Foodlaw-Reading

Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK

Report of the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles

The report can be downloaded from the Codex website (click on image).

Responsible Party

Purpose

Text/Topic

Paragraph

Codex Secretariat

Action

1. CCGP33 requested the Secretariat to take into consideration suggestions regarding translation for the current edition, and proposals for the format of future editions, including the availability of print-ready formats.

2. CCGP33 encouraged the Codex Secretariat to work towards a fully digital version of the Procedural Manual (PM) and continue to advise CCGP on any further possible changes to the PM for consideration by the Members.

35

CAC46

Approval

CCGP33 agreed to recommend that CAC46 approve:

• the move of Section 6 (Membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission) of the PM to the Codex website with a link to the list provided in the PM, thereby ensuring that the list could be updated without issuing new editions of the PM; and
• the changes to the PM as listed in Appendix II of EP23/GP to align with modern technologies and current practices

36 i.

Host Secretariats, Codex Secretariat, CAC46

Action, Referral

CCGP33 agreed to ask the host secretariats to review the procedures in section 3 of the PM, Guidelines for subsidiary bodies, to identify text to be updated, in line with current practices; to request the Codex Secretariat to circulate any proposed changes for comments by the Members; and to recommend to CAC46 that this issue be referred to CCGP.

36 ii

CAC46, Codex Secretariat

Approval, Action

CCGP33 agreed to ask for the approval of CAC46 to issue a Circular Letter soliciting proposals fromMembers on inconsistencies in language, and superseded content of the PM, apart from section 3, for consideration by a future session of CAC for possible referral to CCGP.

36 iii.

PWG, CCGP34

Review, Consideration

CCGP33 agreed that a PWG may be established in conjunction with CCGP34 to consider proposals for updates to Section 3 of the PM and comments received thereon and any other possible updates to the PM identified by the Codex Secretariat, and to prepare a revised proposal for consideration by the plenary session of CCGP34.

36 iv.

Codex Secretariat, CCGP34

Action, Consideration

CCGP33 requested the Codex Secretariat to prepare a Circular Letter for distribution to all Members and Observers to collect comments on the proposed amendments included in Appendix III of REP23/GP, for consideration by CCGP34.

69 iii.

Codex Secretariat

Action

CCGP33 agreed to inform other Codex committees of the ongoing work to amend Section 2 part 7 of the PM to better align with current practices in Codex and international publishing standards.

69 iv.

Codex Secretariat

Consideration

CCGP33 agreed to defer review of a possible amendment to the Codex Rules of Procedure allowing virtual sessions of the Commission, noting that this should not be for an indefinite time period.

80 i.

FAO/WHO

Action

CCGP33 requested FAO and WHO to inform CCGP34 on their possible plans to amend their rules of procedure to include virtual meetings of their Governing Bodies, including decisionmaking modalities such as voting.

80 ii.

Codex Secretariat, CCEXEC, CCGP

Consideration

CCGP33 requested the Codex Secretariat to collect information and data on the participation of NGOs with Observer Status with Codex, to identify and analyze barriers to participation of these NGOs including civil society, and to present the results at the relevant sessions of CCEXEC and CCGP following the next Review of NGOs with Observer Status, currently scheduled for 2026.

86 i.

FAO and WHO, United Kingdom

Action

CCGP33 requested FAO and WHO to organize a workshop on practical toolkits to promote the use of Codex standards and guidelines at the margins of CCGP34, together with the United Kingdom and other Members interested.

93 ii.

Codex Secretariat, Chairpersons

Action

CCGP33 encouraged the Codex Secretariat to continue strengthening the critical review process with active participation of Chairpersons both in regard to providing written comments and informal meetings with the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons prior to CCEXEC,and encouraged Chairpersons to participate in CAC so that they can intervene as need be during the discussions on items from their committees.

99 ii., iii