Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

The next Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) session will be held in South Africa from November 3 to 7, 2008. In addition, a working group will meet on November 1 to discuss agenda items on the Scientific Basis of Health Claims, Nutrient Reference Values, and any other matters related to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health which are under consideration by the CCNFSDU. The agenda for the upcoming session will be posted at the following web address, along with reference documents on each agenda item as they become available: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp?lang=en.

CCNFSDU documents for certain agenda items are also available on the U.S. Codex Office Web site at:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Codex_Committee_Nutrition/index.asp.

A Codex circular letter recently requested comments on the draft nutritional risk analysis principles and guidelines. U.S. interested parties are invited to submit comments to the CCNFSDU U.S. delegate for consideration in preparing U.S. comments by September 2, 2008. The mail-box for submission of these comments is CCNFSDU@fda.hhs.gov.

In addition, USDA and FDA are sponsoring a public meeting on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on the agenda items that will be discussed at the next CCNFSDU session and on draft U.S. positions. The public meeting will be held in the Auditorium (1A003), Food and Drug Administration, Harvey Wiley Federal Building, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740. To gain admittance to this meeting, individuals are required to pre-register by sending -Your Name - Organization - Mailing address - Phone number - E-mail address to this e-mail address (nancy.crane@fda.hhs.gov ) by September 17, 2008.

Codex General Standard for Food Additives

The updated version of the "Codex General Standard for Food Additives" (GSFA) Online, incorporating the outcome of the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, is now available on Codex website in English, French, Spanish and Chinese (new).

La version mise à jour du GSFA Online, incluant les résultats de la trente-et-unième réunion de la Commission du Codex Alimentarius, est maintenant disponible sur le site web du Codex en anglais, français, espagnol et chinois (nouveau).

La versión actualizada de GSFA Online, que incluye los resultados de la 31a reunión de la Comisión del Codex Alimentarius, está ahora disponible en el sito web del Codex en inglés, francés, español y chino (novedad)

English: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/index.html?lang=en

français: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/index.html?lang=fr

español: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/index.html?lang=es

Chinese: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/index.html?lang=zh

International Portal on Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health

The International Portal on Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health (IPFSAPH) announced the launch of its new website, which has been extensively redesigned to incorporate new functionality and make it easier for users to search for official SPS Agreement related information. Although the website address remains the same (www.ipfsaph.org), additional functionality includes RSS newsfeeds on particular topics and a more intuitive and easier to use advanced search option. With over 35,000 records, new data sets recently incorporated into www.ipfsaph.org include WTO's SPS Information Management System (containing all WTO trade notifications and concerns) and IAEA's Clearance of Irradiated Foods Database.

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables 15-19 September

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables

24th Session, Washington, D.C., USA, 15-19 September 2008

 

The provisional agenda and working documents for this and all other upcoming Codex meetings are available from the following meetings page: www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp

U.S. Codex Meeting: Processed Fruits and Vegetables

U.S. Delegates to Codex committees schedule public meetings prior to their committee meetings to inform the public about the meeting agenda and proposed U.S. positions on the issues. During these public meetings delegates also receive comments from interested parties on Codex issues.

Public Meetings Codex Committee Date/Time Location Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV) Aug 14, 2008 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Room 2068, South Building USDA 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250

 

Karen Hulebak Elected Chair of CODEX Alimentarius Commission

U.S. Department Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that Dr. Karen Hulebak, a chief scientist for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), has been elected to serve a two-year term as Chair of the prestigious Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the international food standards organization. The announcement was made on July 1 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 31st Session of the CAC.

 

"We are pleased that Dr. Hulebak was elected to this important position," said USDA Secretary Ed Schafer. "With a distinguished career in food science and food safety and a long association with Codex, I cannot think of a better choice to lead the organization."

 

Prior to her election as Chair, Dr. Hulebak served as the organization's Vice Chair and Chair of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene - both positions in which she gained respect for her ability to build consensus throughout the world on important food standard issues.

