FSIS Issues Annual List of Codex Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued its annual list of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Public Law 103-465). According to FSIS, this list covers the time periods from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006 and June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2007.
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In addition to outlining Codex's sanitary and phytosanitary activities, FSIS is also seeking comments on standards that are currently under consideration and recommendations for new standards. However, FSIS does not specify a date by which such comments and recommendations must be received.
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
Each Codex Committee has a different agenda and makes different proposals. For example, the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems is charged with developing principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems to protect consumers and to facilitate trade.
Additionally, the Committee develops principles and guidelines for the application of measures by competent authorities to provide assurance that foods comply with essential requirements, especially statutory health requirements.
According to FSIS following will be considered for adoption by the Commission at its 29th Session in July 2006 (to be considered at step 5/8):
- Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for Imported Food Inspection Based on Risk
- Proposed Draft Principles for Traceability/Product Tracing as a Tool within a Food Inspection and Certification Program
The committee is continuing work on:
- Proposed Draft Appendix to the Guidelines on the Judgment of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification
- Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and the Production and Issuance of Certificates
- Discussion paper on the reply to the question raised by the 22nd Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles regarding the revision of the Codex Code of Ethics for International Trade of Foods
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities for Other Codex Committees
For each of the following Codex committees, FSIS outlines and describes the sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration or planned for consideration and certain additional information regarding the role of the U.S. with respect to such consideration:
- Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
- Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
- Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
- Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling
- Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
- Codex Committee on General Principles
- Codex Committee on Food Labeling
- Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
- Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
- Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
- Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
- Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
- Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
- Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses, and Legumes
- Certain Codex Commodity Committees
- Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology
- FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees
- Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific
(Codex, which was created by the United Nations' (U.N.'s) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is the principal international organization for encouraging fair international trade in food and protecting the health and economic interests of consumers. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from adulteration, and correctly labeled.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/07/05 news, (Ref: 05060720 ), for BP summary of last year's annual listing of Codex Committees.)
FSIS Contact - Edward Scarbrough (202) 205-7760
FSIS Notice (D/N FSIS-2006-0004, FR Pub 06/01/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-5012.pdf
U.S. Codex Office Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Codex_Alimentarius/index.asp
FSIS Codex Email Service available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/