24-28 April 2007

CODEX - Committee on Food Additives (39th Session), Beijing, China

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The Thirty-ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives reached the following conclusions:

MATTERS FOR ADOPTION/CONSIDERATION BY THE 30TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION:

Draft and Proposed draft Standards and Related Texts at Steps 8 or 5/8 of the Procedure

The Committee forwarded:

• Draft and proposed draft food additive provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), for adoption at Step 8 and 5/8, respectively (para. 107 and Appendix VII);
• Proposed draft amendments to the International Numbering System for Food Additives, for adoption at Step 5/8 (para. 150 and Appendix XIII);
• Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives arising from the 65th JECFA meeting, for adoption at Step 5/8 (para. 157 and Appendix XIV Part 1).

Proposed Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 5 of the Procedure

The Committee forwarded:

• Proposed draft Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings (N03-2006) (with the exception of Section 4 and Annexes A and B), for adoption at Step 5 (para. 123 and Appendix XI).

Proposed Amendments to the Procedural Manual

The Committee forwarded, through the 59th Session of the Executive Committee:

• Proposed amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Food Additives, for consideration and approval (para. 20 and Appendix II);
• Proposed amendments to the Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods, for adoption and inclusion in the Procedural Manual (para. 24 and Appendix III);
• Proposed amendments to Sections on Format of Codex Standards (Food Additives) and on Relations between Commodity Committees and General Committee (Introduction and Food Additives and Contaminants), for consideration and necessary action (para. 99 and Appendix VI).

Proposals for Revocation of Existing Codex Standard and Related Texts

The Committee forwarded:

• Codex Specifications for Identity and Purity of Food Additives, for revocation (para. 157 and Appendix XIV Part 2).

Proposals for the Elaboration of New Standards and Related Texts and for the Discontinuation of Work

The Committee agreed to submit, through the Executive Committee, the proposals for new work on:

• Revision of the Food Category System (FCS) of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) (Codex STAN 192-1995) (para. 118 and Appendix X).

The Committee agreed to:

• Discontinue work on a number of food additive draft and proposed draft provisions of the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) (para. 107 and Appendix VIII).

Other Matters for Consideration by the 30th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

The Committee agreed to:

• Delete Food Category 02.2.1.2 (Margarine and similar products) from the Annex to Table 3 of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (para. 71);
• A set of principles to be considered as a starting point for proposing revisions for the integration of food additive provisions of Codex commodity standards into the GSFA and to request the Codex Secretariat to collect all information on food additives contained in Codex commodity standards into a document to be presented at the next session of the Committee. It further agreed to continue its discussion on how to proceed with the work on integration at its next meeting (paras 85-88);
• Ask clarification on the request of the 29th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to review Food Category 02.2.1.2 “margarine and similar products” in order to ensure one-to-one correspondence with the relevant commodity standards, in the light of the possible revocation of the Codex Standard for Margarine (CODEX STAN 32-1981) subsequent to the adoption of the draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads (para. 116);
• Add a footnote “excludes anhydrous milk fat” for all entries in Food Category 2.1.1 “Butter oil, anhydrous milkfat, ghee” of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives to address the exclusion of anhydrous milk fat to the permissions for antioxidants that was originally contained in the food additive provisions on the Codex Standard for Milkfat Products (CODEX STAN A-02-1973) (para. 167).

ENDORSEMENT AND/OR REVISION OF MAXIMUM LEVEL FOR FOOD ADDITIVES AND PROCESSING AIDS IN CODEX STANDARDS

The Committee:

FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA)

• Endorsed the food additive provisions in the proposed draft Standard for Gochujang with some modifications. The Committee agreed to request the Committee in charge of finalising the standard some clarification as to the omission of sodium sorbate (INS 201) and to clarify the functional class for sodium polyphosphate (INS 452i) and potassium polyphosphate (INS 452 ii), to assign a numeric maximum use level and to consider grouping all phosphate under the same functional class with one single maximum use level (paras 64-66 and Appendix V).

