Codex Report (REP 11/FL), 9 – 13 May 2011

CODEX COMMITTEE - Report of the Thirty Ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (Québec, Canada)

The summary and conclusions of the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling are as follows:

Matters for decision by the 34th Session of the Commission:

The Committee:

• Advanced to Step 8 the Draft Revision of the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CAC/GL2-1985) concerning the list of nutrients that are always declared on a voluntary or mandatory basis and to Step 5/8 the Proposed draft Compilation of Codex Texts Relevant to Labelling of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology;
• Advanced to Step 5 the Proposed draft definition of Nutrient Reference Values
• Agreed to discontinue the work on the draft amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Definitions; and
• Agreed to propose new work on inclusion of new substances into the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods.

Other Matters of Interest to the Commission:

The Committee:

• Retained the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods: Inclusion of ethylene for other products at Step 7; and
• Returned the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods: Inclusion of new substances to Step 6 to include aquaculture animals and seaweed to Step 3.

Matters referred to other Codex Committees

The Committee:

• Informed the Committee on Nutrition of Foods and Special Dietary Uses that the Committee would review the appropriate sections of the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling after CCNFSDU had completed the general principles for establishing nutrient reference values for nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases and the list of NRVs.
• Requested the Committee on Nutrition of Foods and Special Dietary Uses to consider the revised definition of trans-fatty acid (para. 191) and the Proposed draft definition of Nutrient Reference Values.