Foodlaw-Reading Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Food Law News - FAO / WHO / WTO / Codex - 2020

Codex Meeting Report, 6 November 2020

CODEX - Meeting Report of the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (held virtually 24 September - 6 November 2020)

Report of the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (held virtyally 24 September - 6 November 2020) A copy of this report can be found on the Codex website (click on image)

The following is the Executive Summary taken from the report:

CAC43, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was opened by the Directors-General of FAO and WHO. The session had 905 registrants and was attended by delegates from 133 Member countries, one Member organization and 54 Observer organizations.

Main decisions of CAC43:

22 new and revised Codex texts adopted:

• 8 standards on fresh and processed fruits and vegetables (kiwifruit; fresh garlic; ware potatoes; yam;
• gochujang; chili sauce; dried fruits; and canned mixed fruits)
• 4 regional standards (fermented cooked cassava-based products; fresh leaves of Gnetum spp.; kava products for use as a beverage when mixed with water; and mixed zaatar).
• 8 revisions and amendments to Codex standards
• 1 new Code of Practice (on food allergen management for food business operators)
• 1 revised Code of Practice (General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969) and its HACCP annex)

6 Codex texts adopted at Step 5:

• 2 regional standards (dried meat; fermented noni fruit juice)
• Standard for Follow-up Formula: Section B: Proposed draft scope, definition and labelling
• Guidelines for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF)
• Guidance for the management of biological foodborne outbreaks
• Revision of the Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXCnb61-2005)

6 new work items approved:

• 4 regional standards (soybean products fermented with Bacillus species; quick frozen dumpling; cooked rice wrapped in plant leaves; maamoul)
• Guidelines for supporting the development of harmonised food laws for the CCAFRICA region
• Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production

Priority list of pesticides for evaluation by JMPR in 2021 approved.

Codex Committee Re-activated: Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) to work in accordance with the Procedure for the Inclusion of Additional Species in Codex Standards for Fish and Fishery Product to evaluate if the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products (CXS 94-1981) can be amended with a view to include the fish species Sardinella lemuru (Bali Sardinella).

Codex Committees Adjourned sine die: Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CCCPL) and Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV).

Appointments: Kazakhstan as Regional Coordinator for Europe (second term); Uganda as Regional Coordinator for Africa; China as Regional Coordinator for Asia; Ecuador as Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean; Saudi Arabia as Regional Coordinator for the Near East; and Fiji as Regional Coordinator for North America and the South West Pacific (all first term).

Codex and the Pandemic: Measures adopted to address the challenges caused by the pandemic to ensure that work could continue virtually in Codex committees in 2021 if physical meetings are not possible.