress of the standard to the subsequent steps of the
Procedure.
Subject and commodity Committees should refer to the principles and
guidelines developed by the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export
Inspection and Certification Systems when developing provisions and/or
recommendations on inspection and certification and make any appropriate
amendments to the standards, guidelines and codes within the responsibility of
the individual committees at the earliest convenient time.
FOOD LABELLING
The provisions on food labelling should be included by reference to the Codex
General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-
1985). Exemptions from, or additions to, the General Standard which are
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Relations between Committees

necessary for its interpretation in respect of the product concerned should be

justified fully, and should be restricted as much as possible.
Information specified in each draft standard should normally be limited to the
following:
• a statement that the product shall be labelled in accordance with the
Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods
(CODEX STAN 1-1985)
• the specified name of the food
• date marking and storage instructions (only if the exemption foreseen
in Section 4.7.1 of the General Standard is applied)
Where the scope of the Codex Standard is not limited to prepackaged foods, a
provision for labelling of non retail containers may be included.
In such cases the provision may specify that:
“Information on ... 23 shall be given either on the container or in
accompanying documents, except that the name of the product, lot
identification, and the name and address of the manufacturer or packer
shall appear on the container.24
However, lot identification, and the name and address of the
manufacturer or packer may be replaced by an identification mark
provided that such a mark is clearly identifiable with the accompanying
documents.”
In respect of date marking (Section 4.7 of the General Standard), a Codex
Committee may, in exceptional circumstances, determine another date or dates
as defined in the General Standard, either to replace or to accompany the date of
minimum durability, or alternatively decide that no date marking is necessary.
In such cases, a full justification for the proposed action should be submitted to
the Codex Committee on Food Labelling.
FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS
Codex commodity committees should prepare a section on food additives in
each draft commodity standard and this section should contain all the provisions
in the standard relating to food additives. The section should include the names

23
Codex Committees should decide which provisions are to be included.
24
Codex Committees may decide that further information is required on the
container. In this regard, special attention should be given to the need for storage
instructions to be included on the container.
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 Relations between Committees

of those additives which are considered to be technologically necessary or

which are widely permitted for use in the food within maximum levels where
appropriate.
All provisions in respect of food additives (including processing aids) and
contaminants contained in Codex commodity standards should be referred to the
Codex Committee on Food Additives or on Contaminants in Foods, as
appropriate, preferably after the Standards have been advanced to Step 5 of the
Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards or before they are considered
by the Commodity Committee concerned at Step 7, though such reference
should not be allowed to delay the progress of the Standard to the subsequent
Steps of the Procedure.
All provisions in respect of food additives will require to be endorsed by the
Codex Committee on Food Additives , on the basis of technological justification
submitted by the commodity committees and of the recommendations of the
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives concerning the safety-
in-use (acceptable daily intake (ADI) and other restrictions) and an estimate of
the potential and, where possible, the actual intake of the food additives.
In preparing working papers for the Codex Committee on Food Additives, the
Secretariat should make a report to the Committee concerning the endorsement
of provisions for food additives (including processing aids). Provisions for food
additives should indicate the International Numbering System (INS) number,
the ADI, technological justification, proposed level, and whether the additive
was previously endorsed (or temporarily endorsed).
When commodity standards are sent to governments for comment at Step 3,
they should contain a statement that the provisions “in respect of food additives
and contaminants are subject to endorsement by the Codex Committees on Food
Additives or on Contaminants in Foods and to incorporation into the General
Standard for Food Additives or the General Standard for Contaminants and
Toxins in Foods.”
When establishing provisions for food additives, Codex committees should
follow the Preamble of the General Standard for Food Additives. Full
explanation should be provided for any departure from the above
recommendations.
When an active commodity committee exists, proposals for the use of additives
in any commodity standard under consideration should be prepared by the
committee concerned, and forwarded to the Codex Committee on Food
Additives for endorsement. When the Codex Committee on Food Additives
decides not to endorse specific additives provisions (use of the additive, or level
in the end-product), the reason should be clearly stated. The section under
consideration should be referred back to the Committee concerned if further
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Relations between Committees

information is needed, or for information if the Codex Committee on Food

Additives decides to amend the provision.
When no active commodity committee exists, proposals for new additive
provisions or amendment of existing provisions should be forwarded directly by
member countries to the Codex Committee on Food Additives .
Good Manufacturing Practice means that:
• the quantity of the additive added to food does not exceed the amount
reasonably required to accomplish its intended physical nutritional or
other technical effect in food;
• the quantity of the additive that becomes a component of food as a result
of its use in the manufacturing, processing or packaging of a food and
which is not intended to accomplish any physical, or other technological
effect in the food itself, is reduced to the extent reasonably possible;
• the additive is of appropriate food grade quality and is prepared and
handled in the same way as a food ingredient. Food grade quality is
achieved by compliance with the specifications as a whole and not
merely with individual criteria in terms of safety.
FOOD HYGIENE
Commodity Committees should use in the commodity standards the following
text:
• It is recommended that the products covered by the provisions of this
standard be prepared and handled in accordance with the appropriate
sections of the Recommended International Code of Practice - General
Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969, Rev 4-2003), and other
relevant Codex texts such as Codes of Hygienic Practice and Codes of
Practice.
• The products should comply with any microbiological criteria
established in accordance with the Principles for the Establishment and
Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997).
METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING
NORMAL PRACTICE
Except for methods of analysis and sampling associated with microbiological
criteria, when Codex committees have included provisions on methods of
analysis or sampling in a Codex commodity standard, these should be referred
to the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling at Step 4, to
ensure Government comments at the earliest possible stage in the development

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 Relations between Committees

of the standard. A Codex Committee should, whenever possible, provide to the

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling information, for each
individual analytical method proposed, relating to specificity, accuracy,
precision (repeatability, reproducibility) limit of detection, sensitivity,
applicability and practicability, as appropriate. Similarly a Codex Committee
should, whenever possible, provide to the Codex Committee on Methods of
Analysis and Sampling information for each sampling plan relating to the scope
or field of application, the type of sampling (e.g. bulk or unit), sample sizes,
decision rules, details of plans (e.g. “Operating characteristic” curves),
inferences to be made to lots or processes, levels of risk to be accepted and
pertinent supportive data.
Other criteria may be selected as required. Methods of analysis should be
proposed by the Commodity Committees in consultation if necessary with an
expert body.
At Step 4 Codex Commodity Committees should discuss and report to the
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling on matters connected
with:
• Provisions in Codex standards which require analytical or statistical
procedure;
• Provisions for which elaboration of specific methods of analysis or
sampling are required;
• Provisions which are defined by the use of Defining Methods (Type I);
• All proposals to the extent possible should be supported by appropriate
documentation; especially for Tentative Methods (Type IV);
• Any request for advice or assistance.
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling should undertake
a coordinating role in matters relating to the elaboration of Codex methods of
analysis and sampling. The originating committee is, however, responsible for
carrying out the Steps of the Procedure.
When it is necessary, the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and
Sampling should try to ensure elaboration and collaborative testing of methods
by other recognized bodies with expertise in the field of analysis.
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling will assess the
actual analytical performance of the method which has been determined in its
validation. This will take account of the appropriate precision characteristics
obtained in collaborative trials which may have been carried out on the method
together with results from other development work carried out during the course
of the method development. The set of criteria that are developed will form part
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Relations between Committees

of the report of the endorsement by the Codex Committee on Methods of

Analysis and Sampling and will be inserted in the appropriate Codex
Commodity Standard.
In addition, the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling will
identify numeric values for the criteria for which it would wish such methods to
comply.
METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING OF GENERAL APPLICATION TO FOODS
When the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling itself
elaborates methods of analysis and sampling which are of general application to
foods, it is responsible for carrying out the steps of the Procedure.
METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF FOOD ADDITIVES AS SUCH
Methods of analysis included in Codex Advisory Food Additives Specifications,
for the purpose of verifying the criteria of purity and identity of the food
additive, need not be referred to the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis
and Sampling for endorsement. The Codex Committee on Food Additives is
responsible for carrying out the steps of the Procedure.
METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD
The methods for determining the levels of pesticide residues in food need not be
referred to the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for
endorsement. The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues is responsible for
carrying out the steps of the Procedure.
MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING
When Codex committees have included provisions on microbiological methods
of analysis and sampling for the purpose of verifying hygiene provisions, they
should be referred to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene at the most
suitable time during Steps 3, 4 and 5 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of
Codex Standards, which will ensure that government comments on the methods
of analysis and sampling are available to the Codex Committee on Food
Hygiene. The procedure to be followed will be as in the normal practice
described above, substituting the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene for the
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling. Microbiological
methods of analysis and sampling elaborated by the Codex Committee on Food
Hygiene for inclusion in Codex commodity standards for the purpose of
verifying hygiene provisions need not be referred to the Codex Committee on
Methods of Analysis and Sampling for endorsement.

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Procedural Manual Core functions of Contact Points

CORE FUNCTIONS OF CODEX CONTACT POINTS

The operation of Codex Contact Points will differ in each country

depending on national legislation, government structures and practices.
CODEX CONTACT POINTS:
1. Act as the link between the Codex Secretariat and Member countries;
2. Coordinate all relevant Codex activities within their own countries;
3. Receive all Codex final texts (standards, codes of practice, guidelines and
other advisory texts) and working documents of Codex sessions and ensure that
they are circulated to those concerned within their own countries;
4. Send comments on Codex documents or proposals to the Codex
Alimentarius Commission or its subsidiary bodies and/or the Codex Secretariat;
5. Work in close cooperation with the national Codex committee, where such
a committee has been established. The Codex Contact Point acts as the liaison
point with the food industry, consumers, traders and all other concerned to
ensure that the government is provided with an appropriate balance of policy
and technical advice upon which to base decisions relating to issues raised in the
context of the Codex work;
6. Act as a channel for the exchange of information and coordination of
activities with other Codex Members;
7. Receive the invitation to Codex sessions and inform the relevant
chairpersons and the Codex Secretariat of the names of participants from their
own countries;
8. Maintain a library of Codex final texts; and
9. Promote Codex activities throughout their own countries.

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SECTION III
ƒ Working Principles for Risk Analysis
ƒ Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on Food
Additives and Contaminants
ƒ CCFAC Policy for Exposure Assessment of Contaminants and Toxins
in Foods or Food Groups

CONTENTS OF THIS SECTION

This Section contains risk analysis policy documents adopted by the Commission,
which apply to and guide the work of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
The Working Principles for Risk Analysis for Application in the Framework of the
Codex Alimentarius were adopted by the Commission in 2003.
The Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on Food Additives
and Contaminants and the CCFAC Policy for Exposure Assessment of
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods or Food Groups were adopted by the
Commission in 2005.These documents currently guide the work of the Codex
Committees on Food Additives and on Contaminants in Foods.

