ALINORM 04/27/33




JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Twenty-seventh Session
Geneva, 28 June - 2 July 2004

REPORT OF THE NINETEENTH (EXTRAORDINARY) SESSION OF THE
CODEX COMMITTEE ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Paris, France, 17-21 November 2003



Note: This document incorporates Circular Letter CL 2003/41-GP

codex alimentarius commission
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
JOINT OFFICE: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 ROME Tel.:57051 www.codexalimentarius.net Email:[email protected] Facsimile: 3906.5705.4593

CX 4/10 CL 2003/41-GP
November 2003
TO: - Codex Contact Points
- Interested International Organizations

FROM: - Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, c/-FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy

SUBJECT: Distribution of the Report of the 19th (Extraordinary) Session of the Codex Committee
on General Principles (ALINORM 04/27/33)

MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 27TH SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

Proposed Amendments to the Procedural Manual

1. Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Procedure: Rule IV Executive Committee and Rule XII Budget and Expenses (para. 33 , Appendix II)
2. Proposed Amendments to the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (para. 76, Appendix III)
3. Draft Criteria for the Appointment of Chairpersons (para. 87, Appendix IV).

4. Draft Guidelines to Host Governments of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 91, Appendix V).

5. Draft Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 96, Appendix VI).
6. Draft Guidelines to Chairpersons of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 103, Appendix VII).
Governments and international organizations wishing to submit comments on the above amendments should do so in writing to the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, c/-FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy before 30 March 2004.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The summary and conclusions of the 19th (Extraordinary) Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles are as follows:

      Matters for adoption by the Commission:
      The Committee:

    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Proposed Amendments to Rules IV Executive Committee and Rule XII Budget and Expenses of the Rules of Procedure (para. 33, Appendix II);
    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Proposed Amendments to the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts related to the critical review of standards and related texts (para. 76, Appendix III);
    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Draft Criteria for the Appointment of Chairpersons (para. 87, Appendix IV);
    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Draft Guidelines to Host Governments of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 91, Appendix V)
    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Draft Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 96, Appendix VI)
    - agreed to forward to the Commission the Draft Guidelines to Chairpersons of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces (para. 103, Appendix VII)

      Other Matters of Interest to the Commission:
      The Committee:

    - agreed to consider further the revision of Rule VII. 5; the status of observers in the Executive Committee; and the review of the Principles Concerning the Participation of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its next (regular) Session (paras. 39, 45 and 82);
    - agreed to consider further the revision of the Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities at its next (extraordinary) session (para. 54);
    - agreed that the Draft Guidelines on Physical Working Groups and the Draft Guidelines on Electronic Working Groups should be circulated for comments, redrafted and considered at its next (extraordinary) session (para. 119).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Opening of the Session 1-3
Adoption of the Agenda 4-5
Matters referred by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including the
Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and Other FAO
and WHO Work on Food Standards 6
Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Procedure, including
the Structure and Functions of the Executive Committee 7-33
Proposed Amendment to Rule VII.5 of the Rules of Procedure 34-39
Consideration of the Status of Observers in the Executive Committee 40-45
Processes for Standards Management (including the Critical Review)
a) Revision of the Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities 46-54
b) Processes for Standards Management (including the review of the Elaboration Procedures) 55-76
Review of the Principles concerning the Participation of International
Non-Governmental Organizations in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 77-82
Review of the Guidelines for Codex Committees 83
a) advice to host countries (including criteria for the selection of chairpersons) 84-91
b) conduct of meetings 92-103
Other proposals to facilitate standard development
(other than Standard management Process): Review of the Guidelines
for Codex Committees and other additional text 104-119
Other Business, Future Work and Date and Place of the Next Session 120-122

LIST OF APPENDICES
Pages

Appendix I

    List of Participants

19

Appendix II

    Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Procedure

33

Appendix III

    Proposed Amendments to the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts

36

Appendix IV

    Draft Criteria for the Appointment of Chairpersons

41

Appendix V

    Draft Guidelines to Host Governments of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

42

Appendix VI

    Draft Guidelines on the Conduct of Meetings of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

46

Appendix VII

    Draft Guidelines to Chairpersons of Codex Committees and ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

48

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