Codex Alimentarius (1)

8/12/2019 Codex Alimentarius (1)

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Codex Alimentarius

International

Food Law or Food Code


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Codex Commission

Developed Codex in 1962

Subsidiary of Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO), United Nations(UN)and World Health Organization (WHO)

Joint venture between FAO and WHO toformulate internationally accepted foodsafety standardsfor protection of humanhealth and to ensure fair trade practices


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Codex Alimentarius

Impacted quality and safety of world food supply

Upgraded standards for manufacturing,

processing, safety and quality throughout world Increased international trade 800% since 1962

Contributes to lowering of trade barriers and

protectionism


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Purpose of the Codex Alimentarius

To protect consumer health and

economic interests and to securefair trade practices in the food

industry


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Codex Commission

Coordination of all food standards

Initiation and supervision of draft

standards Finalization of food standards

Publication of standards worldwide

Amend standards in face of newtechnology


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Harmonization of

International Trade

Differences in food laws and standards

developed independently can causebarriers to trade between nations

Often disguised as health or safety

measures but really designed to protectlocal farm products or consumer

misconceptions (Genetic modifications)


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Economic Impact Statements

Required since 1979

Member nations required to declare possible

economic impacts of their standards while in draftform

Designed to help prevent trade barriers

GATT / NAFTA


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Codex Alimentarius

Ensures that products complying with Codexstandards can be bought and sold on theinternational market without compromisinghealth or interests of consumers

Codex standards ensure product is safeinternationally

Review of member laws based ininternationally acceptedscientific andtechnological standards


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Food under the

Codex:

anysubstance, whether processed, partlyprocessed or raw, which is intendedfor human

consumption and includes drink, chewinggumand anysubstance which has been usedin the manufacture, preparation or treatment offood but does notinclude cosmetics, tobacco

or substances used solelyas drugs


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Structure of Codex Commission

Inter-governmental body

Open to all UN member nations

Currently 165 members (98% of world) Executive Committee oversees Commission

activities (Chair, 3 vice chairs and 7others)

Secretariatoversees Executive CommitteeLocated at FAO in Rome

Corresponds with member states re: standards


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Codex Committees

Commodities Committees Fats and Oils

General Subject Committees

Food Additives

Regional Committees Intra-regional matters and trade

Regional Coordinating CommitteesAfrica, Europe, South West Pacific,

Latin America, Caribbean, Near East, North America


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Codex Legal Tools:

Codex Standards

Codes of Practices Guidelines and Recommendations


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Codex Standards

Food requirements intended to provideconsumers with a sound, wholesome food

product free from adulteration, correctlylabeledandpresented.

Explicitly quantifies and specifies inacceptable form, exactly what is consideredto be in compliancewith regards to certaincommodities


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Codes of Practice

Advisory textissued to all members

Designed to assist members in achievingpurposes of Codex

Individual members decide how to use code

Typically describe hygiene requirements Adequate / Acceptable

Considered checklist of requirements forenforcement authorities (JurisdictionalPrerequisites)


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Guidelines and Recommendations

Basic tool usedto help member nations inelaboration of their standards to conform to Codex

Not bindingbut accepted worldwide

Very useful to developing countries

Example: Code of Ethics for International Trade inFood

Commission can make guidelines quasi-binding

i.e. SPS Agreement guidelines


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Codex Standards

Use HACCP in development of standards

Flexible enough to allow member incorporatethem into existing legislation

Strive for international consensus

Now incorporate risk analysismethods

8 step procedure to pass a standardReviewed twice by CAC, twice by member and twice by

government and other interested parties


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Food Additives under the Codex:

Codex General Standard for Food Additives

any substance not normally consumed as a food

on its ownand normally constituting a typical food

ingredient, whether or not it has any nutritional value, the

intentionaladditional of which to food for a

technological purpose in the manufacturing..or may

reasonably be expected to resultin it or itsbyproductsbecoming a component of or otherwise

affecting the characteristics of such foods


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Food Labeling Under the Codex

Codex General Standard for the Labeling

of Prepackaged Foods

Recognized labeling as important to bothobjectives of Codex

Label = any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or

other descriptive matter, written, printed,stenciled to a container of a food


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Food Labeling Under Codex

Alimentarius

Codex General Guidelines on Claims

Codex General Guidelines of NutritionalLabelingNot mandatory unless make nutrition claim


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Food Labeling Requirements under

Codex Alimentarius

Name of the food

List of ingredients (in descending order)

Net content and drained weight

Name and address of manufacturer

Country of origin

Lot identification

Date marking and storage instructions Instructions for use


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Acceptance

Member nation must formally accept Codexstandard

Types of acceptance:Full Acceptance:

Product distributed freely under standard name ifcomplies with Codex standard

Acceptance with specified variations: Product distributed freely only if complies with standard

and variation


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Acceptance

Target Acceptance

Conforming product distributed freely but standard not accepted

until certain date

Free Distribution Replaced Target Acceptance

Free distribution of conforming products so long as complies with

national standard

Non Acceptance Country refuses to accept standard in any form and indicates

whether or not it will allow free distribution of Codex products


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Enforcement of Codex Standards

Codex regulation not binding until adopted bymember.

Member ratification of Codex standards ismandatory

Violation would then be violation of themember countrys national law and

punishment accordingly


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Codex Summary

Codex Alimentarius is designed to ensureinternational acceptancein terms of quality andeconomic interest of consumer and to ensure fairtrade practices

Standards based on scientific principlessuch asHACCP


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Codex Alimentarius (1)

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