US Public Meeting to Address Agenda Items for 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Hygiene
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Food Safety, in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is holding a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items, as well as to draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), to be held in Miami, Fla., Dec. 5-9. More information is available here.
Summer Academy in Global Food Law
The third Summer Academy in Global Food Law & Policy will take place at Como Lake - Italy, July 25-29, 2011, at the beautiful Villa La Collina. A distinguished faculty from relevant food organizations (WTO, Codex, EFSA, EU Commission), industry (Coca Cola) as well as academia (Michigan, Bocconi, HEC Paris) will be animating cutting-edge discussions on the latest developments in global food governance, from food private standards to health claims, from US Food Modernization Act to novel food regulation.
For more information on the program and the faculty, please find the brochure here and more information here and here. Please don't hesitate to contact Nikola Bock (bock@lexxion.de) for more information.
Public Meeting to Review US Positions of Codex Committee on Food Additives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Food Safety and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will sponsor a public meeting in advance of the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission's Committee on Food Additives (CCFA). The public meeting will be held to provide information and solicit public comments on the draft U.S. positions for items being discussed at the Codex session.
The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Harvey Wiley Federal Building Auditorium, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md. More information is available here.
The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Harvey Wiley Federal Building Auditorium, FDA, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md. More information is available here.
Food Labeling Workshop at MSU July 28-29
Institute for Food Laws & Regulations | ||||||||
Food Labeling Workshop This workshop presents the FDA requirements for US food labeling. The workshop format and materials are designed to provide a user-friendly approach for those new to food labeling and also provide a thorough system and reference for those experienced with food label design and review. The workshop format allows time for questions. The focus is practical, and students are encouraged to bring problem labels for hands-on review. July 28-29, 2010 · Lansing, Michigan For more information, click here. Early bird discount (by May 14, 2008): $895
International Food Laws and Regulations Food Regulation in the United States Food Regulation in the European Union Food Regulation in Latin America Food Regulation in Canada Codex Alimentarius (The Food Code) IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) Food Regulation in Asia New Summer Course Offering: Animal Health, World Trade, and Food Safety (OIE) Learn more about IFLR at: www.IFLR.msu.edu or call (517) 355-8295 Institute for Food Laws and Regulation Michigan State University, 140 G.M. Trout Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 | ||||||||
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Request for Information and Comments on JECFA Priority List
“Request for Information and Comments on Priority List of Compounds Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA.” is available at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Circular_Letters/CxCL2010/cl10_10e.pdf. The deadline for comments is 15 January 2011.
US Public meeting to address Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Food Safety and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 4th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF), to be held in Izmir, Turkey, April 26–30, 2010. The CCCF establishes and endorses permitted maximum levels for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed; prepares a priority list of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives; considers methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed; considers and elaborates standards or codes of practice for related subjects; and considers other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed. The public meeting will be held on March 29, 2010 in the Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md. Documents and agenda items related to the 4th Session of the CCCF will be accessible at the Codex Web site. More information on the meeting is available here.
GMA's Transition Paper on CODEX to President Obama
Recognizing the increased globalization of the food supply and declining consumer confidence, GMA has urged the Obama Administration to strengthen U.S. leadership in Codex Alimentarius and other international standard setting bodies in order to support harmonized international food regulatory policy based on science. The GMA Transition Paper on CODEX to President Obama is available at: http://bit.ly/alAexV
Codex Trust Fund in 2010
Applications for support from the Codex Trust Fund in 2010 were received from 76 eligible countries. Resources available to
the Codex Trust Fund will allow over 300 participants to be supported in 2010 to attend Codex meetings, task forces and
working groups. Additional support will be made available for Codex training courses, and to enhance the technical and
scientific input that eligible countries are contributing to the Codex process. For more information please contact Catherine
Mulholland (Tel: +41 22 791 3080 - E-mail: codextrustfund@who.int ).
Codex Trust Fund website: www.who.int/foodsafety/codex/trustfund/en.
