Codex Committee Report (ALINORM 09/32/15), 17-21 November 2008

CODEX – Coordinating Committee for Asia (16th Session), Denpasar, Indonesia

The Sixteenth Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia reached the following conclusions:

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

Draft and proposed draft standards for adoption at Steps 8 or 5/8

The Coordinating Committee agreed to forward:

• draft Regional Standard for Gochujang, for adoption at Step 8 (para. 31 and Appendix II);
• draft Regional Standard for Ginseng Products, for adoption at Step 8 (para. 42 and Appendix III); and
• proposed draft Regional Standard for Fermented Soybean Paste, for adoption at Step 5/8 (para. 51 and Appendix IV).

Proposed draft standard for adoption at Step 5

The Coordinating Committee agreed to forward:

• proposed draft Regional Standard for Edible Sago Flour, for adoption at Step 5 (para. 76 and Appendix V)

Implementation of the Codex Strategic Plan 2008-2013

The Coordinating Committee reviewed Activities 4.5: Promote interdisciplinary coordination at the national and regional levels, 5.4: Strengthen Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees and 5.5: Enhance participation of non-governmental organizations at international, regional and national levels of the Codex Strategic Plan 2008-2013 (paras 10, 99 and 12, respectively).

Participation of developing countries in Codex meetings

The Coordinating Committee noted that countries of the region were already hosting four Codex Committees and Task Forces and that several recent and upcoming sessions of Codex committees were held in developing countries under co-hosting arrangements and did not discuss this issue any further noting that the Codex Committee on General Principles would consider this issue in detail at its 26th session (paras 14-15).

Nomination of the Coordinator

The Coordinating Committee unanimously agreed to recommend to the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission that Indonesia be reappointed as the Coordinator for Asia for a second term (para.112).

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

The Coordinating Committee agreed:

• to return the proposed draft Standard for Non-Fermented Soybean Products to Step2 for by an electronic working group, led by China (para. 55);
• to return the proposed draft Regional Standard for Chili Sauce to Step 2 for redrafting by an electronic working group, led by Thailand, with a view to finalizing the standard at its next session (para. 65);
• to adopt the Strategic Plan for the Coordinating Committee for Asia 2009-2014 (para. 96 and Appendix VI); and
• to request Indonesia to prepare a comprehensive discussion paper to justify the need for new work on tempe and tempe products (para. 117)

MATTERS REFERRED TO CODEX COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Committee on General Principles (CCGP)

The Coordinating Committee was of the view that the Terms of Reference were sufficiently broad to allow the development of regional positions and agreed that the current Terms of Reference were adequate. (para. 17)