Codex Alimentarius Commission

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in the 1960s by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World 

Under the World Trade Organization, Codex decisions override national and local decisions. Codex, therefore, sets the standards, and the World Trade Organization creates and implements policy. Codex has nothing to do with trade policy it applies to the manufacture and labeling of products before they are traded. It has over 170 member countries within the framework of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. There exists, however, concern that some of the Codex decisions may adversely affect consumers ability to manage their desired and healthy lifestyle (FAO/WHO, 2009). 

Pesticide residues Import/export inspection and certification 

Contaminants and the Codex Committee on Food Labelling. The activities of these committees will clearly have a bearing upon the development of standards for edible fats and oils by the CCFO. 

1 Commission allocates task to relevant Codex Committee 

4 Amendment in light of comments received and discussion at Committee session 

5 Submission to Commission for formal adoption as a draft standard 

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The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointiy sponsor the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which conducts a program for developing worldwide food standards. The Codex Committee for Cocoa Products and Chocolate has developed standards for chocolate (Codex Standard 87-1981), and cocoa powders and dry cocoa—sugar mixtures (Codex Standard 105-1981). As a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United States is obligated to consider all Codex standards for acceptance. 

Codex Alimentarius Commission Standards (2010). Draft revised standard for honey. 

Codex Guideline EMRL(1)-1997, List of Codex Extraneous Maximum Residue Limits in Food , Codex Alimentarius Commission, Washington, DC (1997). 

Codex Alimentarius Commission (1997) ALINORM 97/23A, Appendix III Analytical terminology for codex use... 

Codex Alimentarius Commission, WHO/FAO (2003), Code of Hygienic Practices for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, CAC/RCP 53. 

In general, the question you should always ask is, What will the results of the analysis be used for . If you are sampling for compliance with a contractual requirement, i.e. the sample must contain a minimum/maximum amount of the analyte, then it is important to know how this is interpreted. At the time of writing, the Codex Alimentarius Commission recommended the following limits for food-grade salt [12] ... 

Draft General Guidelines on Sampling , Document reference ALINORM 04/27/23, Appendix III, Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2004. [http //www.codexalimentarius.net] (accessed 10 October, 2006). 

See also U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) package testing under, 18 28 sections in, 18 3 -co- designation, 7 609t Codex Alimentarius Commission, 23 470 Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), 18 541... 

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) sets standards for food safety and inspects meat, poultry, and egg products produced domestically and imported. The Service inspects animals and birds at slaughter and processed products at various stages of the production process, and analyzes products for microbiological and chemical adulterants. FSIS also informs the public about meat, poultry, and egg product food safety issues. FSIS works with the Research, Education and Economics mission area on food safety research issues and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on instances where animal diseases impact food safety. FSIS also facilitates the management of US activities pertaining to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international organization created by the United Nations, to promote the health and economic interests of consumers while encouraging fair international trade in food. 

Codex Alimentarius Commission guidelines for the assessment of the competence of testing laboratories involved in the import and export control of food... 

Because of the status of the CAC described above, the work that it has carried out in the area of laboratory quality assurance must be carefully considered. One of the CAC Committees, the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS), has developed criteria for assessing the competence of testing laboratories involved in the official import and export control of foods. These were recommended by the Committee at its 21st Session in March 19979 and adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 22nd Session in June 1997 10 they mirror the EU recommendations for laboratory quality standards and methods of analysis. The guidelines provide a framework for the implementation of quality assurance measures to ensure the competence of testing laboratories involved in the import and export control of foods. They are intended to assist countries in then-fair trade in foodstuffs and to protect consumers. 

Thus, as for the European Union, the requirements are based on accreditation, proficiency testing, the use of validated methods of analysis and, in addition, the formal requirement to use internal quality control procedures which comply with the Harmonised Guidelines. Although the EU and Codex Alimentarius Commission refer to different sets of accreditation standards, the ISO/IEC Guide 25 1990 and EN 45000 series of standards are similar in intent. It is only through these measures that international trade will be facilitated and the requirements to allow mutual recognition to be fulfilled will be achieved. 

CODEX alimentarius commission, Report of the 21st Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - ALINORM 97/ 23A, Rome, FAO, 1997. 

Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual, Eleventh edition, FAO and WHO, Rome 2000, ISBN 92-5-1004402-3. (The tenth edition is on the Codex www-pages at http // fao.org/docrep/W5975E/W5975E00.htm)... 

The standards and limits adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission are intended for formal acceptance by governments in accordance with its general principles. Codex Alimentarius permits only those antioxidants which have been evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) for use in foods. Antioxidants may be used only in foods standardised by Codex. The antioxidant provisions of Codex Commodity Standards are included in and superseded by the provision of this Standard. Food categories or individual foods where the use of additives are not allowed or are restricted are defined by this Standard. The primary objective of establishing permitted levels of use of antioxidants in various food groups is to ensure that the intake does not exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI). 

While all nations of the world possess the sovereign right to establish their own acceptable levels for pesticide residues in foods, many lack the resources to develop their own regulatory programs and instead rely upon a set of international standards developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, frequently referred to as Codex. The Codex international standards are termed maximum residue limits (MRLs) and, like U.S. tolerances, are established primarily as enforcement tools for determining whether pesticide applications are made according to established directions. While many countries have adopted Codex MRLs, others, such as the U.S. and several Asian countries, rely on their own standards. Thus, there is no uniformity among the world with respect to allowable levels of pesticides on foods. A pesticide-commodity... 

Codex Alimentarius Commission (1991). Report of the 19th Session of the Joint FAOj WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Rome. 

Codex Alimentarius Commission (2003). Schedule 1 of the Proposed Draft Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants, Thirty-fifth Session, Arusha, Tanzania. 

Toxicological evaluations of food additives and of contaminants, naturally occurring toxicants and residues of veterinary drugs in food produced by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), and of pesticide residues in food by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) are used by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and national governments to set international food standards and safe levels for protection of the consumer. 

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by FAO and WHO to develop food standards, guidelines, and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program. The main purposes of this Program are to protect the health of the consumers and to ensure fair trade practices in the food trade, and to promote the coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations (CA 2007). 

The Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) began work in 1963 following a decision that the Codex Alimentarius Commission should recommend MRLs for pesticides and environmental contaminants in specific food products to ensure the safety of foods containing residues. It was also decided that JMPR should recommend methods of sampling and analysis. There is close cooperation between JMPR and the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR). CCPR identifies those substances requiring priority evaluation. After JMPR evaluation, CCPR discusses the recommended MRLs and, if they are acceptable, forwards them to the Commission for adoption as Codex MRLs. 

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) began work in 2000 to develop and provide advice to the Codex Alimentarius Commission on microbiological aspects of food safety. In addition to providing risk assessments, JEMRA develops guidance on related areas such as data collection and the application of risk assessment. JEMRA works most closely with the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene, but has also provided advice to other Codex committees, such as the Committee on Fish and Fishery Products. 

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