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WORKING PRINCIPLES FOR RISK ANALYSIS FOR APPLICATION IN

THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

SCOPE
1. These principles for risk analysis are intended for application in the frame-
work of the Codex Alimentarius.
2. The objective of these Working Principles is to provide guidance to the
Codex Alimentarius Commission and the joint FAO/WHO expert bodies and
consultations, so that food safety and health aspects of Codex standards and
related texts are based on risk analysis.
3. Within the framework of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its
procedures, the responsibility for providing advice on risk management lies with
the Commission and its subsidiary bodies (risk managers), while the respon-
sibility for risk assessment lies primarily with the joint FAO/WHO expert
bodies and consultations (risk assessors).
RISK ANALYSIS - GENERAL ASPECTS
4. The risk analysis used in Codex should be:
• applied consistently;
• open, transparent and documented;
• conducted in accordance with both the Statements of Principle
Concerning the Role of Science in the Codex Decision-Making Process
and the Extent to Which Other Factors are Taken into Account and the
Statements of Principle Relating to the Role of Food Safety Risk
Assessment 25 ; and
• evaluated and reviewed as appropriate in the light of newly generated
scientific data.
5. The risk analysis should follow a structured approach comprising the three
distinct but closely linked components of risk analysis (risk assessment, risk
management and risk communication) as defined by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission26, each component being integral to the overall risk analysis.
6. The three components of risk analysis should be documented fully and sys-
tematically in a transparent manner. While respecting legitimate concerns to

25
See Appendix: General Decisions of the Commission
26
See Definitions of Risk Analysis Terms Related to Food Safety.
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preserve confidentiality, documentation should be accessible to all interested

parties27.
7. Effective communication and consultation with all interested parties should
be ensured throughout the risk analysis.
8. The three components of risk analysis should be applied within an
overarching framework for management of food related risks to human health.
9. There should be a functional separation of risk assessment and risk manage-
ment, in order to ensure the scientific integrity of the risk assessment, to avoid
confusion over the functions to be performed by risk assessors and risk
managers and to reduce any conflict of interest. However, it is recognized that
risk analysis is an iterative process, and interaction between risk managers and
risk assessors is essential for practical application.
10. When there is evidence that a risk to human health exists but scientific data
are insufficient or incomplete, the Codex Alimentarius Commission should not
proceed to elaborate a standard but should consider elaborating a related text,
such as a code of practice, provided that such a text would be supported by the
available scientific evidence.
11. Precaution is an inherent element of risk analysis. Many sources of uncer-
tainty exist in the process of risk assessment and risk management of food
related hazards to human health. The degree of uncertainty and variability in the
available scientific information should be explicitly considered in the risk
analysis. Where there is sufficient scientific evidence to allow Codex to proceed
to elaborate a standard or related text, the assumptions used for the risk assess-
ment and the risk management options selected should reflect the degree of un-
certainty and the characteristics of the hazard.
12. The needs and situations of developing countries should be specifically
identified and taken into account by the responsible bodies in the different
stages of the risk analysis.
RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY
13. Determination of risk assessment policy should be included as a specific
component of risk management.
14. Risk assessment policy should be established by risk managers in advance
of risk assessment, in consultation with risk assessors and all other interested

27
For the purpose of the present document, the term “interested parties” refers to
“risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, industry, the academic community and, as
appropriate, other relevant parties and their representative organizations” (see definition
of “Risk Communication”)
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parties. This procedure aims at ensuring that the risk assessment is systematic,
complete, unbiased and transparent.
15. The mandate given by risk managers to risk assessors should be as clear as
possible.
16. Where necessary, risk managers should ask risk assessors to evaluate the
potential changes in risk resulting from different risk management options.
RISK ASSESSMENT28
17. The scope and purpose of the particular risk assessment being carried out
should be clearly stated and in accordance with risk assessment policy. The out-
put form and possible alternative outputs of the risk assessment should be
defined
18. Experts responsible for risk assessment should be selected in a transparent
manner on the basis of their expertise, experience, and their independence with
regard to the interests involved. The procedures used to select these experts
should be documented including a public declaration of any potential conflict of
interest. This declaration should also identify and detail their individual exper-
tise, experience and independence. Expert bodies and consultations should
ensure effective participation of experts from different parts of the world, in-
cluding experts from developing countries.
19. Risk assessment should be conducted in accordance with the Statements of
Principle Relating to the Role of Food Safety Risk Assessment and should in-
corporate the four steps of the risk assessment, i.e. hazard identification, hazard
characterization, exposure assessment and risk characterization.
20. Risk assessment should be based on all available scientific data. It should
use available quantitative information to the greatest extent possible. Risk as-
sessment may also take into account qualitative information.
21. Risk assessment should take into account relevant production, storage and
handling practices used throughout the food chain including traditional practices,
methods of analysis, sampling and inspection and the prevalence of specific
adverse health effects.
22. Risk assessment should seek and incorporate relevant data from different
parts of the world, including that from developing countries. These data should
particularly include epidemiological surveillance data, analytical and exposure
data. Where relevant data are not available from developing countries, the
Commission should request that FAO/WHO initiate time-bound studies for this

28
Reference is made to the Statements of Principle Relating to the Role of Food
Safety Risk Assessment: See Appendix: General Decisions of the Commission.
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purpose. The conduct of the risk assessment should not be inappropriately

delayed pending receipt of these data; however, the risk assessment should be
reconsidered when such data are available.
23. Constraints, uncertainties and assumptions having an impact on the risk as-
sessment should be explicitly considered at each step in the risk assessment and
documented in a transparent manner. Expression of uncertainty or variability in
risk estimates may be qualitative or quantitative, but should be quantified to the
extent that is scientifically achievable.
24. Risk assessments should be based on realistic exposure scenarios, with
consideration of different situations being defined by risk assessment policy.
They should include consideration of susceptible and high-risk population
groups. Acute, chronic (including long-term), cumulative and/or combined
adverse health effects should be taken into account in carrying out risk assess-
ment, where relevant.
25. The report of the risk assessment should indicate any constraints, uncertain-
ties, assumptions and their impact on the risk assessment. Minority opinions
should also be recorded. The responsibility for resolving the impact of
uncertainty on the risk management decision lies with the risk manager, not the
risk assessors.
26. The conclusion of the risk assessment including a risk estimate, if available,
should be presented in a readily understandable and useful form to risk
managers and made available to other risk assessors and interested parties so
that they can review the assessment.
RISK MANAGEMENT
27. While recognizing the dual purposes of the Codex Alimentarius are protect-
ing the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade, Codex
decisions and recommendations on risk management should have as their
primary objective the protection of the health of consumers. Unjustified differ-
ences in the level of consumer health protection to address similar risks in
different situations should be avoided.
28. Risk management should follow a structured approach including prelimi-
nary risk management activities 29 , evaluation of risk management options,
monitoring and review of the decision taken. The decisions should be based on

29
For the purpose of these Principles, preliminary risk management activities are
taken to include: identification of a food safety problem; establishment of a risk profile;
ranking of the hazard for risk assessment and risk management priority; establishment of
risk assessment policy for the conduct of the risk assessment; commissioning of the risk
assessment; and consideration of the result of the risk assessment.
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risk assessment, and taking into account, where appropriate, other legitimate
factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of
fair practices in food trade, in accordance with the Criteria for the Consideration
of the Other Factors Referred to in the Second Statement of Principles30.
29. The Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies, acting as
risk managers in the context of these Working Principles, should ensure that the
conclusion of the risk assessment is presented before making final proposals or
decisions on the available risk management options, in particular in the setting
of standards or maximum levels, bearing in mind the guidance given in
paragraph 10.
30. In achieving agreed outcomes, risk management should take into account
relevant production, storage and handling practices used throughout the food
chain including traditional practices, methods of analysis, sampling and inspec-
tion, feasibility of enforcement and compliance, and the prevalence of specific
adverse health effects.
31. The risk management process should be transparent, consistent and fully
documented. Codex decisions and recommendations on risk management should
be documented, and where appropriate clearly identified in individual Codex
standards and related texts so as to facilitate a wider understanding of the risk
management process by all interested parties.
32. The outcome of the preliminary risk management activities and the risk
assessment should be combined with the evaluation of available risk manage-
ment options in order to reach a decision on management of the risk.
33. Risk management options should be assessed in terms of the scope and
purpose of risk analysis and the level of consumer health protection they
achieve. The option of not taking any action should also be considered.
34. In order to avoid unjustified trade barriers, risk management should ensure
transparency and consistency in the decision-making process in all cases.
Examination of the full range of risk management options should, as far as pos-
sible, take into account an assessment of their potential advantages and disad-
vantages. When making a choice among different risk management options,
which are equally effective in protecting the health of the consumer, the
Commission and its subsidiary bodies should seek and take into consideration
the potential impact of such measures on trade among its Member countries and
select measures that are no more trade-restrictive than necessary.
35. Risk management should take into account the economic consequences and
the feasibility of risk management options. Risk management should also recog-

30
See Appendix: General Decisions of the Commission.
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nize the need for alternative options in the establishment of standards,

guidelines and other recommendations, consistent with the protection of
consumers’ health. In taking these elements into consideration, the Commission
and its subsidiary bodies should give particular attention to the circumstances of
developing countries.
36. Risk management should be a continuing process that takes into account all
newly generated data in the evaluation and review of risk management decisions.
Food standards and related texts should be reviewed regularly and updated as
necessary to reflect new scientific knowledge and other information relevant to
risk analysis.
RISK COMMUNICATION
37. Risk communication should :
i) promote awareness and understanding of the specific issues under
consideration during the risk analysis ;
ii) promote consistency and transparency in formulating risk manage-
ment options/recommendations;
iii) provide a sound basis for understanding the risk management
decisions proposed;
iv) improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the risk analysis ;
v) strengthen the working relationships among participants;
vi) foster public understanding of the process, so as to enhance trust and
confidence in the safety of the food supply;
vii) promote the appropriate involvement of all interested parties; and
viii) exchange information in relation to the concerns of interested parties
about the risks associated with food.
38. Risk analysis should include clear, interactive and documented communica-
tion, amongst risk assessors (Joint FAO/WHO expert bodies and consultations)
and risk managers (Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies),
and reciprocal communication with member countries and all interested parties
in all aspects of the process.
39. Risk communication should be more than the dissemination of information.
Its major function should be to ensure that all information and opinion required
for effective risk management is incorporated into the decision making process.
40. Risk communication involving interested parties should include a trans-
parent explanation of the risk assessment policy and of the assessment of risk,
including the uncertainty. The need for specific standards or related texts and
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the procedures followed to determine them, including how the uncertainty was
dealt with, should also be clearly explained. It should indicate any constraints,
uncertainties, assumptions and their impact on the risk analysis, and minority
opinions that had been expressed in the course of the risk assessment (see para.
25).
41. The guidance on risk communication in this document is addressed to all
those involved in carrying out risk analysis within the framework of Codex
Alimentarius. However, it is also of importance for this work to be made as
transparent and accessible as possible to those not directly engaged in the
process and other interested parties while respecting legitimate concerns to pre-
serve confidentiality (see para. 6).

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RISK ANALYSIS PRINCIPLES APPLIED BY THE CODEX COMMITTEE

ON FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS

SECTION 1. SCOPE
1) This document addresses the respective applications of risk analysis
principles by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
(CCFAC) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA). For matters which cannot be addressed by JECFA, this document
does not preclude the possible consideration of recommendations arising
from other internationally recognized expert bodies, as approved by the
Commission.
2) This document should be read in conjunction with the Working Principles
for Risk Analysis for Application in the Framework of the Codex
Alimentarius.
SECTION 2. CCFAC and JECFA
3) CCFAC and JECFA recognize that communication between risk assessors
and risk managers is critical to the success of their risk analysis activities.
4) CCFAC and JECFA should continue to develop procedures to enhance
communication between the two committees.
5) CCFAC and JECFA should ensure that their contributions to the risk
analysis process involve all interested parties and are fully transparent and
thoroughly documented. While respecting legitimate concerns to preserve
confidentiality, documentation should be made available, upon request, in a
timely manner to all interested parties.
6) JECFA, in consultation with CCFAC, should continue to explore
developing minimum quality criteria for data requirements necessary for
JECFA to perform risk assessments. These criteria are used by CCFAC in
preparing its Priority List for JECFA. The JECFA Secretariat should
consider whether these minimum quality criteria for data have been met
when preparing the provisional agenda for meetings of JECFA.
SECTION 3. CCFAC
7) CCFAC is primarily responsible for recommending risk management
proposals for adoption by the CAC.

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8) CCFAC shall base its risk management recommendations to the CAC on

JECFA’s risk assessments, including safety assessments31, of food additives,
naturally occurring toxicants, and contaminants in food.
9) In cases where JECFA has performed a safety assessment and CCFAC or
the CAC determines that additional scientific guidance is necessary,
CCFAC or CAC may make a more specific request to JECFA to obtain the
scientific guidance necessary for a risk management decision.
10) CCFAC’s risk management recommendations to the CAC with respect to
food additives shall be guided by the principles described in the Preamble
and relevant annexes of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives.
11) CCFAC’s risk management recommendations to the CAC with respect to
contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants shall be guided by the
principles described in the Preamble and relevant annexes of the Codex
General Standard for Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxins in
Food.
12) CCFAC’s risk management recommendations to the CAC that involve
health and safety aspects of food standards shall be based on JECFA’s risk
assessments and other legitimate factors relevant to the health protection of
consumers and to ensuring fair practices in food trade in accordance with
the Criteria for the Consideration of the Other Factors Referred to in the
Second Statement of Principles.
13) CCFAC’s risk management recommendations to the CAC shall take into
account the relevant uncertainties and safety factors described by JECFA.
14) CCFAC shall endorse maximum use levels only for those additives for
which 1) JECFA has established specifications of identity and purity and 2)
JECFA has completed a safety assessment or has performed a quantitative
risk assessment.
15) CCFAC shall endorse maximum levels only for those contaminants for
which 1) JECFA has completed a safety assessment or has performed a
quantitative risk assessment and 2) the level of the contaminant in food can
be determined through appropriate sampling plans and analysis methods, as
adopted by Codex. CCFAC should take into consideration the analytical
capabilities of developing countries unless public health considerations
require otherwise.

