6. The Commission received a report concerning three meetings of the Executive Committee held in October 1964 (Geneva), June 1965 (Rome) and October 1965 (Rome). At these meetings the Executive Committee had dealt with the following main matters: the financing of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, proposals for the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, working arrangements for Joint ECE/Codex Alimentarius Groups of Experts, the progress of work by Codex Committees, the reference of the draft standard for Margarine prepared by I. F. M. A. to the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils, and arrangements for the Third Session of the Commission. These subjects were discussed by the Commission under the relevant items of the Commission's Agenda (see paragraphs 12, 11, 9, Part III, 42,69.)
7. The Commission received reports concerning the First and Second Meetings of the Coordinating Committee for Europe held in July 1965 (Berne) and October 1965 (Rome). These reports were considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and immediately follow paragraph 7 of this report.
Arising out of the reports of the Coordinating Committee for Europe, the Commission, under Rule IX. 1 (b) 1, approved a proposal to establish a Codex Committee to elaborate regional standards for Europe on natural mineral waters and designated the Government of Switzerland to hold the chairmanship of this Committee for one year. The Commission expressed its appreciation of the Swiss Government's offer to serve in this capacity.
The Commission endorsed a proposal that the Government of France be invited to assume responsibility from the 1st January 1966 for the preparation of draft standards on jams, jellies and marmalades for the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables in collaboration with those other countries which had agreed to participate in this work at the Second Meeting of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables. In order to ensure the smooth continuation of this preparatory work, the U.K. Government was requested to send as soon as possible to the Government of France any comments received by the 31st December 1965 on their draft proposal for jams. Other countries which were interested to participate in this preparatory work were requested to inform the Chairman of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables directly so that arrangements could be made for documents to be circulated to them. The delegates of France, U. K. and U. S. A. indicated that these arrangements were acceptable to them. The Secretariat would immediately advise the Chairman of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables of these changes. In order to avoid any possible duplication of work, the Secretariat was requested to communicate the results of the work of the ECE on Fruit Pulps to the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables.
The Commission, after considering the decision taken at its First Session and the Reports of the Coordinating Committee for Europe on honey, decided to consider the draft standard revised by the U. K. as set out in Appendix II of ALINORM 19/1 as being at Step 5 of the Commission's Procedure for the Elaboration of Regional Standards. The Commission recommended that the standard be sent for comment to Governments, in accordance with Step 6. The Secretariat would then collate the comments of Governments on the draft standard and submit them together with the draft to the Third Meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe which is scheduled to be held in May 1966. The Commission requested that the Coordinating Committee should, in the light of comments from all Governments, make recommendations to the Commission for consideration (Step 8) as to whether the standard should be further developed in the Procedure for the Elaboration of Standards as a regional or world-wide standard. The Commission at its next session would then decide on the most appropriate course of action.
The Commission approved the proposal of the Coordinating Committee to establish under Rule IX. 1 (b) 1 a Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods under the chairmanship of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Commission, after emphasizing that the work of the Committee would be to elaborate European regional standards as a first step towards world-wide standards, approved the following definition and terms of reference:
Definition
Dietetic foods are those foods which, by reason of their composition, meet a particular nutritive need of a person whose normal power of assimilation is restricted or for whom a particular effect is to be obtained by a controlled diet. They are foods and not medicines. They may be divided into the following main groups:
Terms of Reference
To develop general guidelines, principles and standards for dietetic foods* as defined above and particular requirements for the following types of dietetic foods. These foods are listed in the order of priority as follows:
Other significant dietetic additives (e.g. calcium and iron compounds).
to consider the need for specific labelling requirements in respect of dietetic foods in consultation with the Codex Committee on Food Labelling
to make recommendations in accordance with the procedure for the elaboration of regional standards.
* Except for standards for foods which are the responsibility of other Codex Committees.
The Commission approved the working arrangements proposed in paragraph 5 of the Report of the Second Meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe. The relevant part of paragraph 5 reads as follows:
“The Committee recognized that work on world-wide standards for processed cultivated fungi was being undertaken by the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables under the chairmanship of the USA. The Committee considered that no further action was required for the time being on cultivated fresh mushrooms pending a clearer indication of the probable result of the work being undertaken by the UNECE Working Party on Perishable Foodstuffs. On the proposal of the United Kingdom, the Committee agreed that Poland should be invited to elaborate general minimum requirements for all types of fungi and specific standards for wild chanterelles and for all types of dried fungi. A questionnaire would be prepared by Poland and should be sent out by the Secretariat of the Commission to all Members of the Committee seeking their views on whether there were any other varieties of wild fungi for which standards were required and also asking any Member suggesting a further variety to state whether it was prepared to elaborate the first draft of the necessary standard. Poland was also asked to maintain a general oversight of the work on edible fungi so that any inconsistencies could be corrected. The Government of Poland would, if necessary, convene a small meeting of experts to deal with the subject and would present drafts of standards to the Committee in due course”.