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)

• Endorsed the Section 4 “Food Additive”, including the food additive provisions in the draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads with some modifications. The Committee did not endorse the provision for annatto extracts and requested CCFO to provide acceptable maximum use levels based on bixin and norbixin consistent with the JECFA ADI. The Committee asked CCFO to explain why beta-carotene (Blakeslea trispora) had been omitted from the list (paras 68-71 and Appendix V).

FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNEA)

• Endorsed the food additive provisions in the draft Regional Standards for Canned Humus with Tehena and for Canned Foul Medames Gochujang with some modifications (paras 72-73 and Appendix V).

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)

• Endorsed the food additive provisions in the draft revised Standard for Infant Formulas and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes, including the introductory text of Section A “Infant Formulas” with some modification. The Committee did not endorse the provisions for carrageenan (INS 407) pending the outcome of the 68th JECFA meeting and the introductory text of the Food Additives section of Section B “Formulas for Special Medical purposes Intended for Infants” (paras 57-61 and Appendix V);
• Endorsed the food additive provisions of the Advisory List of Food Additives for Special Nutrient Forms with some changes. The Committee did not endorse any value for gum arabic (INS 414) and requested CCNFSDU to identify the level of use that was technologically justified and to revise the name of gum arabic to be consistent with the INS (paras 62-63 and Appendix V).

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)

• Endorsed the food additive provisions in the draft standards for Pickled Fruits and Vegetables, for Processed Tomato Concentrates, for Preserved Tomatoes and for Certain Canned Citrus Fruits with some modifications (para. 67 and Appendix V).

MATTERS REFERRED TO CODEX COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

The Committee agreed to :

- Inform Codex committees that JECFA has revised the ADI and specification of identity and purity for annatto extracts (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV).

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP)

• To request CCFFP to clarify the type of annatto extracts and the basis (bixin or norbixin) for the acceptable maximum use levels for annatto extracts in the following Codex Standards: Quick-Frozen Fish Sticks (Fish Fingers), Fish Portions and Fish Fillets – Breaded or in Batter (CODEX STAN 166-1989) (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV);
• Reply to CCFFP concerning its request for an assessment of boric acid and sodium tetraborate that JECFA had evaluated boric acid in 1961 and concluded that this compound was considered not suitable for use as a food additive. In light of this conclusion, based on toxicological concern, it was critically important to review the need for this substance and also to indicate if there were new toxicological data available in order to allow an evaluation of this substance. Before such information is provided, the Codex Committee on Food Additives would not in a position to recommend this evaluation to JECFA (para. 165).

Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL)

• Forward clarifications on the conditions under which carriers and packaging gas were considered as additives or as processing aids (para. 143);
• -Inform CCFL on the progress on the revision of the Codex Class Names and International Numbering System (CAC/GL 36-1999) (N07-2005) (para. 145 and Appendix XII).

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)

• Request CCFO to clarify the type of annatto extracts and the basis (bixin or norbixin) for the acceptable maximum use levels for annatto extracts in the following Codex Standards: Edible Fats and Oils Not Covered by Individual Standards (CODEX STAN 19-1981), Named Animal Fats (CODEX STAN 211-1999) (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV).

Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP)

• Request CCMMP to clarify the type of annatto extracts and the basis (bixin or norbixin) for the acceptable maximum use levels for annatto extracts in the following Codex Standards: Unprocessed Cheese, Including Fresh Cheese (CODEX STAN 221-2001); Named Variety Process(ed) Cheese and Spreadable Process(ed) Cheese (CODEX STAN A-8(a)-1978); Process(ed) Cheese and Spreadable Process(ed) Cheese (CODEX STAN A-(b)- 1978); Process(ed) Cheese Preparations (CODEX STAN A-8(c)-1978); General Standard for Cheeses (CODEX STAN A-6-1978); the draft standards for individual cheeses held at Step 8 at the 29th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and in GSFA Food Category 02.2.1.1 (Butter and concentrated butter) which is referenced in the Codex Standard for Butter (CODEX STAN A01-1971) (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV);
• Inform CCMMP of the updated exposure assessment of natamycin (INS 235) performed by JECFA and the conclusion that the ADI is unlikely to be exceeded (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV).