31
A Safety Assessment is defined as a scientifically-based process consisting of:
1) the determination of a NOEL (No Observed Effect Level) for a chemical, biological,
or physical agent from animal feeding studies and other scientific considerations; 2) the
subsequent application of safety factors to establish an ADI or tolerable intake; and 3)
comparison of the ADI or tolerable intake with probable exposure to the agent
(Temporary definition to be modified when JECFA definition is available).
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16) CCFAC shall take into account differences in regional and national food
consumption patterns and dietary exposure as assessed by JECFA when
recommending maximum use levels for additives or maximum levels for
contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food.
17) Before finalising proposals for maximum levels for contaminants and
naturally occurring toxicants, CCFAC shall seek the scientific advice of
JECFA about the validity of the analysis and sampling aspects, about the
distribution of concentrations of contaminants and naturally occurring
toxicants in foods and about other relevant technical and scientific aspects,
including dietary exposure, as necessary to provide for a suitable scientific
basis for its advice to CCFAC.
18) When establishing its standards, codes of practice, and guidelines, CCFAC
shall clearly state when it applies any other legitimate factors relevant to the
health protection of consumers and to ensuring fair practices in food trade
in accordance with the Criteria for the Consideration of the Other Factors
Referred to in the Second Statement of Principles, in addition to JECFA’s
risk assessment, and specify its reasons for doing so.
19) CCFAC’s risk communication with JECFA includes prioritising substances
for JECFA review with the view towards obtaining the best available risk
assessment for purposes of elaborating safe conditions of use for food
additives and elaborating safe maximum levels or codes of practice for
contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food.
20) CCFAC shall consider the following when preparing its priority list of
substances for JECFA review:
− Consumer protection from the point of view of health and
prevention of unfair trade practices;
− CCFAC’s Terms of Reference;
− JECFA’s Terms of Reference;
− The Codex Alimentarius Commission’s Strategic Plan , its relevant
plans of work and Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities;
− The quality, quantity, adequacy, and availability of data pertinent to
performing a risk assessment, including data from developing
countries;
− The prospect of completing the work in a reasonable period of time;
− The diversity of national legislation and any apparent impediments
to international trade;
− The impact on international trade (i.e., magnitude of the problem in
international trade);
− The needs and concerns of developing countries; and,

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− Work already undertaken by other international organizations;

21) When referring substances to JECFA, CCFAC shall provide background
information and clearly explain the reasons for the request when chemicals
are nominated for evaluation;
22) CCFAC may also refer a range of risk management options, with a view
toward obtaining JECFA’s guidance on the attendant risks and the likely
risk reductions associated with each option.
23) CCFAC requests JECFA to review any methods and guidelines being
considered by CCFAC for assessing maximum use levels for additives or
maximum levels for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants.
CCFAC makes any such request with a view toward obtaining JECFA’s
guidance on the limitations, applicability, and appropriate means for
implementation of a method or guideline for CCFAC's work.
SECTION 4. JECFA
24) JECFA is primarily responsible for performing the risk assessments upon
which CCFAC and ultimately the CAC base their risk management
decisions.
25) JECFA’s scientific experts should be selected on the basis of their
competence and independence, taking into account geographical
representation to ensure that all regions are represented.
26) JECFA should strive to provide CCFAC with science-based risk
assessments that include the four components of risk assessment as defined
by CAC and safety assessments that can serve as the basis for CCFAC’s
risk-management discussions. For contaminants and naturally occurring
toxicants, JECFA should determine to the extent possible the risks
associated with various levels of intake. Because of the lack of appropriate
information, including data in humans, however, this may be possible in
only a few cases for the foreseeable future. For additives, JECFA should
continue to use its safety assessment process for establishing ADIs.
27) JECFA should strive to provide CCFAC with science-based quantitative
risk assessments and safety assessments for food additives, contaminants,
and naturally occurring toxicants in a transparent manner.
28) JECFA should provide CCFAC with information on the applicability and
any constraints of the risk assessment to the general population to particular
sub-populations and should as far as possible identify potential risks to
populations of potentially enhanced vulnerability (e.g., children, women of
child-bearing age, the elderly).
29) JECFA should also strive to provide CCFAC with specifications of identity
and purity essential to assessing risk associated with the use of additives.

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30) JECFA should strive to base its risk assessments on global data, including
data from developing countries. These data should include epidemiological
surveillance data and exposure studies.
31) JECFA is responsible for evaluating exposure to additives, contaminants,
and naturally occurring toxicants.
32) When evaluating intake of additives or contaminants and naturally
occurring toxicants during its risk assessment, JECFA should take into
account regional differences in food consumption patterns.
33) JECFA should provide to CCFAC its scientific views on the validity and
the distribution aspects of the available data regarding contaminants and
naturally occurring toxicants in foods which have been used for exposure
assessments, and should give details on the magnitude of the contribution to
the exposure from specific foods as may be relevant for risk management
actions or options of CCFAC.
34) JECFA should communicate to CCFAC the magnitude and source of
uncertainties in its risk assessments. When communicating this information,
JECFA should provide CCFAC with a description of the methodology and
procedures by which JECFA estimated any uncertainty in its risk
assessment.
35) JECFA should communicate to CCFAC the basis for all assumptions used
in its risk assessments including default assumptions used to account for
uncertainties.
36) JECFA’s risk assessment output to CCFAC is limited to presenting its
deliberations and the conclusions of its risk assessments and safety
assessments in a complete and transparent manner. JECFA’s
communication of its risk assessments should not include the consequences
of its analyses on trade or other non-public health consequence. Should
JECFA include risk assessments of alternative risk management options,
JECFA should ensure that these are consistent with the Working Principles
for Risk Analysis for the Application in the Framework of the Codex
Alimentarius and Risk Analysis Principles applied by the Codex Committee
on Food Additives and Contaminants.
37) When establishing the agenda for a JECFA meeting, the JECFA Secretariat
work closely with CCFAC to ensure that CCFAC’s risk management
priorities are addressed in a timely manner. With respect to food additives,
the JECFA Secretariat should normally give first priority to compounds that
have been assigned a temporary ADI, or equivalent. Second priority should
normally be given to food additives or groups of additives that have
previously been evaluated and for which an ADI, or equivalent, has been
estimated, and for which new information is available. Third priority should
normally be given to food additives that have not been previously evaluated.
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With respect to contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants, the JECFA

Secretariat should give priority to substances that present both a significant
risk to public health and are a known or expected problem in international
trade.
38) When establishing the agenda for a JECFA meeting, the JECFA Secretariat
should give priority to substances that are known or expected problems in
international trade or that present an emergency or imminent public health
risk.

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CCFAC POLICY FOR EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF CONTAMINANTS

AND TOXINS IN FOODS OR FOOD GROUPS

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION
1. Maximum Limits (MLs) do not need to be set for all foods that contain a
contaminant or a toxin. The Preamble of the Codex General Standard for
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (GSCTF) states in Section 1.3.2 that
“maximum levels (MLs) shall only be set for those foods in which the
contaminant may be found in amounts that are significant for the total
exposure of the consumer. They should be set in such a way that the
consumer is adequately protected”. Setting standards for foods that
contribute little to dietary exposure would mandate enforcement activities
that do not contribute significantly to health outcomes.
2. Exposure assessment is one of the four components of risk assessment
within the risk analysis framework adopted by Codex as the basis for all
standard-setting processes. The estimated contribution of specific foods or
food groups to the total dietary exposure to a contaminant as it relates to a
quantitative health hazard endpoint (e.g., PMTDI, PTWI) provides further
information needed for the setting of priorities for the risk management of
specific foods/food groups. Exposure assessments must be guided by
clearly articulated policies elaborated by Codex with the aim of increasing
the transparency of risk management decisions.
3. The purpose of this Annex is to outline steps in contaminant data selection
and analysis undertaken by JECFA when requested by CCFAC to conduct a
dietary exposure assessment.
4. The following components highlight aspects of JECFA’s exposure
assessment of contaminants and toxins that contribute to ensuring
transparency and consistency of science-based risk assessments. Exposure
assessments of contaminants and toxins in foods are performed by JECFA
at the request of CCFAC. CCFAC will take this information into account
when considering risk management options and making recommendations
regarding contaminants and toxins in foods.
SECTION 2. ESTIMATION OF TOTAL DIETARY EXPOSURE TO A
CONTAMINANT OR TOXIN FROM FOODS/FOOD GROUPS
5. JECFA uses available data from member countries and from GEMS/Food
Operating Program for analytical laboratories system on contaminant levels
in foods and the amount of foods consumed to estimate total dietary
exposure to a contaminant or toxin. This is expressed as a percentage of the

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tolerable intake (e.g., PTDI, PTWI, or other appropriate toxicological

reference point). For a carcinogen with no clear threshold, JECFA uses
available data on intake combined with data on carcinogenic potency to
estimate potential population risks.
6. Median/mean contaminant levels in foods are determined from available
analytical data submitted by countries and from other sources. These data
are combined with information available for the GEMS/Food Regional diets
to generate dietary exposure estimates for regions in the world. JECFA
provides an estimate as to which of the GEMS/Food Regional diets are
likely to approach or exceed the tolerable intake.
7. In some cases, available national contaminant and/or individual food
consumption data may be used by JECFA to provide more accurate
estimates of total dietary exposure, particularly for vulnerable groups such
as children.
8. JECFA performs exposure assessments if requested by CCFAC using the
GEMS/Food Regional Diets and, if needed, available national consumption
data to estimate the impact on dietary exposure of proposed alternative
maximum levels to inform CCFAC about these risk management options.
SECTION 3. IDENTIFICATION OF FOODS/FOOD GROUPS THAT
CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO TOTAL DIETARY EXPOSURE
OF THE CONTAMINANT OR TOXIN
9. From dietary exposure estimates JECFA identifies foods/food groups that
contribute significantly to the exposure according to CCFAC’s criteria for
selecting food groups that contribute to exposure.
10. The CCFAC determines criteria for selecting foods/food groups that
contribute significantly to total dietary exposure of a contaminant or toxin.
These criteria are based upon the percentage of the tolerable intake (or
similar health hazard endpoint) that is contributed by a given food/food
group and the number of geographic regions (as defined by the
GEMS/Food Regional diets) for which dietary exposures exceed that
percentage.
11. The criteria are as follows:
a) Foods or food groups for which exposure to the contaminant or toxin
contributes approximately 10% 32 or more of the tolerable intake (or
similar health hazard endpoint) in one of the GEMS/Food Regional diets;
or,

32
Rounded to the nearest 1/10th of a percent.
117
Risk Analysis Policy

b) Foods or food groups for which exposure to the contaminant or toxin

contributes approximately 5%1 or more of the tolerable intake (or similar
health hazard endpoint) in two or more of the GEMS/Food Regional
diets;
or,
c) Foods or food groups that may have a significant impact on exposure for
specific groups of consumers, although exposure may not exceed 5% of
the tolerable intake (or similar health hazard endpoint) in any of the
GEMS/Food Regional diets. These would be considered on a case-by-
case basis.
SECTION 4. GENERATION OF DISTRIBUTION CURVES FOR
CONCENTRATIONS OF THE CONTAMINANT IN SPECIFIC
FOODS/FOOD GROUPS (CONCURRENT WITH SECTION 2, OR
SUBSEQUENT STEP)
12. If requested by CCFAC, JECFA uses available analytical data on
contaminant or toxin levels in foods/food groups identified as significant
contributors to dietary exposure to generate distribution curves of
contaminant concentrations in individual foods. CCFAC will take this
information into account when considering risk management options and, if
appropriate, for proposing the lowest achievable levels for
contaminants/toxins in food on a global basis.
13. Ideally, individual data from composite samples or aggregated analytical
data would be used by JECFA to construct the distribution curves. When
such data are not available, aggregated data would be used (for example
mean and geometric standard deviation). However, methods to construct
distribution curves using aggregated data would need to be validated by
JECFA.
14. In presenting the distribution curves to CCFAC, JECFA should, to the
extent possible, provide a comprehensive overview of the ranges of
contamination of foods (i.e., both the maximum and outlier values) and of
the proportion of foods/food groups that contain contaminants/toxins at
those levels.
SECTION 5. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL
AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES ON CONTAMINANT LEVELS IN
FOODS/FOOD GROUPS (CONCURRENT WITH SECTION 2, OR
SUBSEQUENT STEP)
15. If requested by CCFAC, JECFA assesses the potential impact of different
agricultural and production practices on contaminant levels in foods to the
extent that scientific data are available to support such assessments.
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 Risk Analysis Policy

CCFAC takes this information into account when considering risk

management options and for proposing Codes of Practice.
16. Taking this information into account, CCFAC proposes risk management
decisions. To refine them, CCFAC may request JECFA to undertake a
second assessment to consider specific exposure scenarios based on
proposed risk management options. The methodology for assessing
potential contaminant exposure in relation to proposed risk management
options needs to be further developed by JECFA.

