Codex Alimentarius committees

The process of evaluation starts at a meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC). The Committee,... 

The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods in 1985. 

These ranges, tentatively adopted by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Committee on Fats and Oils, refer to typical commercial samples of bona fide fats and oils. A range of <0.1% indicates that the fatty acid is not normally present in a quantifiable amount, whereas a blank indicates that the fatty acid is not normally present. 

ADI Acceptable Daily Intake the amount of a specific food additive or contaminant (e.g., pesticide) thought to be the maximum level that should be consumed on a daily basis. ADI values are normally determined by experts of WHO and FAO Codex Alimentarius Committee. 

Because of a large number and variety of food additives, an internationally accepted coding system known as the International Numbering System (determined by the Codex Alimentarius Committee) has been adapted. The so-called E-numbers signify that a given additive has been approved by the EU. However, the fact that different food additive classification systems exist in particular countries or in particular continents (Australia, Europe, and the United States) does not facilitate global discussion on this issue. 

Awareness of the problem developed in the mid 1970s when it was found that mineral waters sold in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bottles contained measurable amounts of vinyl chloride monomer. Vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen. The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants has set a guideline of 1 ppm for vinyl chloride monomer in PVC packaging and 0.01 ppm of the monomer in food (Institute of Food Technologists 1988). Another additive found in some PVC plastics is octyl tin mer-captoacetate or octyl tin maleate. Specific regulations for these chemicals exist in the Canadian Food and Drugs Act. 

A general guideline for use of the term halal was under discussion within the FAO/ WHQ Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Labelling. The guideline has been adopted at the 22nd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on June 23-28, 1997. 

In addition to the USDA standards, The Named Vegetable Oil Standard from the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Fats and Oils (Codex Alimentarius, 2006) identifies quality characteristics that oils must meet for international trade. For example, the standard states that an oil should be characteristic of the designated product and be free of foreign and rancid odor and taste. Maximum levels of matter volatile at 105°C (ISO 662 1998) (ISO, 2005) should be 0.2% m/m, insoluble purities (ISO 663 1998) (ISO, 2005) 0.05% m/m, and 0.005% m/m soap content [AOCS Cel7-95 (97)] (AOCS, 2005). Limits for metals are 1.5 mg/kg iron (Fe) in refined oils, whereas only 0.1 mg/kg of copper (Cu) is allowed in refined oils. For methods to measure Fe and Cu, use ISO 8294 1994 (ISO, 2005) or AOCS Ca 18b-91 (97) (AOCS, 2005). Limits for oil deterioration include peroxide value and acid value. Codex allows up to 10 meq/kg oil for refined oils. Acid value limits range from a low of 0.6 mg/KOH/g oil for refined oils. 

All in all, about 30 detailed reports have been issued to the Leatherhead Food Research Association members on these various analytical criteria, information that our members have found extremely useful. The information was also presented as a whole to the Codex Alimentarius Committee, which used it to update its fatty acid composition ranges in two stages. The latest revision, not yet published in fully approved form by the Codex... 

Sucrose esters have not been approved for use in the U.S.A. However, they were included on the list of food emulsifiers compiled by the Codex Alimentarius Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization/ World Health Organization. In addition, a 1974 directive drafted by the nine countries of the European Economic Community ( ) placed sucrose esters with Annex I substances. Annex I substances are those likely to be approved for food use by all states of the EEC. 

H. Cheftel, Tin in Food,]o m. EAO/WHO Eood Standards Program, 4th Meeting of the Codex Committee on Pood Additives, PEPT, 1967, oint PAO/WHO Pood Standards Branch (Codex Alimentarius), EAO, Rome. 

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. 

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... 

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. 

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

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). 

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 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. 

Survey on flavouring substances currently marketed or used in Japan (summary), March 2001. flavor Committee, Japan Flavor and Fragrance Materials Association Discussion paper on the development of a Codex Guideline that establishes safe conditions of use for flavourings in foods with a reference to the evaluations completed by JECFA (2005). Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, Rome... 

CX/MAS 01/8 (2001), Codex Alimentarius Commission, Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (FAO/WHO), Measurement uncertainty. Relationship between the analytical result, the measurement uncertainty and the specification in Codex standards, agenda item 4a of the 23rd session, Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 2001. 

CX/MAS 02/4 (2002), Codex Alimentarius Commission, Codex Committee on Methods... 

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