Learning the Lingo: MSU Workshop Series for Academic Writing
Take part in The Michigan State University Writing Center's workshop series! The fall line-up includes:
MSU, the Writing Center, and You: An Introduction to Using the Writing Center (9/24) -Do you want to know more about the Writing Center before you decide to make an appointment? This session will tell you all you need to know about being a Writing Center client and how to be most successful in your sessions.
Grappling with the GRE: Preparing for the Writing Component of the GRE (10/8) - The GRE is stressful, but if you want to get into graduate school, you usually have to take it. This workshop will help you prepare for the written portion of the GRE by showing you what to expect and some strategies on how to excel (or at least survive).
I'm Awesome, Just Read My Personal Statement: A Workshop for Writing Personal Statements (10/22) -
Personal statements are very difficult for everyone to write. This session will help you determine how to approach your own personal statement by dissecting models and teaching strategies.
Plan, Research, Write, Repeat: A Workshop on Writing Processes (11/5) -
Knowledge of yourself as a writer is essential to successful academic writing. In this interactive workshop, contemplate and share your own writing processes and receive new ideas for ways to approach writing.
The Joys of Citation: An MLA/APA Workshop (11/12) - Learning how to use a citation style can be very confusing.The manuals can be difficult to read and websites can be hard to navigate. This session will help you learn how to decipher these citation styles.
All workshops are scheduled to take place on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00PM in The Writing Center, 300 Bessey Hall. To sign up for one or all of our workshops or if you have questions, please email Elena Adkins at adkinse1@msu.edu. To register for a workshop, please include the subject line "Workshop Series" and include your name as well as the name of the workshop in your message.
More information here: http://bit.ly/7rp1Q1
MSU, the Writing Center, and You: An Introduction to Using the Writing Center (9/24) -Do you want to know more about the Writing Center before you decide to make an appointment? This session will tell you all you need to know about being a Writing Center client and how to be most successful in your sessions.
Grappling with the GRE: Preparing for the Writing Component of the GRE (10/8) - The GRE is stressful, but if you want to get into graduate school, you usually have to take it. This workshop will help you prepare for the written portion of the GRE by showing you what to expect and some strategies on how to excel (or at least survive).
I'm Awesome, Just Read My Personal Statement: A Workshop for Writing Personal Statements (10/22) -
Personal statements are very difficult for everyone to write. This session will help you determine how to approach your own personal statement by dissecting models and teaching strategies.
Plan, Research, Write, Repeat: A Workshop on Writing Processes (11/5) -
Knowledge of yourself as a writer is essential to successful academic writing. In this interactive workshop, contemplate and share your own writing processes and receive new ideas for ways to approach writing.
The Joys of Citation: An MLA/APA Workshop (11/12) - Learning how to use a citation style can be very confusing.The manuals can be difficult to read and websites can be hard to navigate. This session will help you learn how to decipher these citation styles.
All workshops are scheduled to take place on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00PM in The Writing Center, 300 Bessey Hall. To sign up for one or all of our workshops or if you have questions, please email Elena Adkins at adkinse1@msu.edu. To register for a workshop, please include the subject line "Workshop Series" and include your name as well as the name of the workshop in your message.
More information here: http://bit.ly/7rp1Q1
Public meeting date to discuss the U.S. positions on the agenda items for the 42nd session of the CCFA
The public meeting date for the draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 42nd session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is is scheduled for February 8, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Auditorium (1A003) of the Food and Drug Administration Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740.
At public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may also be offered at the meeting.
Those who wish to attend the February 8, 2010 public meeting should e-mail their intent to attend to the following e-mail address: cfsan-ccfa@fda.hhs.gov. Early registration is encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building and its parking area. Attendees that are not able to attend the meeting in-person but wish to participate may do so by phone. Those wishing to participate by phone should request the call-in number and conference code when they register for the meeting.
