16 - 20 May 2005

CODEX – Committee on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (12th Session) Mexico City, Mexico

The 12th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables reached the following conclusions:

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE 28TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

Adoption of Codex standards and related texts

The Committee agreed to forward the proposed draft Codex Standard for Rambutan to the 28th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption at Step 5/8 with omission of Steps 6/7 (para. 89 and Appendix VI).

Amendment of Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables

The Committee agreed to delete the footnotes referring to the notification of acceptance to the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the standards under consideration in the light of the recommendation of the Codex Committee on General Principles to abolish the Acceptance Procedure in the Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to apply this decision across Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables (paras 19, 34 and 53).

Approval of new work

The Committee agreed on the need to revise Sections 1 - Definition of Produce and 3 - Provisions concerning Sizing of the Codex Standard for Sweet Cassava to accommodate other varieties of cassava fit for human consumption. In addition, consequential amendments derived from the revision of these Sections might be taken up as appropriate. Once approved, a working group led by Tonga will prepare a revised text for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (para. 94 and Appendix VIII).

Request for advice

When considering maturity requirements per group of varieties and the list of small-berry size varieties for table grapes, questions were raised as to the criteria for the maintenance of list of varieties in Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables. As a result, the Committee agreed to request the advice of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on the possibility of establishing a more expeditious procedure for amending Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables e.g. inclusion of new varieties (paras 60, 64 and 101).

OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION

The Committee agreed to:

• retain the draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes at Step 7 pending finalization of the draft Sections 3 - Provisions concerning Sizing and 4.2 - Size Tolerances which were returned to Step 6 for comments, redrafting by a working group led by the European Community and additional circulation for comments at Step 6 and consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (para. 58 and Appendices II & III);
• retain the draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes at Step 7 pending finalization of the proposed draft Sections 2.1.2 - Maturity Requirements and 3.1 - Minimum Bunch Weight which were returned to Step 2 for redrafting by a working group led by Chile and subsequent circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (paras 66 - 67 and Appendices IV & V);
• return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples to Step 2 for redrafting by a working group led by the USA . The revised text will be subsequently circulated for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (paras 70 and 73);
• return the proposed draft Guidelines for the Quality Control of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to Step 2 for redrafting by a working group led by Canada and subsequent circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (para. 76);
• amend the Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by including Tree Tomatoes (para. 97 and Appendix VII);
• give priority to the revision of the Codex Standard for Avocado and the standardization of durian and yam pending the outcome of the deliberation of its next session (paras 95, 96 and 99);
• continue to request comments for amendments to the Priority List for the Standardization of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for consideration by the 13th Session of the Committee (para. 103 and Appendix VII);
• continue to consider a Layout for Codex Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. The Layout will be revised by the Codex Secretariat and circulated for comments and deliberation by the 13th Session of the Committee (para. 26); and

in addition, the Committee:

• agreed that the FAO/WHO Trust Fund for Enhanced Participation in Codex should also give support to the participation of developing countries to meetings of working groups such as the working groups on apples and table grapes (paras 68 and 72);
• noted relevant FAO and WHO activities on terrorism threat to foods as well as Codex work in areas related to food emergency situations that may be applicable to food terrorism (paras 104 - 108); and
• welcomed the organization of side events related to the work of the Committee such as the “FAO side event on improving the quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables: an FAO training package” (paras 109 - 112).