119
Section IV Codex Alimentarius Commission

SECTION IV
ƒ Subsidiary Bodies
ƒ Membership
ƒ Organigram

Contents of this section

This Section contains factual information about the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, including a list of the Commission’s Sessions and sessions
of the Executive Committee.
The list of the Commission’s Subsidiary Bodies gives the Terms of
Reference of all Codex Committees established under Rule XI.1 of the
Commission’s Rules of Procedure. Each body (including the Commission
and the Executive Committee) is also identified by its unique reference
code used in all official correspondence. The meetings of each subsidiary
body are listed. The structure of the Commission’s subsidiary bodies is
shown diagrammatically on the inside back cover.
The countries and organizations which form the Commission’s
Membership are listed (as of October 2006). The Secretariat of the Joint
FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme provides up-dated information on
national Codex Contact Points at regular intervals, namely on its website:
http://www.codexalimentarius.net.

120
Procedural Manual Commission sessions

SESSIONS OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

(CX-701)33
SESSION PLACE AND DATES
1st Rome, Italy, 25 June - 3 July 1963
2nd Geneva, Switzerland, 28 September - 7 October 1964
3rd Rome, Italy, 19-28 October 1965
4th Rome, Italy, 7-14 November 1966
5th Rome, Italy, 20 February - 1 March 1968
6th Geneva, Switzerland, 4-14 March 1969
7th Rome, Italy, 7-17 April 1970
8th Geneva, Switzerland, 30 June - 9 July 1971
9th Rome, Italy, 6-17 November 1972
10th Rome, Italy, 1-11 July 1974
11th Rome, Italy, 29 March - 9 April 1976
12th Rome, Italy, 17-28 April 1978
13th Rome, Italy, 3-14 December 1979
14th Geneva, Switzerland, 29 June - 10 July 1981
15th Rome, Italy 4-15 July 1983
16th Geneva Switzerland, 1-12 July 1985
17th Rome, Italy, 29 June - 10 July 1987
18th Geneva, Switzerland, 3-12 July 1989
19th Rome, Italy, 1-10 July 1991
20th Geneva, Switzerland, 28 June - 7 July 1993
21st Rome, Italy, 3-8 July 1995
22nd Geneva, Switzerland, 23-28 June 1997
23rd Rome, Italy, 28 June - 3 July 1999
24th Geneva, Switzerland, 2-7 July 2001
25th Geneva, Switzerland, 13-15 February 200334
26th Rome, Italy, 30 June – 7 July 2003
27th Geneva, Switzerland, 28 June - 3 July 2004
28th Rome, Italy, 4-9 July 2005
29th Geneva, Switzerland, 3-7 July 2006

33
The reference code, followed by the number of the session, used in official
correspondence.
34
Extraordinary session.
121
Executive Committee sessions Codex Alimentarius Commission

SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

(CX-702)
SESSION PLACE AND DATES
1st Rome, Italy, 3 July 1963
2nd Washington D.C., USA, 25-26 May 1964
3rd Geneva, Switzerland, 25-26 September 1964
4th Geneva, Switzerland, 7 October 1964
5th Rome, Italy, 3-4 June 1965
6th Rome, Italy, 18 October 1965
7th Rome, Italy, 28 October 1965
8th Rome, Italy, 14-16 June 1966
9th Rome, Italy, 4 November 1966
10th Rome, Italy, 16-18 May 1967
11th Rome, Italy, 19 February 1968
12th Rome, Italy, 5-7 June 1968
13th Geneva, Switzerland, 3 March 1969
14th Rome, Italy, 17-19 September 1969
15th Rome, Italy, 3 April 1970
16th Geneva, Switzerland, 9-11 February 1971
17th Geneva, Switzerland, 25 June 1971
18th Rome, Italy, 15-18 May 1972
19th Geneva, Switzerland, 3-5 July 1973
20th Rome, Italy, 28 June 1974
21st Geneva, Switzerland, 17-19 June 1975
22nd Rome, Italy, 23-24 March 1976
23rd Geneva, Switzerland, 12-15 July 1977
24th Rome, Italy, 13-14 April 1978
25th Geneva, Switzerland, 10-13 July 1979
26th Rome, Italy, 26-27 November 1979
27th Geneva, Switzerland, 13-17 October 1980
28th Geneva, Switzerland, 25-26 June 1981
29th Geneva, Switzerland, 12-16 July 1982
30th Rome, Italy, 30 June – 1 July 1983
31st Geneva, Switzerland, 25-29 June 1984
32nd Geneva, Switzerland, 27-28 June 1985
33rd Rome, Italy, 30 June – 4 July 1986
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Procedural Manual Executive Committee sessions

SESSION PLACE AND DATES

34th Rome, Italy, 25-26 June 1987
35th Geneva, Switzerland, 4-8 July 1988
36th Geneva, Switzerland, 29-30 June 1989
37th Rome, Italy, 3-6 July 1990
38th Rome, Italy, 27-28 June 1991
39th Geneva, Switzerland, 30 June-3 July 1992
40th Geneva, Switzerland, 24-25 June 1993
41st Rome, Italy, 28-30 June 1994
42nd Rome, Italy, 28-30 June 1995
43rd Geneva, Switzerland, 4-7 June 1996
44th Geneva, Switzerland, 19-20 June 1997
45th Rome, Italy, 3-5 June 1998
46th Rome, Italy, 24-25 June 1999
47th Geneva, Switzerland, 28-30 June 2000
48th Geneva, Switzerland, 28-29 June 2001
49th Geneva, Switzerland, 26-27 September 200135
50th Rome, Italy, 26-28 June 2002
51st Geneva, Switzerland, 10-11 February 200335
52nd Rome, Italy, 26-27 June 2003
53rd Geneva, Switzerland, 4-6 February 2004
54th Geneva, Switzerland, 24-26 June 2004
55th Rome, Italy, 9-11 February 2005
56th Rome, Italy, 30 June-2 July 2005
57th Geneva, Switzerland, 6-9 December 2005
58th Rome, Italy, 28 June – 1 July 2006

35
Extraordinary session.
123
Subsidiary bodies

SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

SUBSIDIARY BODY UNDER RULE XI.1(a)

JOINT FAO/WHO COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS ON THE CODE OF
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS (CX-703)
Established by FAO and WHO in 1958 and integrated into the Joint FAO/WHO
Food Standards Programme in 1962 as a subsidiary body of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission under Rule XI.1(a). Re-named “Codex Committee on
Milk and Milk Products” in 1993 and re-established as a subsidiary body under
Rule XI.1(b)(i) (see Rules of Procedure in Section I).
Sessions
1st Rome, Italy, 8-12 September 1958
2nd Rome, Italy, 13-17 April 1959
3rd Rome, Italy, 22-26 February 1960
4th Rome, Italy, 6-10 March 1961
5th Rome, Italy, 2-6 April 1962
6th Rome, Italy, 17-21 June 1963
7th Rome, Italy, 4-8 May 1964
8th Rome, Italy, 24-29 May 1965
9th Rome, Italy, 20-25 June 1966
10th Rome, Italy, 25-31 August 1967
11th Rome, Italy, 10-15 June 1968
12th Rome, Italy, 7-12 July 1969
13th Rome, Italy, 15-20 June 1970
14th Rome, Italy, 6-11 September 1971
15th Rome, Italy, 25-30 September 1972
16th Rome, Italy, 10-15 September 1973
17th Rome, Italy, 14-19 April 1975
18th Rome, Italy, 13-18 September 1976
19th Rome, Italy, 12-17 June 1978
20th Rome, Italy, 26-30 April 1982
21st Rome, Italy, 2-6 June 1986
22nd Rome, Italy, 5-9 November 1990

124
 Subsidiary bodies

Terms of Reference:
To establish international codes and standards concerning milk and milk
products.
SUBSIDIARY BODIES UNDER RULE XI.1(b)(i)
CODEX COMMITTEE ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES (CX-716)
Host Government: France
Sessions:
1st Paris, 4-8 October 1965
2nd Paris, 16-19 October 1967
3rd Paris, 9-13 December 1968
4th Paris, 4-8 March 1974
5th Paris, 19-23 January 1976
6th Paris, 15-19 October 1979
7th Paris, 6-10 April 1981
8th Paris, 24-28 November 1986
9th Paris, 24-28 April 1989
10th Paris, 7-11 September 1992
11th Paris, 25-29 April 1994
12th Paris, 25-28 November 1996
13th Paris, 7-11 September 1998
14th Paris, 19-23 April 1999
15th Paris, 10-14 April 2000
16th Paris, 23-27 April 2001
17th Paris, 15-19 April 2002
18th Paris, 7-11 April 2003
19th Paris, 17–21 November 200336
20th Paris, 3-7 May 2004
21st Paris, 8-12 November 200436
22nd Paris, 11-15 April 2005
23rd Paris, 10-14 April 2006

Terms of Reference:
To deal with such procedural and general matters as are referred to it by the
Codex Alimentarius Commission. Such matters have included the

36
Extraordinary Session
125
Subsidiary bodies

establishment of the General Principles which define the purpose and scope of
the Codex Alimentarius, the nature of Codex standards and the forms of
acceptance by countries of Codex standards; the development of Guidelines for
Codex Committees; the development of a mechanism for examining any
economic impact statements submitted by governments concerning possible
implications for their economies of some of the individual standards or some of
the provisions thereof; the establishment of a Code of Ethics for the
International Trade in Food.
CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD ADDITIVES (CX-711)
Renamed as Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants by the 17th
Session of the Commission; renamed again by the 29th Session of the
Commission as Codex Committee on Food Additives, due to the creation of a
Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CX-735)
Host Government: China (since 39th Session), Netherlands (1st to 38th
Sessions)
Sessions:
1st The Hague, 19-22 May 1964
2nd The Hague, 10-14 May 1965
3rd The Hague, 9-13 May 1966
4th The Hague, 11-15 September 1967
5th Arnhem, 18-22 March 1968
6th Arnhem, 15-22 October 1969
7th The Hague, 12-16 October, 1970
8th Wageningen, 29 May - 2 June 1972
9th Wageningen, 10-14 December 1973
10th The Hague, 2-7 June 1975
11th The Hague, 31 May - 6 June 1977
12th The Hague, 10-16 October 1978
13th The Hague, 11-17 September 1979
14th The Hague, 25 Nov. - 1 Dec. 1980
15th The Hague, 16-22 March 1982
16th The Hague, 22-28 March 1983
17th The Hague, 10-16 April 1984
18th The Hague, 5-11 November 1985
19th The Hague, 17-23 March 1987
20th The Hague, 7-12 March 1988
21st The Hague, 13-18 March 1989
22nd The Hague, 19-24 March 1990
23rd The Hague, 4-9 March 1991
24th The Hague, 23-28 March 1992

126
 Subsidiary bodies

25th The Hague, 22-26 March 1993

26th The Hague, 7-11 March 1994
27th The Hague, 20-24 March 1995
28th Manila, Philippines, 18-22 March 1996
29th The Hague, 17-21 March 1997
30th The Hague, 9-13 March 1998
31st The Hague, 22-26 March 1999
32nd Beijing, China, 20-24 March 2000
33rd The Hague, 12-16 March 2001
34th Rotterdam, 11-15 March 2002
35th Arusha, Tanzania, 17-21 March 2003
36th Rotterdam, 22-26 March 2004
37th The Hague, 25-29 April 2005
38th The Hague, 24-28 April 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to establish or endorse permitted maximum levels for individual food
additives;
(b) to prepare priority lists of food additives for risk assessment by the Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives;
(c) to assign functional classes to individual food additives;
(d) to recommend specifications of identity and purity for food additives for
adoption by the Commission;
(e) to consider methods of analysis for the determination of additives in food;
and
(f) to consider and elaborate standards or codes for related subjects such as
the labelling of food additives when sold as such.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON CONTAMINANTS IN FOODS (CX-735)

Host Government: Netherlands
Terms of reference:
(a) to establish or endorse permitted maximum levels or guidelines levels for
contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed;
(b) to prepare priority lists of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants
for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food
Additives;
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Subsidiary bodies

(c) to consider methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of

contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed;
(d) to consider and elaborate standards or codes of practice for related
subjects; and
(e) to consider other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to
contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD HYGIENE (CX-712)

