ALINORM 01/12A JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION Twenty-fourth Session Geneva, Switzerland, 2-7 July 2001 REPORT OF THE 33rd SESSION OF THE CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS The Hague, The Netherlands 12-16 March 2001 Note: This report includes Codex Circular Letter CL 2001/13-FAC. iii codex alimentarius commission FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS JOINT OFFICE: Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 ROME Tel.: 39.06.57051 Telex: 625852-625853 FAO I E-mail: [email protected] Facsimile: 39.06.5705.4593 CX 4/30.2 CL 2001/13-FAC April 2001 TO: - Codex Contact Points - Interested International Organizations FROM: Secretary, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy SUBJECT: Distribution of the Report of the Thirty-third Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (ALINORM 01/12A) The attached report of the Thirty-third Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (ALINORM 01/12A) will be considered by the 24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, 2 – 7 July 2001). PART A: MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 24th SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 5/8 or 8 1. Amendments to the Annex to Table 3 (Food Categories or Individual Food Items Excluded from the General Conditions of Table 3) of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives at Step 5/8 (para. 50 and Appendix VI). 2. Draft Food Additive Provisions in Table 1 of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives at Step 8 (para. 64 and Appendix II). 3. Codex Advisory Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives (para. 93 and Appendix VIII). 4. Draft Amendments to the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives at Step 8 (para. 99 and Appendix IX). 5. Draft Maximum Level for Aflatoxin M1 in Milk at Step 8 (para. 132 and Appendix X). 6. Proposed Draft Revised Sampling Plan for Peanuts Intended for Further Processing at Step 5/8 (para. 139 and Appendix XI). 7. Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Foods with Chemicals at Step 8 (para. 153 and Appendix XIII). 8. Draft Maximum Level for Lead in Fruit Juices at Step 8 (para. 163 and Appendix XIV). 9. Draft Guideline Level for Cadmium in Cereals, Pulses and Legumes at Step 8 (para. 166 and Appendix XV). iv 10. Draft Revision of the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt: Packaging, Transportation and Storage at Step 8 (para. 196 and Appendix XVII). Governments wishing to propose amendments or to comment on the above draft Standards and Related Texts should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Steps 5/8 or 8) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Eleventh Edition, pages 21-23) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy (telefax: +39.06.5705.4593; E-mail: [email protected]) not later than 1 June 2001. Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure 11. Amendments to Table 3 (Additives with an Acceptable Daily Intake of “Not Specified”) of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (para. 48 and Appendix V). Governments wishing to propose amendments or to comment regarding the implications which the above draft Standard or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Accelerated Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Step 5) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Eleventh Edition, pages 23-24) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy (telefax: +39.06.5705.4593; E-mail: [email protected]) not later than 1 June 2001. Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 5 12. Proposed Draft Food Additive Provisions in Table 1 of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives at Step 5 (para. 64 and Appendix III). 13. Proposed Draft Revision to the Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods at Step 5 (para. 85 and Appendix VII). 14. Proposed Draft Maximum Level for Ochratoxin A in Wheat, Barley and Rye and Derived Products at Step 5 (para. 145 and Appendix XII). 15. Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium in Fruit, Wheat Grain and Rice (including Bran and Germ), Soybeans and Peanuts, Meat of Cattle, Poultry, Pig and Sheep, Meat of Horse, Crustaceans (excluding Lobster and Brown Meat from Crab), Vegetables (excluding Leafy Vegetables, Fresh Herbs, Stem and Root Vegetables, Fungi, Tomatoes and Peeled Potatoes), Peeled Potatoes, Stem and Root Vegetables (excluding Celeriac) and Leafy Vegetables, Fresh Herbs, Fungi and Celeriac at Step 5 (paras. 168 – 169 and Appendix XV). Governments wishing to propose amendments or to comment regarding the implications which the above proposed draft Standards and Related Texts or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Step 5) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Eleventh Edition, pages 21- 23) to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy (telefax: +39.06.5705.4593; E-mail: [email protected]) not later than 1 June 2001. v PART B: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATION Governments and interested international organizations wishing to submit comments on the following matters are invited to do so before 1 October 2001 as follows: Mr. E.F.F. Hecker, Chairman of the Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, P.O. Box 20401, 2500 EK The Hague, The Netherlands (telefax No. 31.70.378.6141; [email protected]), with a copy to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. 1. Draft Food Additive Provisions in Table 1 of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives at Step 6 (para. 65 and Appendix IV). The Committee agreed that several maximum levels for food additives in specific food categories be held at Step 6 for additional comment and consideration at the 34th CCFAC. 2. Discussion Paper on Processing Aids (para. 71). The Committee agreed that comments would be requested on document CX/FAC 01/10 for consideration by the drafting group. 3. Codex INS Number 452 (iv) for Sodium Potassium Tripolyphosphate (para. 99 and Appendix IX). The Committee agreed to circulate INS Number 452 (iv) for Sodium Potassium Tripolyphosphate as an emulsifier, stabilizer, acidity regulator, raising agent, sequesterant and water retention agent at Step 3 of the Accelerated Procedure, subject to the approval of the Commission. 4. Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives (paras. 96 – 99). The Committee agreed to request comments on the following issues related to the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives: • Harmonization of terms used by JECFA and the CCFAC in the Codex INS System in regard to technological functions and functional class/sub-classes; • Consideration of “combination” additives within the Codex INS System; • Consideration of the need for three different Codex INS Numbers for Mineral Oil, Food Grade, and; • Additional revisions to the Codex INS System. 5. Draft Maximum Level for Lead in Butter (para. 159). The Committee agreed to request comments on the necessity of a maximum level for lead in butter. 6. Draft Maximum Levels for Lead in Fish, Crustaceans and Bivalve Molluscs (para. 162 and Appendix XIV). The Committee agreed to return the draft maximum levels for lead in fish, crustaceans and bivalve molluscs for additional comments at Step 6. vi 7. Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium in Liver (Cattle, Poultry, Pig and Sheep), Kidney (Cattle, Poultry, Pig and Sheep) and Molluscs (para. 170). The Committee returned the proposed draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium in Liver (Cattle, Poultry, Pig and Sheep) (0.5 mg/kg), Kidney (Cattle, Poultry, Pig and Sheep) (1.0 mg/kg) and Molluscs (1.0 mg/kg) to Step 3 for circulation, comments and further consideration at its next Session. 8. Information on Methods of Analysis for Dioxins and Dioxin Like PCBs (para. 176). The Committee requested delegations to submit all available information on methods of analysis for dioxins and dioxin like PCBs in foods and feedingstuffs to the delegation of the Netherlands. 9. Priority List of Food Additives, Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA (para. 187 and Appendix XVI). The Committee agreed to request additional comments for additions or amendments to its Priority List for consideration at its next Session. 10. Methods of Sampling (para. 194). The JECFA Secretariat drew the attention of the Committee to adequate sampling plans in addition to methods of analysis, and invited member countries to provide relevant information on sampling. vii SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The thirty-third Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants reached the following conclusions: MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 24TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION: • Forward several amendments to Table 3 (Additives with an Acceptable Daily Intake of “Not Specified”) of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) to the Commission for final adoption at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure (para. 48); • Forwarded several amendments to the Annex to Table 3 (Food Categories or Individual Food Items Excluded from the General Conditions of Table 3) of the GSFA to the Commission for final adoption at Steps 5/8 (para. 50); • Forwarded draft maximum levels for food additives in specific food categories of the Codex General Standard for Food Additives to the Commission for final adoption at Step 8 (para.