Regional Seminar for OIE Focal Points on Animal Production Food Safety, Tokyo, 31 October - 2 November 2012 Codex and international cooperation with the OIE Annamaria Bruno, Senior Food Standards Officer Secretariat, Codex Alimentarius Commission Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme 1
Content General introduction to Codex Objective Structure Role of Science Codex work relevant to the OIE: Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) Committe on Food Hygiene (CCFH) Task Force on Animal Feeding (TFAF) 2
Codex Alimentarius Commission Intergovernmental food standards-setting body, established by FAO and WHO in 1961/63 184 Member Countries + 1 Member Organization (European Union) 216 International Observer Organizations (e.g. OIE) 3
99% of the worlds population 49+1 2 23 17 48 33 12 4
C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S To protect the health of consumers To ensure fair practices in the food trade To promote coordination of all food standards work and to develop the Codex Alimentarius 5
Codex structure Vertical committee / commodity (17) e.g.: milk and milk products Executive Committee Secretariat FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee (6) ex: Asia Codex Alimentarius Commission Horizontal Committee / General Subject (10): e.g. food hygiene Ad hoc Task Forces, e.g. Animal Feeding 6
Codex Alimentarius Commission Meets annually (alternating between Rome and Geneva) Adopts/revokes/approves new work Decisions are taken by consensus 7
Executive Committee Comprising: chair and vice-chairs of CAC regional coordinators (6) 7 members elected on a geographic basis Function as executive organ of the CAC prepares programme of work conducts critical review reviews the status of development of standards reports to the Commission 8
Codex Secretariat Provides administrative and technical support to the work of the Commission Keeps the link with the Codex Contact Points in countries 9
Codex organizational chart CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION Executive Committee Secretariat (Rome) General Subject Committees General Principles (France) Food Additives (China) Contaminants in Foods (Netherlands) Food Hygiene (USA) Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (Australia) Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Hungary) Pesticide Residues (China) Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (USA) Food Labelling (Canada) Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Germany) Commodity Committees Milk and Milk Products (New Zealand) Fish and Fishery Products (Norway) Fats and Oils (Malaysia) Sugars (United Kingdom) Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (USA) Natural Mineral Waters (Switzerland) active adjourned Processed Fruits and Vegetables (USA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (Mexico) Meat Hygiene (New Zealand) Vegetable Proteins (Canada) Cocoa Products and Chocolate (Switzerland) ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces Animal Feeding (Switzerland) Regional Coordinating Committees Africa (Cameroon) Asia (Japan) Europe (Poland) Latin America and the Caribbean (Costa Rica) North America and the Southwest Pacific (Papua New Guinea) Near East (Lebanon) 10
Codex Alimentarius A collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice with: Dual objective to protect of consumer health to ensure fair trade practices in food trade It serves as basis for many national food standards and regulations Non-mandatory but benchmarks for harmonization under WTO Agreements: SPS and TBT) 11
C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S Standards: prescriptive, what Limit; MRLs etc. should be achieved; - Guidelines: principles and guidance how to do something (e.g. Risk Analysis) - Codes of practice: advice or procedures what to do to - avoid an issue or minimise the risk 12
How are standards established? through a uniform process (8 steps) 13
14 How are standards established?
Basis for the establishment of Codex standards Sound scientific analysis and evidence based on risk analysis Other legitimate factors The food standards, guidelines and other recommendations of Codex Alimentarius shall be based on the principle of sound scientific analysis and evidence, involving a thorough review of all relevant information, in order that the standards assure the quality and safety of the food supply. When elaborating and deciding upon food standards Codex Alimentarius will have regard, where appropriate to other legitimate factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair practices in food trade 15
Other legitimate factors Other legitimate factors may be identified in the risk management process but: should not affect scientific basis of risk analysis should not create unjustified barriers to trade (particular attention should be given to the impact on developing countries) only those factors which can be accepted on a worldwide basis should be taken into account some legitimate concerns of governments are not generally applicable or relevant worldwide 16
Scientific input to Codex Independent FAO/WHO Expert committees: JECFA (Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives) provides advice to CCFA, CCCF, CCRVDF JMPR (Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues) provides advice to CCPR JEMRA (Joint Expert Committee on Microbiological Risk Assessment) provides advice to CCFH ad hoc consultations e.g. FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on foodborne parasitosis 17
Roles in risk analysis Risk Assessment (FAO/WHO - Permanent bodies, Ad-Hoc Expert Consultations) Functional separation + liaison Risk Management (Governments, CAC) Risk Communication: Governments, FAO/WHO Infosan, IGos 18
Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods CCRVDF hosted by USA Work of the Committee includes: Determine priorities for Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs Recommend MRLs for veterinary drugs Develop Codes of Practice Consider methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of veterinary drug residues in food Works recently finalized: MRLs for narasin, monensin, amoxicillin Revision of the Risk Analysis Principles Applied by the CCRVDF and of the Risk Assessment Policy for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods Work in progress: Maximum Residue Limits: monepantel, apramycin and derquantel Guidelines on Performance Characteristics for Multi-residues Methods 19
Development of MRLs for veterinary drugs JECFA CCRVDF 3 Call for Data 5 ADI & MRL Codex Alimentarius Commission 1 4 7 9 Priority List Residue data from the application of GVP CCRVDF Toxicological data from animal and other relevant studies Application by governments 20
CCRVDF Work in progress (cont) Risk Management Recommendations for Residues of Veterinary Drugs for which no ADI and/or MRLs has been recommended by JECFA due to Specific Human Health Concerns Ongoing works Priority List of Veterinary Drugs Requiring Evaluation or Re-evaluation by JECFA Next meeting: 19 th CCRVDF, TBA (United States of America), 26-30 August 2013 21
Work of the Committee includes: Food Hygiene CCFH hosted by USA Elaborate Guidelines or Codes of Hygienic Practices (preferred) Establish microbiological criteria for food commodity/pathogen combination; and/or Tools/procedures for countries to apply other microbiological risk management metrics (e.g. FSO, PO, PC) Determine priorities for its work on the basis of risk profile Identify areas on which inputs from JEMRA are needed Develop risk management questions to JEMRA Consider methods of analysis and sampling where MCs are established 22
CCFH and Risk Analysis Codex request FAO/WHO to establish an advisory body on microbial hazards in foods Codex activities Adoption of Codex Principles and Guidelines for MRA CCFH request advice on specific pathogen-commodity combination 1997 1999 2000 2002 2003 FAO/WHO Expert Cons. on MRA FAO/WHO Expert Cons. on MRA and RM JEMRA 23
CCFH Works recently finalized Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food (2012) Works in Progress Revision of Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods Guidelines for Control of Specific Zoonotic Parasites in Meat: Trichinella spiralis and Cysticercus bovis Next meeting 44 th CCFH, New Orleans (USA), 12-16 November 2012 24
Animal Feeding TFAF hosted by Switzerland Works in progress Guidelines on Application of Risk Assessment for Feed Guidance for Use by Governments in Prioritizing the National Feed Hazards 25
C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S STRENGTHS 100% Member driven Science based Consensus decisions Transparent Flexible 26
C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S ISSUES Speed of standard development Remaining inclusive and transparent Finding consensus in a heterogeneous membership Participation of developing countries Private standards 27
Further information can be found on website List of standards, COP, guidelines, etc All reports, agendas, working documents Programme of meetings and venues www.codexalimentarius.org 28