Host Government: U.S.A.
Sessions:
1st Washington D.C., 27-28 May 1964
2nd Rome, 14-16 June 1965
3rd Rome, 31 May - 3 June 1966
4th Washington D.C., 12-16 June 1967
5th Washington D.C., 6-10 May 1968
6th Washington D.C., 5-9 May 1969
7th Washington D.C., 25-29 May 1970
8th Washington D.C., 14-18 June 1971
9th Washington D.C., 19-23 June 1972
10th Washington D.C., 14-18 May 1973
11th Washington D.C., 10-14 June 1974
12th Washington D.C., 12-16 May 1975
13th Rome, 10-14 May 1976
14th Washington D.C., 29 August - 2 September 1977
15th Washington D.C., 18-22 September 1978
16th Washington D.C., 23-27 July 1979
17th Washington D.C., 17-21 November 1980
18th Washington D.C., 22-26 February 1982
19th Washington D.C., 26-30 September 1983
20th Washington D.C., 1-5 October 1984
21st Washington D.C., 23-27 September 1985
22nd Washington D.C., 20-24 October 1986
23rd Washington D.C., 21-25 March 1988
24th Washington D.C., 16-20 October 1989
25th Washington D.C., 28 October - 1 November 1991
26th Washington D.C., 1-5 March 1993
27th Washington D.C., 17-21 October 1994
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 Subsidiary bodies

28th Washington D.C., 27 November - 1 December 1995

29th Washington D.C., 21-25 October 1996
30th Washington D.C., 20-24 October 1997
31st Orlando, Florida, 26-30 October 1998
32nd Washington D.C., 29 November - 4 December 1999
33rd Washington D.C., 23-28 October 2000
34th Bangkok, Thailand, 8-13 October 2001
35th Orlando, Florida, 27 January-1 February 2003
36th Wahsington D.C., 29 March-3 April 2004
37th Buenos Aires, Argentina, 14-19 March 2005
38th Houston, United States, 4-9 December 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to draft basic provisions on food hygiene applicable to all food37;
(b) to consider, amend if necessary and endorse provisions on hygiene
prepared by Codex commodity committees and contained in Codex commodity
standards, and
(c) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on hygiene
prepared by Codex commodity committees and contained in Codex codes of
practice unless, in specific cases, the Commission has decided otherwise, or
(d) to draft provisions on hygiene applicable to specific food items or food
groups, whether coming within the terms of reference of a Codex commodity
committee or not;
(e) to consider specific hygiene problems assigned to it by the Commission;
(f) to suggest and prioritize areas where there is a need for microbiological
risk assessment at the international level and to develop questions to be
addressed by the risk assessors;
(g) to consider microbiological risk management matters in relation to food
hygiene, including food irradiation, and in relation to the risk assessment of
FAO and WHO.

37
The term “hygiene” includes, where necessary, microbiological specifications
for food and associated methodology.
129
Subsidiary bodies

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD LABELLING (CX-714)

Host Government: Canada
Sessions:
1st Ottawa, 21-25 June 1965
2nd Ottawa, 25-29 July 1966
3rd Ottawa, 26-30 June 1967
4th Ottawa, 23-28 September 1968
5th Rome, 6 April 1970
6th Geneva, 28-29 June 1971
7th Ottawa, 5-10 June 1972
8th Ottawa, 28 May - 1 June 1973
9th Rome, 26-27 June 1974
10th Ottawa, 26-30 May 1975
11th Rome, 25-26 March 1976
12th Ottawa, 16-20 May 1977
13th Ottawa, 16-20 July 1979
14th Rome, 28-30 November 1979
15th Ottawa, 10-14 November 1980
16th Ottawa, 17-21 May 1982
17th Ottawa, 12-21 October 1983
18th Ottawa, 11-18 March 1985
19th Ottawa, 9-13 March 1987
20th Ottawa, 3-7 April 1989
21st Ottawa, 11-15 March 1991
22nd Ottawa, 26-30 April 1993
23rd Ottawa, 24-28 October 1994
24th Ottawa, 14-17 May 1996
25th Ottawa, 15-18 April 1997
26th Ottawa, 26-29 May 1998
27th Ottawa, 27-30 April 1999
28th Ottawa, 5-9 May 2000
29th Ottawa, 1-4 May 2001
30th Halifax, 6-10 May 2002
31st Ottawa, 28 April - 2 May 2003
32nd Montréal, 10-14 May 2004
33rd Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 9-13 May 2005
34th Ottawa, 1 to 5 May 2006

130
 Subsidiary bodies

Terms of reference:
(a) to draft provisions on labelling applicable to all foods;
(b) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse draft specific provisions on
labelling prepared by the Codex Committees drafting standards, codes of
practice and guidelines;
(c) to study specific labelling problems assigned to it by the Commission;
(d) to study problems associated with the advertisement of food with particular
reference to claims and misleading descriptions.
CODEX COMMITTEE ON METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING (CX-715)
Host Government: Hungary (since the 7th session), Federal Republic of
Germany (1st to 6th sessions)
Sessions:
1st Berlin, 23-24 September 1965
2nd Berlin, 20-23 September 1966
3rd Berlin, 24-27 October 1967
4th Berlin, 11-15 November 1968
5th Cologne, 1-6 December 1969
6th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 24-28 January 1971
7th Budapest, 12-18 September 1972
8th Budapest, 3-7 September 1973
9th Budapest, 27-31 October 1975
10th Budapest, 24-28 October 1977
11th Budapest, 2-6 July 1979
12th Budapest, 11-15 May 1981
13th Budapest, 29 November - 3 December 1982
14th Budapest, 26-30 November 1984
15th Budapest, 10-14 November 1986
16th Budapest, 14-19 November 1988
17th Budapest, 8-12 April 1991
18th Budapest, 9-13 November 1992
19th Budapest, 21-25 March 1994
20th Budapest, 2-6 October 1995
21st Budapest, 10-14 March 1997
22nd Budapest, 23-27 November 1998
23rd Budapest, 26 February – March 2001
24th Budapest, 18-22 November 2002
25th Budapest, 8-12 March 2004
131
Subsidiary bodies

26th Budapest, 4-8 April 2005

27th Budapest, 15-19 May 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to define the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis and
Sampling;
(b) to serve as a coordinating body for Codex with other international groups
working in methods of analysis and sampling and quality assurance systems for
laboratories;
(c) to specify, 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) to consider, amend, if necessary, and endorse, 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 micro biological 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) to elaborate sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
(f) to consider specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to it by the
Commission or any of its Committees;
(g) to define procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for the
assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality assurance systems
for laboratories.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES (CX-718)

Host Government: China (since 37th Session), Netherlands (1st to 37th
Sessions)
Sessions:
1st The Hague, 17-21 January 1966
2nd The Hague, 18-22 September 1967
3rd Arnhem, 30 September-4 October 1968
4th Arnhem, 6-14 October 1969
5th The Hague, 28 September - 6 October 1970
6th The Hague, 16-23 October 1972
132
 Subsidiary bodies

7th The Hague, 4-9 February 1974

8th The Hague, 3-8 March 1975
9th The Hague, 14-21 February 1977
10th The Hague, 29 May - 5 June 1978
11th The Hague, 11-18 June 1979
12th The Hague, 2-9 June 1980
13th The Hague, 15-20 June 1981
14th The Hague, 14-21 June 1982
15th The Hague, 3-10 October 1983
16th The Hague, 24 May - 4 June 1984
17th The Hague, 25 March - 1 April 1985
18th The Hague, 21-28 April 1986
19th The Hague, 6-13 April 1987
20th The Hague, 18-25 April 1988
21st The Hague, 10-17 April 1989
22nd The Hague, 23-30 April 1990
23rd The Hague, 15-22 April 1991
24th The Hague, 6-13 April 1992
25th Havana, Cuba, 19-26 April 1993
26th The Hague, 11-18 April 1994
27th The Hague, 24 April-1 May 1995
28th The Hague, 15-20 April 1996
29th The Hague, 7-12 April 1997
30th The Hague, 20-25 April 1998
31st The Hague, 12-17 April 1999
32nd The Hague, 1-8 May 2000
33rd The Hague, 2-7 April 2001
34th The Hague, 13-18 May 2002
35th Rotterdam, 31 March - 5 April 2003
36th New Delhi, India, 19-24 April 2004
37th The Hague, 18-23 April 2005
38th Fortaleza, Brazil, 3-8 April 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in specific food items or
in groups of food;
(b) to establish maximum limits for pesticide residues in certain animal
feeding stuffs moving in international trade where this is justified for reasons of
protection of human health;
133
Subsidiary bodies

(c) to prepare priority lists of pesticides for evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO
Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR);
(d) to consider methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of
pesticide residues in food and feed;
(e) to consider other matters in relation to the safety of food and feed
containing pesticide residues; and
(f) to establish maximum limits for environmental and industrial contaminants
showing chemical or other similarity to pesticides, in specific food items or
groups of food.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON RESIDUES OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN FOODS

(CX-730)
Host Government: United States of America
Sessions:
1st Washington, D.C. 27-31 October, 1986
2nd Washington, D.C. 30 November - 4 December 1987
3rd Washington, D.C. 31 October - 4 November 1988
4th Washington, D.C. 24-27 October 1989
5th Washington, D.C. 16-19 October 1990
6th Washington, D.C. 22-25 October 1991
7th Washington, D.C., 20-23 October 1992
8th Washington, D.C., 7-10 June 1994
9th Washington, D.C., 5-8 December 1995
10th San José (Costa Rica), 29 October - 1 November 1996
11th Washington D.C., 15-18 September 1998
12th Washington, D.C., 28-31 March 2000
13th Charleston, South Carolina, 4 - 7 December 2001
14th Arlington, Virginia, 4-7 March 2003
15th Alexandria, Virginia, 26-29 October 2004
16th Cancun, Mexico, 8-12 May 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to determine priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary drugs
in foods;
(b) to recommend maximum levels of such substances;

134
 Subsidiary bodies

(c) to develop codes of practice as may be required;

(d) to consider methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of
veterinary drug residues in foods.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT CERTIFICATION AND

INSPECTION SYSTEMS (CX-733)
Host Government, Australia
Sessions:
1st Canberra, 21-25 September 1992
2nd Canberra, 29 November-3 December 1993
3rd Canberra, 27 February-3 March 1995
4th Sydney, 19-23 February 1996
5th Sydney, 17-21 February 1997
6th Melbourne, 23-27 February 1998
7th Melbourne, 22-26 February 1999
8th Adelaide, 21-25 February 2000
9th Perth, 11-15 December 2000
10th Brisbane, 25 February-1 March 2002
11th Adelaide, 2-6 December 2002
12th Brisbane, 1-5 December 2003
13th Melbourne, 6-10 December 2004
14th Melbourne, 28 November – 2 December 2005
15th Mar del Plata, Argentina, 6 – 10 November 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to develop principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection
and certification systems with a view to harmonising methods and procedures
which protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trading practices and
facilitate international trade in foodstuffs;
(b) to develop principles and guidelines for the application of measures by the
competent authorities of exporting and importing countries to provide assurance
where necessary that foodstuffs comply with requirements, especially statutory
health requirements;

135
Subsidiary bodies

(c) to develop guidelines for the utilisation, as and when appropriate, of

quality assurance systems38 to ensure that foodstuffs conform with requirements
and to promote the recognition of these systems in facilitating trade in food
products under bilateral/multilateral arrangements by countries;
(d) to develop guidelines and criteria with respect to format, declarations and
language of such official certificates as countries may require with a view
towards international harmonization;
(e) to make recommendations for information exchange in relation to food
import/export control;
(f) to consult as necessary with other international groups working on matters
related to food inspection and certification systems;
(g) to consider other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to
food inspection and certification systems.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND FOODS FOR SPECIAL DIETARY USES

(CX-720)
Host Government: Federal Republic of Germany
Sessions:
1st Freiburg in Breisgau, 2-5 May 1966
2nd Freiburg in Breisgau, 6-10 November 1967
3rd Cologne, 14-18 October 1968
4th Cologne, 3-7 November 1969
5th Bonn, 30 November-4 December 1970
6th Bonn, 6-10 December 1971
7th Cologne, 10-14 October 1972
8th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 9-14 September 1974
9th Bonn, 22-26 September 1975
10th Bonn, 28 February - 4 March 1977
11th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 23-27 October 1978
12th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 29 September - 3 October 1980
13th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 20-24 September 1982
14th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 24 January - 1 February 1985
15th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 12-16 January 1987

38
Quality assurance means all those planned and systematic actions necessary to
provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given requirements for
quality (ISO-8402 Quality - Vocabulary)
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 Subsidiary bodies

