Food Law News - FAO/WHO/WTO/Codex - 2013
Codex Report, 8 – 12 April 2013
CODEX – Report of the 7th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
The Seventh Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods reached the following conclusions:
MATTERS FOR ADOPTION/CONSIDERATION BY THE 36TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Proposed draft standards and related texts for adoption
The Committee agreed to forward:
- Proposed draft maximum levels for lead in fruits juices and nectars, ready-to-drink; canned fruits; and canned vegetables (para. 42, Appendix II);
- Proposed draft maximum levels for DON in raw cereal grains (wheat, maize and barley) and associated sampling plan; in flour, semolina, meal and flakes derived from wheat, maize or barley; and in cereal-based foods for infants and young children (para. 70, Appendix III);
- Proposed draft Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A contamination in cocoa (para. 79, Appendix IV);
- Proposed draft Code of practice for the presence of hydrocyanic acid in cassava and cassava products (para. 92, Appendix VI); and
- Maximum levels for hydrocyanic acid for cassava flour and gari (transfer form commodity standards to the GSCTFF) (para. 88, Appendix V) and consequential amendments to the Standards for Edible Cassava Flour, Gari, and Sweet Cassava (para. 88).
Revocation of standards
- The Committee agreed to recommend the revocation of the maximum levels for lead in the individual standards for canned fruits and canned vegetables (para. 43).
Discontinuation of work
- The Committee agreed to inform the Commission on discontinuation of work on the revision of the guideline levels for radionuclides in the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed including development of guidance to facilitate the application and implementation of the GLs (para. 54) and on the establishment of maximum levels for hydrocyanic acid in cassava and cassava products (para. 87).
Matters of interest to the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Committee:
- agreed to retain the current maximum levels for lead for milks, cereals, and juices and nectars from berries and other small fruits, ready-to-drink and to inform the Commission accordingly (para. 41);
- agreed to resume work on maximum levels for arsenic in rice and rice products and on fumonisins in maize and maize products and to prepare revised proposals for comments and consideration by its next session (paras. 109-110, 133);
- agreed to redraft the draft Annex for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A contamination in sorghum (Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxin contamination in cereals) (para. 74); and the proposed draft Code of practice for weed control to prevent and reduce pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination in food and feed (para. 96) for comments and consideration by its next session;
- agreed to continue discussion on editorial amendments to the GSCTFF (paras 102-103);
- agreed to develop discussion papers on methylmercury in fish (para. 126); aflatoxins in cereals (para. 140); and total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts and associated sampling plans for consideration by its next session (para. 151);
- endorsed the Priority list of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for JECFA evaluation and agreed to re-convene the physical working group at its next session to review the Priority List (para. 148, Appendix VII).
Matters referred to Codex committees and task forces
Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)
- The Comittee agreed to request the advice of CCMAS on the appropriateness of the performance criteria for methods of analysis for DON to ensure consistency with the Working Instructions for the Implementation of the Criteria Approach in Codex (para. 63).
Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)
- The Committee will consider the transfer of provisions for halogenated solvents from the Standard for Table Olives and Pomace Oils into the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed at its next session (para. 11)
- The Committee agreed to consider the allocation of maximum levels for lead and arsenic for fish oils once the Standard for Fish Oils is finalized by CCFO including the question on whether the MLs should apply to total arsenic or inorganic arsenic (para. 12)
For a copy of the full report, see: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/report/797/REP13_CFe.pdf
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