Experts start meeting, convened by FAO and WHO, on viruses in foods

FAO and WHO are hosting a discussion of human enteric viruses in foods this week. This session of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) will develop scientific advice to guide the elaboration of appropriate Codex Alimentarius food standards on viruses in foods. A group of 23 experts from around the world is now starting to review and discuss information, data and experiences to provide up-to-date scientific recommendations.

Earlier this year a call was issued to obtain globally representative data and information on monitoring programmes for human enteric viruses. The data collected covers sampling plans and testing methods for monitoring viruses in foods, foodborne outbreak and surveillance data in addition to information that can support hazard identification and characterization of viruses in foods.

In 2012, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food (CXG 79-2012) to minimize the presence of human enteric viruses in foods, more specifically, hepatitis A  and norovirus.

With new foodborne virus issues emerging and recent scientific developments, the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has requested that JEMRA provide scientific advice to inform the review of the guidelines. In particular:

1. An up-to-date review of the foodborne viruses and relevant food commodities of highest public health concern;
2. A review of the scientific evidence on prevention and intervention measures and the efficacy of interventions in the food continuum;
3. A review of the analytical methods for relevant enteric viruses in food commodities;
4. A review of scientific evidence on the potential utility of viral indicators or other indicators of contamination; and
5. A review of the various risk assessment models with a view towards constructing more applicable models for wide use among Member countries, including a simplified risk calculator.

This week’s meeting will address the topics listed in 1, 3 and 4 while the other two will be addressed by subsequent meetings.

Read more in the call for experts and data here

Find out more about JEMRA on the FAO website and the WHO website