16th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 29 September - 7 October 1988

17th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 18-22 February 1991
18th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 28 September - 2 October 1992
19th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 27-31 March 1995
20th Bonn Bad Godesberg, 7-11 October 1996
21st Berlin, 21-25 September 1998
22nd Berlin, 19-23 June 2000
23rd Berlin, 26-30 November 2001
24th Berlin, 4-8 November 2002
25th Bonn, 3-7 November 2003
26th Bonn, 1-5 November 2004
27th Bonn, 21-25 November 2005
28th Chiang Mai, Thailand, 30 October – 3 November 2006

Terms of reference:
(a) to study specific nutritional problems assigned to it by the Commission
and advise the Commission on general nutrition issues;
(b) to draft general provisions, as appropriate, concerning the nutritional
aspects of all foods;
(c) to develop standards, guidelines or related texts for foods for special
dietary uses, in cooperation with other committees where necessary;
(d) to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse provisions on nutritional
aspects proposed for inclusion Codex standards, guidelines and related texts.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON COCOA PRODUCTS AND CHOCOLATE (CX-708)

Host Government: Switzerland
Sessions:
1st Neuchâtel, 5-6 November 1963
2nd Montreux, 22-24 April 1964
3rd Zürich, 10-12 March 1965
4th Berne, 15-17 March 1966
5th Lugano, 9-12 May 1967
6th Montreux, 2-5 July 1968
7th Horgen, (Zürich), 23-27 June 1969
8th Lucerne, 29 June - 3 July 1970
9th Neuchâtel, 27 September - 1 October 1971
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Subsidiary bodies

10th Lausanne, 7-11 May 1973

11th Zürich, 2-6 December 1974
12th Bienne, 1-5 November 1976
13th Aarau, 2-6 April 1979
14th Lausanne, 21-25 April 1980
15th Neuchâtel, 29 March - 2 April 1982
16th Thun, 30 September - 2 October 1996
17th Berne, 16-18 November 1998
18th Fribourg, 2-4 November 2000
19th Fribourg, 3-5 October 2001
Adjourned sine die
Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for cocoa products and chocolate.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON SUGARS (CX-710)

Host Government: United Kingdom
Sessions:
1st London, 3-5 March 1964
2nd London, 2-4 March 1965
3rd London, 1-3 March 1966
4th London, 18-21 April 1967
5th London, 10-12 September 1968
6th London, 19-22 March 1974
7th London, 9-11 February 2000
Adjourned sine die
Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for all types of sugars and sugar products.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (CX-713)

Host Government: United States of America
Sessions:
1st Washington, D.C., 29-30 May 1964
2nd Rome, 8-11 June 1965
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 Subsidiary bodies

3rd Rome, 6-10 June 1966

4th Washington, D.C., 19-23 June 1967
5th Washington, D.C., 13-17 May 1968
6th Washington, D.C., 12-16 May 1969
7th Washington, D.C., 1-5 June 1970
8th Washington, D.C., 7-11 June 1971
9th Washington, D.C., 12-16 June 1972
10th Washington, D.C., 21-25 May 1973
11th Washington, D.C., 3-7 June 1974
12th Washington, D.C., 19-23 May 1975
13th Washington, D.C., 9-13 May 1977
14th Washington, D.C., 25-29 September 1978
15th Washington, D.C., 17-21 March 1980
16th Washington, D.C., 22-26 March 1982
17th Washington, D.C., 13-17 February 1984
18th Washington, D.C., 10-14 March 1986
19th Washington, D.C., 16-20 March 1998
20th Washington, D.C., 11-15 September 2000
21st San Antonio, Texas, 23-27 September 2002
22nd Washington, D.C., 27 September-1 October 2004
23rd Arlington, Virginia, 16-21 October 2006

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for all types of processed fruits and
vegetables including dried products, canned dried peas and beans, jams and
jellies, but not dried prunes, or fruit and vegetable juices. The Commission has
also allocated to this Committee the work of revision of standards for quick
frozen fruits and vegetables.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FATS AND OILS (CX-709)

Host Government: United Kingdom
Sessions:
1st London, 25-27 February 1964
2nd London, 6-8 April 1965
3rd London, 29 March - 1 April 1966
4th London, 24-28 April 1967
5th London, 16-20 September 1968
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Subsidiary bodies

6th Madrid, 17-20 November 1969

7th London, 25-29 March 1974
8th London, 24-28 November 1975
9th London, 28 November - 2 December 1977
10th London, 4-8 December 1978
11th London, 23-27 June 1980
12th London, 19-23 April 1982
13th London, 23-27 February 1987
14th London, 27 September - 1 October 1993
15th London, 4-8 November 1996
16th London, 8-12 March 1999
17th London, 19-23 February 2001
18th London, 3-7 February 2003
19th London, 21-25 February 2005

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable and
marine origin including margarine and olive oil.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON MEAT (CX-717)

Host Government: Federal Republic of Germany
Sessions:
1st Kulmbach, 28-30 October 1965
2nd Kulmbach, 5-8 July 1966
3rd Kulmbach, 15-17 November 1967
4th Kulmbach, 18-20 June 1969
5th Bonn, 16-20 November 1970
6th Kulmbach, 1-5 November 1971
7th Kulmbach, 25-29 June 1973

Dissolved by the 16th Session of the Commission (1985).

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards and/or descriptive texts and/or codes of
practice as may seem appropriate for the classification, description and grading
of carcasses and cuts of beef, veal, mutton, lamb and pork.

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CODEX COMMITTEE ON MEAT HYGIENE (CX-723)

Established as the Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene by the 8th Session of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission (1971). The terms of reference and the name
of the Committee were amended by the 24th Session of the Commission (2001)
to include poultry. The specific reference to poultry in the name and terms of
reference was removed by the 26th Session of the Commission (2003).
Host Government: New Zealand
Sessions:
1st London, 10-15 April 1972
2nd London, 18-22 June 1973
3rd London, 25-29 November 1974
4th London, 18-22 May 1981
5th London, 11-15 October 1982
6th Rome, 14-18 October 1991
7th Rome, 29 March - 2 April 1993
8th Wellington, 18-22 February 2002
9th Wellington, 17-21 February 2003
10th Auckland, 16-20 February 2004
11th Christchurch, 14-17 February 2005

Adjourned sine die.

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world-wide standards and/or codes of practice as appropriate for
meat hygiene.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON PROCESSED MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS

(CX-721)
Host Government: Denmark
Sessions:
1st Kulmbach, 4-5 July 1966
2nd Copenhagen, 2-6 October 1967
3rd Copenhagen, 24-28 June 1968
4th Copenhagen, 9-13 June 1969
5th Copenhagen, 23-27 November 1970
6th Copenhagen, 17-21 April 1972

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Subsidiary bodies

7th Copenhagen, 3-7 December 1973

8th Copenhagen, 10-14 March 1975
9th Copenhagen, 29 November - 3 December 1976
10th Copenhagen, 20-24 November 1978
11th Copenhagen, 22-26 September 1980
12th Copenhagen, 4-8 October 1982
13th Copenhagen, 23-26 October 1984
14th Copenhagen, 12-16 September 1988
15th Copenhagen, 8-12 October 1990

Abolished by the 23rd Session of the Commission (1999).

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for processed meat products, including
consumer packaged meat, and for processed poultry meat products.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FISH AND FISHERY PRODUCTS (CX-722)

Host Government: Norway
Sessions:
1st Bergen, 29 August - 2 September 1966
2nd Bergen, 9-13 October 1967
3rd Bergen, 7-11 October 1968
4th Bergen, 29 September 8 - October 1969
5th Bergen, 5-10 October 1970
6th Bergen, 4-8 October 1971
7th Bergen, 2-7 October 1972
8th Bergen, 1-6 October 1973
9th Bergen, 30 September - 5 October 1974
10th Bergen, 29 September - 4 October 1975
11th Bergen, 27 September - 2 October 1976
12th Bergen, 3-8 October 1977
13th Bergen, 7-11 May 1979
14th Bergen, 5-10 May 1980
15th Bergen, 3-8 May 1982
16th Bergen, 7-11 May 1984
17th Oslo, 5-9 May 1986
18th Bergen, 2-6 May 1988

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 Subsidiary bodies

19th Bergen, 11-15 June 1990

20th Bergen, 1-5 June 1992
21st Bergen, 2-6 May 1994
22nd Bergen, 6-10 May 1996
23rd Bergen, 8-12 June 1998
24th Ålesund, 5-9 June 2000
25th Ålesund, 3-7 June 2002
26th Ålesund, 13-17 October 2003
27th Cape Town, South Africa, 28 February-4 March 2005
28th Beijing, China, 18-22 September 2006

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for fresh, frozen (including quick frozen) or
otherwise processed fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON EDIBLE ICES (CX-724)

Host Government: Sweden
Sessions:
1st Stockholm, 18-22 February 1974
2nd Stockholm, 23-27 June 1975
3rd Stockholm, 11-15 October 1976

Abolished by the 22nd Session of the Commission (1997).

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards as appropriate for all types of edible ices,
including mixes and powders used for their manufacture.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON SOUPS AND BROTHS (CX-726)

Host Government: Switzerland
Sessions:
1st Berne, 3-7 November 1975
2nd St. Gallen, 7-11 November 1977
Abolished by the 24th Session of the Commission (2001).

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Subsidiary bodies

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for soups, broths, bouillons and consommés.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON CEREALS, PULSES AND LEGUMES (CX-729)

Host Government: United States of America
Sessions:
1st Washington, D.C., 24-28 March 1980
2nd Washington, D.C., 27 April - 1 May 1981
3rd Washington, D.C., 25-29 October 1982
4th Washington, D.C., 24-28 September 1984
5th Washington, D.C., 17-21 March 1986
6th Washington, D.C., 24-28 October 1988
7th Washington, D.C., 22-26 October 1990
8th Washington, D.C., 26-30 October 1992
9th Washington, D.C., 31 October - 4 November 1994
Adjourned sine die.
Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards and/or codes of practice as may be
appropriate for cereals, pulses, legumes and their products.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLE PROTEINS (CX-728)

Host Government: Canada
Sessions:
1st Ottawa, 3-7 November 1980
2nd Ottawa, 1-5 March 1983
3rd Ottawa, 6-10 February 1984
4th Havana, 2-6 February 1987
5th Ottawa, 6-10 February 1989

Adjourned sine die.

Terms of reference:
To elaborate definitions and world wide standards for vegetable protein
products deriving from any member of the plant kingdom as they come into use
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 Subsidiary bodies

for human consumption, and to elaborate guidelines on utilization of such

vegetable protein products in the food supply system, on nutritional
requirements and safety, on labelling and on other aspects as may seem
appropriate.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (CX-731)

Established by the 17th Session of the Commission (1987) as the Codex
Committee on Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Its name and Terms of
Reference were amended by the 21st Session of the Commission (1995).
Host Government: Mexico
Sessions:
1st Mexico City, 6-10 June 1988
2nd Mexico City, 5-9 March 1990
3rd Mexico City, 23-27 September 1991
4th Mexico City, 1-5 February 1993
5th Mexico City, 5-9 September 1994
6th Mexico City, 29 January - 2 February 1996
7th Mexico City, 8-12 September 1997
8th Mexico City, 1-5 March 1999
9th Mexico City, 9-13 October 2000
10th Mexico City, 10-14 June 2002
11th Mexico City, 8-12 September 2003
12th Mexico City, 16-20 May 2005
13th Mexico City, 25-29 September 2006

Terms of Reference:
(a) to elaborate world wide standards and codes of practice as may be
appropriate for fresh fruits and vegetables;
(b) to consult with the UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality
Standards in the elaboration of world wide standards and codes of practice with
particular regard to ensuring that there is no duplication of standards or codes of
practice and that they follow the same broad format39;

39
The Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe:
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Subsidiary bodies

(c) to consult, as necessary, with other international organizations which are

active in the area of standardization of fresh fruits and vegetables.
CODEX COMMITTEE ON MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS (CX-703)
Host Government: New Zealand
Sessions:
1st Rome, 28 November - 2 December 1994
2nd Rome, 27-31 May 1996
3rd Montevideo (Uruguay), 18-22 May 1998
4th Wellington, 28 February - 3 March 2000
5th Wellington, 8-12 April 2002
6th Auckland, 26-30 April 2004
7th Queenstown, 27 March – 1 April 2006

Terms of reference:
To elaborate world-wide standards, codes and related texts for milk and milk
products.

