Codex Committee Report (ALINORM 09/32/32), 28-31 October 2008

CODEX – Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific (10th Session), Nuku'alofa, Tonga

The Tenth Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific reached the following conclusions:

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE 32ND SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND BY THE 62ND SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

The Coordinating Committee:

Participation of developing countries in Codex Meetings

• Recognised the significant role and impact of the Codex Trust Fund to increase participation from developing countries in Codex (para. 8).

Terms of Reference for Coordinating Committees

• Reaffirmed the decision made at its 9th Session that the current Terms of Reference of the Coordinating Committees should be kept unchanged (para. 12).

Implementation of Codex Strategic Plan 2008-2013

• Considered activities 4.5: Promote interdisciplinary coordination at the national and regional level, 5.4: Strengthen Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees and 5.5: Enhance participation of non-governmental organizations at international, regional and national level of the Codex Strategic Plan 2008-2013, as requested by the Commission (paras, 14, 16 and 52).

Strategic Plan for the CCNASWP 2008-2013

• Agreed to adopt the Strategic Plan for the CCNASWP 2008-2013 and to request the Coordinator (Tonga) to monitor and report on the status of its the implementation at the 11th Session of CCNASWP (para. 36).

National food control systems and consumer participation in food standard setting and use of Codex standards at national and regional level

• Recommended the 32nd Session of the Commission to reconsider the need to continue requesting information on issues related to national food control systems and consumer participation in food standard setting and to the use of Codex standards at national and regional (para. 51).
• Unanimously agreed to recommend to the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission that Tonga be appointed for a second term as Coordinator for North America and the South West Pacific (para. 61).

MATTERS REFERRED TO CODEX COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

The Coordinating Committee:

Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP)

• Reaffirmed the decision made at its 9th Session that the current terms of reference of the coordinating committees should be kept unchanged (para. 12);

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO FAO AND WHO

The Coordinating Committee:

• Expressed its appreciation to FAO and WHO for their efforts to support Members through capacity building activities; highlighted the need for more involvement of experts from developing countries in the FAO/WHO provision of scientific advice, use of data from all geographical regions and to ensure that FAO/WHO risk assessment activities be adequately funded (paras 20-21).
• Agreed that FAO and WHO would develop lists of specialists and institutions to respond to the identified needs in Pacific Island Countries and would then report to the 11th CCNASWP (para. 34).
• Agreed to recommend to FAO and WHO to assist countries to carry out research and studies on safety of kava as food (para. 43).

OTHER MATTERS

The Coordinating Committee:

• Agreed on the need for further scientific research to clarify a number of safety issues, prior to considering the standardization of kava products and that the Coordinator (Tonga) in consultation with Pacific Island Countries, would prepare a paper on kava products for consideration at its 11th Session (paras 42 and 44).
• Endorsed the recommendation of the electronic working group that it was premature to consider the development of a standard for nonu (noni) products and that wider consultation be carried out with producing countries and industry (para. 47).
• Agreed to issue a Circular Letter in the form of a questionnaire, which would link more directly the information on the status of national food legislation, food control, Codex structure, consumer participation and use of Codex standards at national and regional level with the objectives and activities of the Strategic Plan for the CCNASWP 2008-2013 (paras 49-50 and 55).