Public Meeting To Address Agenda Items For the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance
USDA announced a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on antimicrobial resistance, which will be held in Jeju, Republic of Korea, Oct. 12 - 16, 2009. The public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Room 107-A, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 1200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250. More information is available here. Documents and agenda items related to the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on antimicrobial resistance will be accessible here.
Can the multilateral institutions encourage unbiased outcomes?
Lee Ann Jackson and Marion Jansen have written, “Risk assessment in the international food safety policy arena: Can the multilateral institutions encourage unbiased outcomes?” (Jan. 2009). The working paper describes how food safety related scientific evidence is generated and how it is used in the context of risk assessment for international standard-setting at Codex and in WTO trade disputes. The authors also discuss the processes leading to policy conclusions on the basis of scientific evidence. They discuss the interactions between private and public sector actors and between "scientific experts" and others. Finally, they provide suggestions on improving the interactions and the transparency of the process.
Public Meeting To Address Agenda Items For The 15th Session Of The Codex Committee On Fresh Fruits And Vegetables
The USDA today announced a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 15th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The public meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, from 10 a.m. to noon, Room 2068, USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250.
Documents and agenda items related to the 15th Session of the CCFFV, which is hosted by Mexico and will be held Oct. 19-23, 2009, in Mexico City, Mexico, will be accessible here. Interested parties may submit written comments at the public meeting, or by e-mail to Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, at Dorian.Lafond@usda.gov. For further information about the public meeting, contact Doreen Chen-Moulec, U.S. Codex Office, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, by e-mail at Doreen.Chen-Moulec@fsis.usda.gov or by phone at (202) 205-7760 or fax at (202) 720-3157.
New Master Degree in Food, Society, and International Food Governance
The Institute for Food Laws & Regulations at Michigan State University announced a collaboration with the Open University of Catalonia on a new Master's degree in Food, Society, and International Food Governance. The program is designed for individuals interested in enhancing their understanding and analysis of agriculture and food policy, and increasing their understanding of the social, cultural and economic factors that influence and shape the development and enforcement of agriculture governance. This combination presents an opportunity to explore connections between the historical, political, scientific, strategic, and ethical considerations involved in the organization of food policy and agriculture internationally. The program trains students to identify and generate solutions for just and sustainable food systems.
In an agreement to be finalized, the UOC will recognize any two (2) of the MSU IFLR courses listed below (6 credits total) as equivalent to 15 ECTS (UOC credits). Thus, UOC would accept these credits as one fourth of the UOC Masters in Food, Society and International Food Governance. Students have the option of either enrolling in these courses through MSU's Lifelong Education Program first and applying the credits towards the UOC Master Degree, or students may enroll in the UOC program first.
The UOC would recognize the IFLR courses as follows:
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Courses may also be taken both for the Master degree and to satisfy the requirements for a Certificate from Michigan State University in International Food Law. Successful completion of four international food law courses required for the MSU certificate. Certificate holders may apply past MSU credits towards the new master's degree.
More information on the International Food Law Certificate Program is available here.
The Institute for Food Laws & Regulations at Michigan State University announced a collaboration with the Open University of Catalonia on a new Master's degree in Food, Society, and International Food Governance. The program is designed for individuals interested in enhancing their understanding and analysis of agriculture and food policy, and increasing their understanding of the social, cultural and economic factors that influence and shape the development and enforcement of agriculture governance. This combination presents an opportunity to explore connections between the historical, political, scientific, strategic, and ethical considerations involved in the organization of food policy and agriculture internationally. The program trains students to identify and generate solutions for just and sustainable food systems.
In an agreement to be finalized, the UOC will recognize any two (2) of the MSU IFLR courses listed below (6 credits total) as equivalent to 15 ECTS (UOC credits). Thus, UOC would accept these credits as one fourth of the UOC Masters in Food, Society and International Food Governance.
The UOC would recognize the IFLR courses as follows:
Courses may also be taken both for the Master degree and to satisfy the requirements for a Certificate from Michigan State University in International Food Law. Successful completion of four international food law courses required for the MSU certificate. Certificate holders may apply past MSU credits towards the new master's degree.