CODEX COMMITTEE ON NATURAL MINERAL WATERS (CX-719)

The Committee was established by the Commission as a Regional (European)
Codex Committee, but has since been allocated the task of elaborating world-

1. may recommend that a world wide Codex standard for fresh fruits and vegetables
should be elaborated and submit its recommendation either to the Codex Committee on
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for consideration or to the Commission for approval;
2. may prepare “proposed draft standards” for fresh fruits or vegetables at the
request of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables or of the Commission
for distribution by the Codex Secretariat at Step 3 of the Codex Procedure, and for
further action by the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables;
3. may wish to consider “proposed draft standards” and “draft standards” for fresh
fruits and vegetables and transmit comments on them to the Codex Committee on Fresh
Fruits and Vegetables at Steps 3 and 6 of the Codex Procedure; and
4. may perform specific tasks in relation to the elaboration of standards for fresh
fruits and vegetables at the request of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables.
Codex “proposed draft standards” and “draft standards” for fresh fruits and
vegetables at Steps 3 and 6 of the Codex Procedure should be submitted to the UN/ECE
Secretariat for obtaining comments.
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 Subsidiary bodies

wide standards for natural mineral waters and bottled (packaged) water other
than natural mineral water.
Host Government: Switzerland
Sessions:
1st Baden, Aargau, 24-25 February 1966
2nd Montreux, 6-7 July 1967
3rd Bad Ragaz, - 9 May 1968
4th Vienna, 12-13 June 1972
5th Thun, 3-5 October 1996
6th Berne, 19-21 November 1998
7th Fribourg, 30 October – 1 November 2000
Adjourned sine die.
Terms of reference:
To elaborate regional standards for natural mineral waters.

AD HOC CODEX INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON FRUIT AND

VEGETABLE JUICES (CX-801)
Host Government: Brazil
Sessions:
1st Brasília, 18-22 September 2000
2nd Rio de Janeiro, 23-26 April 2002
3rd Salvador (Bahia), 6 - 10 May 2003
4th Fortaleza, 11-15 October 2004

Dissolved by the 28th Session of the Commission (2005) upon completion of its
mandate.

Terms of Reference:
The ad hoc Task Force shall:
(a) revise and consolidate the existing Codex standards and guidelines for fruit
and vegetable juices and related products, giving preference to general
standards;

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Subsidiary bodies

(b) revise and up-date the methods of analysis and sampling for these
products;
(c) complete its work prior to the 28th Session of the Commission (2005).

AD HOC CODEX INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON FOODS DERIVED

FROM BIOTECHNOLOGY (CX-802)

Host Government: Japan

Sessions:
1st Chiba, 14-17 March 2000
2nd Chiba, 25-29 March 2001
3rd Yokohama, 4-8 March 2002
4th Yokohama, 11-14 March 2003
5th Chiba, 19-23 September 2005
6th Chiba, 27 November – 1 December 2006

The ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from

Biotechnology was dissolved by the 26th Session of the Commission (2003)
upon completion of its initial mandate. The Task Force was re-established by
the 27th Session of the Commission (2004).
Objectives (1999-2003)
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.
Terms of Reference (1999-2003)
(a) To elaborate standards, guidelines, or other principles, as appropriate, for
foods derived from biotechnology;
(b) To coordinate and closely collaborate, as necessary, with appropriate
Codex Committees within their mandate as relates to foods derived from
biotechnology; and
(c) To take full account of existing work carried out by national authorities,
FAO, WHO, other international organizations and other relevant international
fora.

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 Subsidiary bodies

Objectives (2004-)
To develop standards, guidelines or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods
derived from modern biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by modern
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 practices in the food trade.
Time frame (2004-)
The Task Force shall complete its work within four years. The Task Force
should submit a full report in 2009.
Terms of Reference (2004-)
(a) To elaborate standards, guidelines, or other principles, as appropriate, for
foods derived from modern biotechnology, taking account, in particular, of the
Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods derived from Modern Biotechnology;
(b) To coordinate and closely collaborate, as necessary, with appropriate Codex
Committees within their mandate as relates to foods derived from modern
biotechnology; and
(c) To take account of existing work carried out by national authorities, FAO,
WHO, other international organizations and other relevant international fora.

AD HOC CODEX INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL FEEDING

(CX-803)
Host Government: Denmark
Sessions:
1st Copenhagen, 13-15 June 2000
2nd Copenhagen, 19-21 March 2001
3rd Copenhagen, 17-20 June 2002
4th Copenhagen, 25-28 March 2003
5th Copenhagen, 17-20 May 2004

Dissolved by the 27th Session of the Commission (2004) upon completion of its
mandate.
Objectives
With the aim of ensuring the safety and quality of foods of animal origin, the
Task Force should develop guidelines or standards as appropriate on Good
Animal Feeding practices.
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Subsidiary bodies

Terms of Reference
(a) To complete and extend the work already done by relevant Codex
Committees on the Draft Code of Practice for Good Animal Feeding.
(b) To address other aspects which are important for food safety, such as
problems related to toxic substances, pathogens, microbial resistance, new
technologies, storage, control measures, traceability, etc.
(c) To take full account of and collaborate with, as appropriate, work carried
out by relevant Codex Committees, and other relevant international bodies,
including FAO, WHO, OIE and IPPC.

AD HOC CODEX INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON ANTIMICROBIAL

RESISTANCE (CX-804)
Host Government: Republic of Korea
Objectives
To develop science based guidance, taking full account of its risk analysis
principles and the work and standards of other relevant international
Organizations, such as FAO, WHO and OIE. The intent of this guidance is to
assess the risks to human health associated with the presence in food and feed
including aquaculture and the transmission through food and feed of
antimicrobial resistant microorganisms and antimicrobial resistance genes and
to develop appropriate risk management advice based on that assessment to
reduce such risk.
Terms of reference
To develop guidance on methodology and processes for risk assessment, its
application to the antimicrobials used in human and veterinary medicine as
provided by FAO/WHO through JEMRA, and in close cooperation with OIE,
with subsequent consideration of risk management options. In this process work
undertaken in this field at national, regional and international levels should be
taken into account.
Time frame
The Task Force shall complete its work within four sessions, starting in 2007.

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 Subsidiary bodies

AD HOC CODEX INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON THE PROCESSING

AND HANDLING OF QUICK FROZEN FOODS (CX-805)

Host Government: Thailand

Objectives
To finalize the International Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling
of Quick Frozen Foods.
Terms of Reference
To resolve all outstanding issues including quality and safety provisions with a
view to the advancement of the Code to Step 8.
Time frame
The Task Force shall complete its work within two (2) years, with one (1)
Session of the Task Force.

SUBSIDIARY BODIES UNDER RULE XI.1(b)(ii)

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA (CX-707)
Membership:
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO which are members of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, within the geographic location of Africa.
Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;

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(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by

international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;
(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other functions
as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.

1st Rome, Italy, 24-27 June 1974

2nd Accra, 15-19 September 1975
3rd Accra, 26-30 September 1977
4th Dakar, 3-7 September 1979
5th Dakar, 25-29 May 1981
6th Nairobi, 31 October - 5 November 1983
7th Nairobi, 12-18 February 1985
8th Cairo, 29 November - 3 December 1988
9th Cairo, 3-7 December 1990
10th Abuja, 3-6 November 1992
11th Abuja, 8-11 May 1995
12th Harare, 19-22 November 1996
13th Harare, 3-6 November 1998
14th Kampala, 27-30 November 2000
15th Kampala, 26-29 November 2002
16th Rome, Italy, 25-28 January 2005
17th Rabat, Morocco, 23-26 January 2007

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ASIA (CX-727)

Membership:
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO which are members of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, within the geographic location of Asia.
Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;

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 Subsidiary bodies

(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;
(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by
international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;
(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.
Sessions:
1st New Delhi, 10-16 January 1977
2nd Manila, 20-26 March 1979
3rd Colombo, 2-8 February 1982
4th Phetchburi, 28 February - 5 March 1984
5th Yogyakarta, 8-14 April 1986
6th Denpasar, 26 January - 1 February 1988
7th Chiang-Mai, 5-12 February 1990
8th Kuala Lumpur, 27-31 January 1992
9th Beijing, 24-27 May 1994
10th Tokyo, 5-8 March 1996
11th Chiang Rai, 16-19 December 1997
12th Chaing-Mai, 23-26 November 1999
13th Kuala Lumpur, 17-20 September 2002
14th Jeju, 7-10 September 2004
15th Seoul, 21-24 November 2006

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR EUROPE (CX-706)

Membership:
This Committee is open to all Member Governments of FAO and/or WHO
within the geographic area of Europe, including Israel, Turkey and the Russian
Federation and its Chairperson is, ex officio, the Coordinator for Europe.

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Subsidiary bodies

Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;
(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by
international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;
(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.
Sessions:
1st Berne, 1-2 July 1965
2nd Rome, 20 October 1965
3rd Vienna, 24-27 May 1966
4th Rome, 8 November 1966
5th Vienna, 6-8 September 1967
6th Vienna, 4-8 November 1968
7th Vienna, 7-10 October 1969
8th Vienna, 27-29 October 1971
9th Vienna, 14-16 June 1972
10th Vienna, 13-17 June 1977
11th Innsbruck, 28 May - 1 June 1979
12th Innsbruck, 16-20 March 1981
13th Innsbruck, 27 September -1 October 1982
14th Thun, 4-8 June 1984
15th Thun, 16-20 June 1986
16th Vienna, 27 June - 1 July 1988

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17th Vienna, 28 May - 1 June 1990

18th Stockholm, 11-15 May 1992
19th Stockholm, 16-20 May 1994
20th Uppsala, 23-26 April 1996
21st Madrid, 5-8 May 1998
22nd Madrid, 3-6 October 2000
23rd Bratislava, 10-13 September 2002
24th Bratislava, 20-23 September 2004
25th Vilnius, Lithuania, 15-18 January 2007

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE

CARIBBEAN (CX-725)
Membership:
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO which are members of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, within the geographic location of Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;
(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by
international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;
(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.
155
Subsidiary bodies

Sessions:
1st Rome, 25-26 March 1976
2nd Montevideo, 9-15 December 1980
3rd Havana, 27 March - 2 April 1984
4th Havana, 17-22 April 1985
5th Havana, 11-16 February 1987
6th San José, 20-24 February 1989
7th San José, 1-10 July 1991
8th Brasília, 16-20 March 1993
9th Brasília, 3-7 April 1995
10th Montevideo, 25-28 February 1997
11th Montevideo, 8-11 December 1998
12th Santo Domingo, 13-16 February 2001
13th Santo Domingo, 9-13 December 2002
14th Buenos Aires, 29 November-3 December 2004
15th Mar del Plata, 13-17 November 2006

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE NEAR EAST (CX-734)

Membership:
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO that are members of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, within the geographic locations of the Near East as defined by
FAO or the Eastern Mediterranean by WHO.
Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;

156
 Subsidiary bodies

(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by

international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;
(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.
Sessions:
1st Cairo, 29 January - 1 February 2001
2nd Cairo, 20-23 January 2003
3rd Amman, 7-10 March 2005

FAO/WHO COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR NORTH AMERICA AND THE

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC (CX-732)
Membership:
Membership of the Committee is open to all Member Nations and Associate
Members of FAO and/or WHO which are members of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, with the geographic locations of North America and the South
West Pacific.
Terms of reference:
(a) defines the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards
and food control;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) develops regional standards for food products moving exclusively or
almost exclusively in intra regional trade;
(e) draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of the Commission’s
work of particular significance to the region;
(f) promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by
international governmental and non-governmental organizations within the
region;

157
Subsidiary bodies

(g) exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;
(h) promotes the use of Codex standards and related texts by members.
Sessions:
1st Honolulu, 30 April - 4 May 1990
2nd Canberra, 2-6 December 1991
3rd Vancouver, 31 May - 3 June 1994
4th Rotorua, 30 April - 3 May 1996
5th Seattle, 6-9 October 1998
6th Perth, 5-8 December 2000
7th Vancouver, 29 October - 1 November 2002
8th Apia, Samoa, 19-22 October 2004
9th Apia, Samoa, 10-13 October 2006

OTHER SUBSIDIARY BODIES

JOINT UNECE/CODEX ALIMENTARIUS GROUPS OF EXPERTS ON
STANDARDIZATION40
Quick Frozen Foods (CX-705)
Sessions:
1st Geneva, 6-10 September 1965
2nd Geneva, 5-9 September 1966
3rd Rome, 18-22 September 1967
4th Geneva, 2-6 September 1968
5th Rome, 22-26 September 1969
6th Rome, 27-31 July 1970
7th Geneva, 6-10 December 1971
8th Geneva, 30 April - 4 May 1973
9th Rome, 7-11 October 1974
10th Geneva, 6-10 October 1975
11th Geneva, 14-18 March 1977
12th Rome, 30 October - 6 November 1978
13th Rome, 15-19 September 1980