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Purposes (CCNFSDU)

• Forward the two questions posed by CCNFSDU to JECFA for consideration; to request JECFA to perform a detailed specific review if the general question on the applicability of ADI to children below 12 weeks first; and to consider additives listed in tables 2 and 3, in light of the JECFA advice, once it become available (para. 29).

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV)

• Request CCPFV to clarify the type of annatto extracts and the basis (bixin or norbixin) for the acceptable maximum use levels for annatto extracts in the Codex Standard for Pickled Cucumber (CODEX STAN 115-1981) (paras 49-50 and Appendix IV).

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND/OR CODEX COMMITTEE AND TASK FORCES

The Committee agreed to:

• Request information on technological need and acceptable maximum use levels for food additive containing aluminium with a view towards the inclusion of numerical maximum use levels in Tables 1 and 2 of the GSFA, while postponing their removal from Table 3 until 2010 so that these food additives could be used during the transitional period (para. 52);
• Establish an electronic working group on the GSFA to consider: i) the outstanding recommendations contained in document CX/FA 07/39/9 Part 1 and Part 2) taking into account written comments submitted and relevant decision made at the present session and new comments in response to a Circular Letter to be issued by the Codex Secretariat; ii) proposals for new uses for food additives and comments on adopted food additives provisions of the GSFA in response to a Circular Letter to be issued by the Codex Secretariat. The electronic Working Group will provide a report for circulation for comments and consideration at the next session of the Committee (paras 104, 107, 109 and Appendix IX);
• - Reconvene the physical ad hoc Working Group on the Codex General Standard for Food Additives prior to its next session (para. 105);
• Include the proposed maximum use levels of pullulan, as contained in CX/FA 07/39/10 Add.1, in Table 1 and 2 of the GSFA, at Step 4 for consideration at a later stage (para. 111);
• Establish an electronic working group to prepare a proposed draft revision of the Food Category System of the GSFA, subject to the approval of new work by the Commission for circulation for comments at Step 3 and consideration at the next session of the Committee (para. 118);
• Establish an electronic working group to redraft Section 4 and Annexes A and B of the proposed draft Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings, which were not forwarded to the 30th Session of the Commission for adoption at Step 5, for circulation for comments at Step 3. It noted that the redrafted text will be considered along with the other sections of the Guidelines, with a view to consolidating them into a single document, at its next session (paras 123-124);
• Establish an electronic working group to revise the discussion paper on guidelines and principles on the use of processing aids for further consideration at its next session (para. 130);
• Welcome the offer of the Delegation of New Zealand to prepare an updated version of the Inventory of Processing Aids for presentation at its next session and encouraged Codex members and observers to provide relevant information directly to the Delegation of New Zealand (para. 134);
• Hold Section 2 “Table of Functional Classes, Definition and Technological Purposes” of the Codex Class Names and International Numbering System (CAC/GL 36-1989) (N07-2005) at Step 7 and request the Codex Secretariat to update and revise Section 1 “Foreword” to delete reference to labelling provisions; and update Section 3 “International Numbering System for Food Additives” to make the technological purpose of the food additives listed therein consistent with the technological purposes listed in Section 2. It further agreed that the entire draft revised Class Names and International Numbering Systems would be circulated for comments at Step 6 and would be considered at the next session of the Committee (para. 144 and Appendix XII);
• Establish an electronic working group, which would identify problems related to the inconsistencies between the names of the compounds of Codex specifications and the International Numbering System for Food Additives and formulate relevant recommendations for consideration at the next session of the Committee (para. 149);
• Recommend a Priority List of Food Additives for the Evaluation by JECFA and to improve the Circular Letter requesting comments on the priority list by including priority criteria contained in the Procedural Manual and requesting information not only on new requests but also information on compounds already included in the priority list (paras 161, 164 and Appendix XV).