Foodlaw-Reading

Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK

Report of the 23rd Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa

A copy of the report can be downloaded from the Codex website (click on image)

Responsible Party

Purpose

Text/Topic

Code

Step

Para(s)

Members/ CCEXEC 79/ CAC43

Comments/ Adoption

Draft Standard for fermented cooked cassava based products

N072015

8

75 and App. III 

Draft Standard for fresh leaves of Gnatum spp.

N092015

8

83 and App. IV

Proposed draft standard for dried meat

N072016

5

101 and App.V

Proposed amendments to Sections 3.2.2 and 3.4 of the regional Standard for Shea Butter (CXS 325R2017)

-

-

40, 41, App VI

Approval

New work on the elaboration of guidelines for supporting the development of harmonised food laws for the CCAFRICA region

-

-

107

CCFL, CCMAS

Endorsement

Relevant sections of the: i) Draft regional standard for fermented cooked cassava- based products;  ii) Draft regional standard for fresh leaves of Gnetum Spp iii) Proposed draft standard for dried meat

75 and App. III 83 and App. IV 101 and App.V 

CAC43 and subsidiary bodies

Information

Outcome of the survey on emerging issues in the CCAFRICA region

15

Coordinator and Members

Action

Members to continue with consultation and nominate the next coordinator at CAC43

113

Codex Secretariat

Action

Publish examples of specific fermented cooked cassava-based products as an information document

75 and App VII

CCFA & CCPFV

Information

Provided information to CCFA on alignment of Food additives Provisions in the regional standards for CCAFRICA.

39

Supported the new work to develop a standard on cashew kernels

43

FAO/WHO and Members

Action and Information

Keynote address- AfCFTA - A quest for trade in safe food

- Acknowledged the opportunity that would be provided by AfCFTA to improve food safety at the continental level and encouraged countries to build awareness of AfCFTA and the high level of investment required to strengthen food safety in support of intra-regional trade and the need to prioritize that investment; - Encouraged Members to use the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment tool to align their approaches to investment in food safety; -

Agreed to promote the use of Codex standards as the basis for harmonization of food standards in the region;   - Agreed to proactively prioritize areas in need of food standards and to bring these to the attention of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and urged members to participate actively in all relevant Codex Committees.

10

FAO/WHO and Members

Action and Information

Food quality and safety situation in countries of the Region: Current and emerging issues

 - Noted the outcome of the survey and agreed that: it was relevant to the region, and that such studies should support the implementation of the Codex strategic Plan; to inform CAC43 and its subsidiary bodies of the issues identified in the survey; and to continue the survey; and called upon members to respond to the survey;  - Proposed that a situational analysis be conducted in selected pilot countries in CCAFRICA

15

FAO/WHO and Members

Action and Information

Future of food safety

 - Took note of the Chairperson’s Summary of the First FAO/WHO/AU International Food Safety Conference and the Joint FAO/WHO/WTO Statement of the WTO International Forum on Food Safety and Trade;  - Made commitments (Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025 implementation and world food safety day; - Made requests to FAO and WHO to follow-up on the success of the Conference and Forum to maintain a focus on food safety (development of global action plan on food safety; provide progress report to CAC43 on good will ambassador). - Encouraged members to build awareness in their Ministries of Health and representations to WHO on the importance of supporting the inclusion of Food Safety in the Agenda of WHO Executive Board and World Health Assembly.

23

FAO/WHO and Members

Action and Information

Food quality and safety situation in countries of the Region – Use of online platform  - Confirmed the value for exchanging information on national food control systems; that the platform was fit for purpose; - Agreed the need to strengthen CCPs so that they can fully undertake their role; and  - Recommended that members enhance awareness of the Codex work in general and CCPs in particular and advocate for support at the Political level.

28

FAO/WHO and Members

Information

Use of Codex Standards in the region Noted the outcome of the survey on the use of Codex standards in the region, made comments and suggestions for the future surveys.

29-33

CAC, CCEXEC  Members

Information

Codex work relevant to the region Agreed that the ongoing work in various Codex Committees identified by coordinator as well as additional information provided by delegations were of relevance to the region 

44-46

Coordinator, Members and Codex Secretariat

Action and Information

Codex Strategic Plan - Noted the report of implementation of both the Global and Regional Strategic Plan 2014-2019 and requested members to proactively provide information to facilitate preparation of the final report of the Strategic Plan 2014-2019 - Welcomed the new Strategic Plan 2020-2025, and agreed to on the implementation of activities aimed towards achieving goals 1, 3 and 4.

47-53, 59 a) & b)

Coordinator, Members and Codex Secretariat

Action

Discussed and adopted the Regional Communication Work Plan and other related supportive mechanisms for its execution.

60-63

Coordinator,  AU and Members

Drafting

Development of a paper on the prioritization of the work of CCAFRICA

38

EWG (Kenya, Senegal and Morocco) / Members

Revision / comments

Refinement of the activities to be undertaken in the region over the next two years to support implementation of the Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025 including definition of responsibilities, targets and monitoring approach

59

Kenya

Revision

Revision and submission of the project document, for the proposed new work on guidelines for supporting the development of harmonised food laws for the CCAFRICA region, to CAC43.

107

EWG (Botswana, Kenya and Morocco) / Members

Drafting/ comments

Preparation of a revised draft standard for dried meat

6

101, App. V

EWG (Kenya, Senegal and Morocco) / Members

Drafting/ Comments

Preparation of draft guidelines for supporting the development of harmonised food laws for the CCAFRICA region

2/3

107

Eswatini and CCAFRICA

Updating

Discussion Paper on the development of a regional Standard for fermented non-alcoholic cereal  based drink 

-

109