40
These Joint UNECE/Codex Alimentarius groups of experts were not subsidiary
bodies under any specific rule of the Codex Alimentarius Commission but followed the
same procedure as Codex Commodity Committees for the elaboration of Codex
standards.
158
 Subsidiary bodies

Abolished by the 23rd Session of the Commission (1999). The work of the Joint
Group of Experts was transferred to the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits
and Vegetables (see the Terms of Reference of that Committee).
Terms of reference:
The Joint UNECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on the Standardization
of Quick Frozen Foods will be responsible for the development of standards for
quick frozen foods in accordance with the General Principles of the Codex
Alimentarius. The Joint Group will be responsible for general considerations,
definitions, a framework of individual standards for quick frozen food products
and for the actual elaboration of standards for quick frozen food products not
specifically allotted by the Commission to another Codex Committee, such as
Fish and Fishery Products, Meat, Processed Meat and Poultry Products.
Standards drawn up by Codex commodity committees for quick frozen foods
should be in accordance with the general standard laid down by the Joint
ECE/Codex Alimentarius Group of Experts on the Standardization of Quick
Frozen Foods and should, at an appropriate stage, be referred to it for
coordination purposes.
Fruit Juices (CX-704)
Sessions:
1st Geneva, 6-10 April 1964
2nd Geneva, 29 March - 2 April 1965
3rd Geneva, 21-25 February 1966
4th Geneva, 10-14 April 1967
5th Rome, 25-29 March 1968
6th Geneva, 27-31 October 1969
7th Rome, 20-24 July 1970
8th Geneva, 8-12 March 1971
9th Rome, 20-24 March 1972
10th Geneva, 16-20 July 1973
11th Rome, 14-18 October 1974
12th Geneva, 19-23 July 1976
13th Geneva, 26-30 June 1978
14th Geneva, 9-13 June 1980
15th Rome, 8-12 February 1982
16th Geneva, 30 April - 4 May 1984
17th Rome, 26-30 May 1986
18th Geneva, 16-20 May 1988
159
Subsidiary bodies

19th Rome, 12-16 November 1990

Abolished by the 23rd Session of the Commission (1999). The work of the Joint
Group was transferred to the Codex ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on
Fruit Juices.
Terms of reference:
To elaborate world wide standards for fruit juices, concentrated fruit juices and
nectars.
JOINT CODEX/IOOC MEETING ON THE STANDARDIZATION OF TABLE
OLIVES41
Sessions:
1st Madrid, 13-16 December 1971
2nd Madrid, 24-27 April 1973

As approved by the 18th Session of the Commission, the Joint Codex/IOOC

meeting was held on an ad hoc basis in order to elaborate a Standard for Table
Olives.

41
The meeting was not a subsidiary body under any specific rule of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission but followed the same procedure as Codex Commodity
Committees for the elaboration of Codex standards.
160
 Membership

MEMBERSHIP OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

(AS OF 30 OCTOBER 2006)

MEMBER COUNTRIES

Africa 34. Rwanda

35. Senegal
1. Angola
36. Seychelles
2. Benin
37. Sierra Leone
3. Botswana
38. South Africa
4. Burkina Faso
39. Swaziland
5. Burundi
40. Togo
6. Cameroon
41. Uganda
7. Cape Verde
42. United Republic of
8. Central African Republic
Tanzania
9. Chad
43. Zambia
10. Congo, Democratic Rep.
44. Zimbabwe
11. Congo, Republic of
12. Côte d’Ivoire
Asia
13. Equatorial Guinea
14. Eritrea
15. Ethiopia 45. Afghanistan
16. Gabon 46. Bangladesh
17. Gambia 47. Brunei Darussalam
18. Ghana 48. Bhutan
19. Guinea 49. Cambodia
20. Guinea Bissau 50. China
21. Kenya 51. Democratic People’s
22. Lesotho Republic of Korea
23. Liberia 52. India
24. Madagascar 53. Indonesia
25. Malawi 54. Japan
26. Mali 55. Lao, People’s Democratic Republic
27. Mauritania 56. Malaysia
28. Mauritius 57. Mongolia
29. Morocco 58. Myanmar
30. Mozambique 59. Nepal
31. Namibia 60. Pakistan
32. Niger 61. Philippines
33. Nigeria 62. Republic of Korea

161
Membership Codex Alimentarius Commission

63. Singapore 104. Spain

64. Sri Lanka 105. Sweden
65. Thailand 106. Switzerland
66. Viet Nam 107. The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia
Europe 108. Turkey
109. Ukraine
67. Albania
110. United Kingdom
68. Armenia
111. Uzbekistan
69. Austria
70. Belarus
Member Organization:
71. Belgium
European Community
72. Bulgaria
73. Croatia
Latin America and the Caribbean
74. Cyprus
75. Czech Republic 112. Antigua and Barbuda
76. Denmark 113. Argentina
77. Estonia 114. Bahamas
78. Finland 115. Barbados
79. France 116. Belize
80. Georgia 117. Bolivia
81. Germany 118. Brazil
82. Greece 119. Chile
83. Hungary 120. Colombia
84. Iceland 121. Costa Rica
85. Ireland 122. Cuba
86. Israel 123. Dominica
87. Italy 124. Dominican Republic
88. Kazakhstan 125. Ecuador
89. Kyrgyz Republic 126. El Salvador
90. Latvia 127. Grenada
91. Lithuania 128. Guatemala
92. Luxembourg 129. Guyana
93. Malta 130. Haiti
94. Moldova 131. Honduras
95. Netherlands 132. Jamaica
96. Norway 133. Mexico
97. Poland 134. Nicaragua
98. Portugal 135. Panama
99. Romania 136. Paraguay
100. Russian Federation 137. Peru
101. Serbia 138. Saint Kitts and Nevis
102. Slovak Republic 139. Saint Lucia
103. Slovenia 140. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
162
 Appendix: General Decisions

141. Suriname North America

142. Trinidad and Tobago
162. Canada
143. Uruguay
163. United States of America
144. Venezuela
South-West Pacific
Near East
164. Australia
165. Cook Islands
145. Algeria
166. Fiji
146. Bahrain
167. Kiribati
147. Egypt
168. Micronesia, Federated
148. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
States of
149. Iraq
169. New Zealand
150. Jordan
170. Papua New Guinea
151. Kuwait
171. Samoa
152. Lebanon
172. Solomon Islands
153. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
173. Tonga
154. Oman
174. Vanuatu
155. Qatar
156. Saudi Arabia
157. Sudan
158. Syrian Arab Republic
159. Tunisia
160. United Arab Emirates
161. Yemen

MEMBER ORGANIZATION

1. European Community

163
Appendix: General Decisions

APPENDIX: GENERAL DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSION

STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLE CONCERNING THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN

THE CODEX DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH
OTHER FACTORS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT42
1. The food standards, guidelines and other recommendations of Codex
Alimentarius shall be based on the principle of sound scientific analysis and
evidence, involving a thorough review of all relevant information, in order that
the standards assure the quality and safety of the food supply.
2. When elaborating and deciding upon food standards Codex Alimentarius
will have regard, where appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant for the
health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair practices in food
trade.
3. In this regard it is noted that food labelling plays an important role in
furthering both of these objectives.
4. When the situation arises that members of Codex agree on the necessary
level of protection of public health but hold differing views about other
considerations, members may abstain from acceptance of the relevant standard
without necessarily preventing the decision by Codex.
Criteria for the Consideration of the Other Factors Referred to in the Second
Statement of Principle43
• when health and safety matters are concerned, the Statements of Principle
Concerning the Role of Science and the Statements of Principle Relating to
the Role of Food Safety Risk Assessment should be followed;
• other legitimate factors relevant for health protection and fair trade
practices may be identified in the risk management process, and risk
managers should indicate how these factors affect the selection of risk
management options and the development of standards, guidelines and
related texts;
• consideration of other factors should not affect the scientific basis of risk
analysis; in this process, the separation between risk assessment and risk
management should be respected, in order to ensure the scientific integrity
of the risk assessment;

42
Decision of the 21st Session of the Commission, 1995.
43
Decision of the 24th Session of the Commission, 2001.
164
 Appendix: General Decisions

• it should be recognized that some legitimate concerns of governments when

establishing their national legislation are not generally applicable or
relevant world-wide;44
• only those other factors which can be accepted on a world-wide basis, or on
a regional basis in the case of regional standards and related texts, should
be taken into account in the framework of Codex;
• the consideration of specific other factors in the development of risk
management recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and
its subsidiary bodies should be clearly documented, including the rationale
for their integration, on a case-by-case basis;
• the feasibility of risk management options due to the nature and particular
constraints of the production or processing methods, transport and storage,
especially in developing countries, may be considered; concerns related to
economic interests and trade issues in general should be substantiated by
quantifiable data;
• the integration of other legitimate factors in risk management should not
create unjustified barriers to trade45; particular attention should be given to
the impact on developing countries of the inclusion of such other factors.

44
Confusion should be avoided between justification of national measures under
the SPS and TBT Agreements and their validity at the international level.
45
According to the WTO principles, and taking into account the particular
provisions of the SPS and TBT Agreements.
165
Appendix: General Decisions

STATEMENTS OF PRINCIPLE RELATING TO THE ROLE OF FOOD SAFETY

RISK ASSESSMENT46
1. Health and safety aspects of Codex decisions and recommendations should
be based on a risk assessment, as appropriate to the circumstances.
2. Food safety risk assessment should be soundly based on science, should
incorporate the four steps of the risk assessment process, and should be
documented in a transparent manner.
3. There should be a functional separation of risk assessment and risk
management, while recognizing that some interactions are essential for a
pragmatic approach.
4. Risk assessment should use available quantitative information to the
greatest extent possible and risk characterizations should be presented in a
readily understandable and useful form.

46
Decision of the 22nd Session of the Commission, 1997.
166
 Appendix: General Decisions

MEASURES TO FACILITATE CONSENSUS47

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, desiring that every effort should be made
to reach agreement on the adoption or amendment of standards by consensus,
recommends the following measures to facilitate consensus:
• Refraining from submitting proposals in the step process where the
scientific basis is not well established on current data and, where
necessary, carry out further studies in order to clarify controversial
issues;
• Providing for thorough discussions and documentation of the issues at
meetings of the committees concerned;
• Organizing informal meetings of the parties concerned where
disagreements arise, provided that the objectives of any such meetings
are clearly defined by the Committee concerned and that participation
is open to all interest delegations and observers in order to preserve
transparency;
• Redefining, where possible, the scope of the subject matter being
considered for the elaboration of standards in order to cut out issues on
which consensus could not be reached;
• Providing that matters are not progressed from step to step until all
relevant concerns are taken into account and adequate compromises
worked out;
• Emphasizing to Committees and their Chairpersons that matters should
not be passed on to the Commission until such time as consensus has
been achieved at the technical level;
• Facilitating the increased involvement and participation of developing
countries.
_____________________________

47
Decision of the 26th Session of the Commission, 2003.
167
 Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

Codex Alimentarius
Commission

Executive Committee Secretariat

General Subject Commodity Committees ad hoc Intergovernmental Regional Coordinating

Committees Task Forces Committees

General Principles Milk and Milk Products Foods derived from Africa
(France) (New Zealand) Biotechnology (Morocco)
(Japan)

Food Additives Processed Fruits and Asia

Antimicrobial
(China) Vegetables (Republic of Korea)
Resistance
(USA)
(Republic of Korea)

Food Hygiene Meat Hygiene Europe

(USA) (New Zealand) Quick Frozen (Switzerland)
Foods
adjourned
(Thailand)

Food Labelling Fish and Fishery Latin America and the

(Canada) Products Caribbean
(Norway) (Argentina)

Methods of Analysis Fresh Fruit and Near East

and Sampling Vegetables (Jordan)
(Hungary) (Mexico)

Pesticide Residues Fats and Oils North America and the

(China) (United Kingdom) Southwest Pacific
(Samoa)

Residues of Veterinary Sugars

Drugs in Foods (United Kingdom)
(USA) adjourned

Food Import and Export Cereals, Pulses and

Inspection and Legumes
Certification Systems (USA)
(Australia) adjourned

Nutrition and Foods for Vegetable Proteins

Special Dietary Uses (Canada)
(Germany) adjourned

Contaminants in Natural Mineral Waters

Foods (Switzerland)
(Netherlands) adjourned

Cocoa Products and

Chocolate
(Switzerland)
adjourned