 

"Dr. Hulebak's inclusive approach to leadership, coupled with an outstanding background in food safety make her an excellent choice and an excellent leader for Codex," said Dr. Raymond. "I have the pleasure of working with Dr. Hulebak on Codex issues, and I am certain that under her leadership, the Commission will continue its commitment to science-based decision-making and standard-setting."

 

Codex adopts 35 international food standards

Laura Crowley, FoodProductiondaily.com (08-Jul-2008)

Thirty-five new international food standards were adopted during last week's 31st session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including guidelines on the use of flavourings and gluten-free products. For complete article, click here.

US Codex Public Meetings

U.S. Delegates to Codex committees schedule public meetings prior to their committee meetings to inform the public about the meeting agenda and proposed U.S. positions on the issues. During these public meetings delegates also receive comments from interested parties on Codex issues.

Public Meetings Codex Committee Date/Time Location Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) Apr 25, 2008 10:00 a.m. Room 2968, South Building USDA 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250 Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) Jun 4, 2008 1:00–4:00 pm Jamie L. Whitten Building Room 107-A 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250

 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Public_Meetings/index.asp

US Meeting April 25 to Discuss Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

USDA’s Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Agricultural Marketing Service 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 14th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), to be held in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 12-17, 2008.

The public meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2008, at 10 a.m., in Room 2068, South Agricultural Building, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. Pre-registration is encouraged to expedite entry in the building. Attendees must present photo identification at the door to gain admittance to the building.

Agenda items and documents related to the 14th Session of the CCFFV may be accessed prior to the public meeting at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.

Codex was created in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Codex develops food standards, guidelines and codes of practice in order to protect the health of consumers, ensure fair food trade practices and promote coordination of food standards undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

For further information regarding the 14th Session of CCFFV or to submit comments in advance, contact Dorian LaFond, International Standards Coordinator, AMS, Fruits and Vegetable Programs, at (202) 690-4944, or by e-mail at Dorian.LaFond@usda.gov.

JECFA 68th report

The report of the 68th JECFA meeting has been posted on WHO website: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2007/9789241209472_eng.pdf.

FAO & WHO, Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants: Sixty-eighth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, WHO Technical Report Series, No. 947, 2007.

US Public Meetings

U.S. Delegates to Codex committees schedule public meetings prior to their committee meetings to inform the public about the meeting agenda and proposed U.S. positions on the issues. During these public meetings delegates also receive comments from interested parties on Codex issues.

Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)
Feb 28, 20082:00–3:00 p.m.
Room 1A-001Harvey W. Wiley Building5100 Paint Branch ParkwayCollege Park, MD

Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)
Mar 5, 20081:00–3:00 p.m.
Auditorium (Room 1A003)Harvey W. Wiley Building5100 Paint Branch ParkwayCollege Park, MD

Food Additives (CCFA)
Mar 12, 20081:00–4:00 p.m.
Auditorium (Room 1A003)Harvey W. Wiley Building5100 Paint Branch ParkwayCollege Park, MD

Food Labelling (CCFL)
Mar 31, 20081:00–4:00 p.m.
Room 107A Jamie Whitten Federal Bldg.1400 Independence Ave. SWWashington, DC

Codex Course at Michigan State University

Codex Alimentarius (The Food Code) is a course is taught by Neal D. Fortin, Director and Assistant Professor of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations at Michigan State University, with guest lectures from representatives in Codex Alimentarius, WHO, WTO, the World Bank, the food industry, a developing country, and a consumer organization. Codex Alimentarius is a global reference point for food producers, food processors, consumers, national food control agencies, and for international trade. Codex formulates and harmonizes food standards and ensures their global implementation. Codex has food standards for commodities (237), codes for hygiene or technological practice (41); guidelines for contaminants (25); and has evaluations on pesticides (185), food additives (1,005), veterinary drugs (54); and limits for pesticide residues (3,274).

Enrollment is now open for the winter term offering of the course: http://www.iflr.msu.edu/enroll.html.

Institute for Food Laws and Regulations

The Institute for Food Laws and Regulations at Michigan State University is dedicated to providing a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the international food trade through our Study Abroad Program, Internet Food Law Certificate Program, workshops, lectures and seminars. Our faculty comprise a network of domestic and international food law and food science professionals.