More information on the International Food Law Certificate Program is available here.
US Public Meeting on Codex Agenda Items
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a public meeting June 8 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to be held in Rome, Italy, June 29-July 4, 2009.
Slow International Progress Toward Harmonized Audits
EAS e News (June 2009) reports on the recent Food Safety Summit technical sessions on third-party audits and the slow process of harmonizing international audits. Because there is an overlap between the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission's general principles of food hygiene, GFSI's proponents hope to use the overlap to gain easier international acceptance of GFSI's criteria.
“According to Mark Overland, corporate certification manager for Cargill, who moderated the sessions, general acceptance of the GFSI in the United States would require three key elements: a public audit standard instead of the numerous proprietary standards that exist; accreditation of audit bodies to the international standard; and auditors that are qualified to the international standard. . . . Codex Chair Karen Hulebak expressed concern about any moves to expand the international use of proprietary standards for third-party auditing. . . .”
The whole article is available here.
JECFA 2008 "blue book" on food additives
The Technical Report from JECFA's June 2008 meeting on various food additives has now been published and runs to 222 pages. Amongst the chemicals covered at this meeting were phytosterols, phytostanols and their esters, steviol glycosides and polydimethylsiloxane. A number of flavouring agents were also evaluated and revisions made to the specifications for several additives. WHO Technical Report Series 952.
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food
From the IFT Newsletter April 22, 2009:
The Third Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) was held on March 23–27, 2009, at Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Four documents from the Committee will go forward to the Commission at Step 8 including:
· General Standards for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods; Code of Practice (COP) for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Food;
· COP for Reduction of Food Contamination with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Smoking and Direct Drying Processes; and
· COP for the Prevention and Reduction of Ochratoxin A Contamination in Coffee.
Other contaminants discussed were total aflatoxins in Brazil nuts, fumonisins in corn and its products, benzene in soft drinks, cyanogenic glycosides, mycotoxins in sorghum, and ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages. Three substances (deoxynivalenol, furan, and perchlorate) from the Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants were proposed for evaluation by the 72nd meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in February 2010. Proposed new work for this committee includes revision of the COP for the Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxins in Tree Nuts and establishing maximum levels of non-intentional melamine in food and feed and fumonisins in corn and corn products.
For further details please refer to the full reports available here.
Codex Committee on Food Additives
From the IFT Newsletter April 22, 2009
The 41st Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) was held in Shanghai, China on March 16–20, 2009. The committee was very productive with several documents moving forward for adoption by the 32nd Codex Alimentarius Commission including: food additive provisions for the General Standards for Food Additives (GSFA); amendments to the International Numbering System; and specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives arising from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) 68th meeting (i.e., 20 additives including carob bean and guar gum, phytosterols and steviol glycosides, and 105 flavorings). Several substances such as pullulan and flavorings (315 of them) were proposed for evaluation by JECFA. CCFA discontinued work on several provisions for a number of food additives such as acesulfame potassium, alitame annatto extracts, lycopenes, carotenoids, etc. (see report for full list) due to lack of technological justification for use. Category 16 (Composite Foods) of the GSFA was maintained for the time-being on the basis that products in the category may need additives. However, product examples and technological justification are needed for the category to stay on.
For further details please refer to the full reports available on the Codex website here.
USDA Public Meeting to Discuss CCRVDF Agenda
The USDA will hold a public meeting to address agenda Items for the 18th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF). The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room 107-A, Jamie Whitten Federal Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. Attendees must pre-register and present photo identification at the door. To pre-register, please send your name, organization, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address to Jasmine Matthews by e-mail touscodex@fsis.usda.gov, by phone at (202) 690-1124 or by fax at (202) 720-3157. More information is available here.
Documents and agenda items related to the 18th Session of CCRVDF will be available on the Codex Alimentarius Web site at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp. The 18th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF), to be held in Natal, Brazil, May 11-15, 2009.
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