The Commission approved the action recommended in paragraph 7 of the Report of the Second Meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe.
The Commission approved the action recommended in paragraph 9 (b) of the Report of the Second Meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Europe.
The following reproduces in extenso the texts of Documents EURO/REPORT/65/1 and EURO/REPORT/65/2:
Berne, 1–2 July 1965
INTRODUCTION
1. The first meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee for Europe was held 1–2 July 1965 in Berne by courtesy of the Swiss Government. The meeting was attended by delegates from the following sixteen countries of the European Region: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Greece, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia; and by observers from the U. S. A. and Cuba. The Council of Europe and the European Economic Community were also represented by observers. Representatives of FAO and WHO were Joint Secretaries to the Committee.
2. The Provisional Agenda proposed by the Chairman was adopted by the Co-ordinating Committee on the understanding that there would not be a detailed examination of any of the items of the agenda dealing with specific commodities or subjects such as general principles and sampling.
CO-ORDINATOR FOR EUROPE
3. Professor Hogl having informed the Committee that he would not be able to serve for a further term of office, it was unanimously agreed by the Committee to recommend to the Third Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission that Min. a. D. Dr. H. Frenzel, Chairman of the Austrian National Codex Committee, be appointed as Co-ordinator for Europe. The Committee further recommended that the Co-ordinator should be able in the event of temporary disability to designate a deputy from Austria.
INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
4. It was decided to postpone any consideration of these matters for at least a year until the Co-ordinating Committee had obtained sufficient operating experience to determine its needs in respect of organization and finance. In the meantime the Co-ordinator should be free to consult with the Chairmen of Codex Committees and Codex Contact Points in the Region. To avoid this subject becoming overlooked it would be placed on the agenda of successive meetings until such time as the Committee thought it appropriate to consider action.
NATURE OF STANDARDS
5. The Co-ordinating Committee heard a brief progress report on the arrangements being made by the French Government for the first meeting of the Codex Committee on General Principles to be held in Paris 4–8 October 1965. The Committee agreed that the scope and nature of Codex Standards should be dealt with, as recommended by the Commission, by the Codex Committee on General Principles. The Committee was informed that the Codex Committee on General Principles would also be considering the general principles and definitions of food legislations. The “Resolutions of the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus” especially the “General Guiding Principles and Principles for Testing and Judging” would be taken into account by the Codex Committee on General Principles, together with comments submitted to the Second Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In addition, the Committee was informed that the Federal Republic of Germany had prepared a synopsis or comparative study on national food legislation. The Co-ordinating Committee requested that this be made available to the Codex Committee on General Principles.
SAMPLING
6. The Co-ordinating Committee discussed the need to expedite the development of general principles of sampling. The Codex Alimentarius Commission at its Second Session recommended that the “Resolution of the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus on Sampling” should be considered by I. S. O. when preparing recommendations on the general principles of sampling for the Commission. The Co-ordinating Committee requested that I. S. O. be asked to make a progress report to the Commission at its Third Session. The Committee further considered it important to associate the work on sampling with that of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis under the chairmanship of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Committee recommended that these matters should be brought to the attention of the Commission at its next session.
EDIBLE FUNGI
7. The Co-ordinating Committee was informed that the Codex Alimentarius Commission's proposal to work jointly with the UN Economic Commission for Europe to elaborate standards for wild, cultivated and processed mushrooms had not been accepted by the latter body. The standards for fresh cultivated mushrooms were shortly to be finalized by the UN Economic Commission for Europe. In view of this development the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables intended to prepare draft standards for canned mushrooms. The Co-ordinating Committee thought that European Regional Standards for fresh wild edible fungi were necessary and requested the delegation of Poland to study the standard prepared by the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus in the light of the governments' comments which were made available to the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its Second Session and to report to the next meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee in October 1965 so that a recommendation for future action could be made to the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its Third Session. The Commission's Secretariat would send governments' comments to the Polish Codex Contact Point as soon as possible.
DIETETIC FOODS
8. The Committee decided to recommend to the Commission that European standards for dietetic foods be elaborated as a first step towards world-wide standards. The Federal Republic of Germany had already commenced work in this field and therefore the Committee proposed that Germany should be asked by the Commission to accept responsibility for a European Codex Committee on Dietetic Foodstuffs. The Committee considered that a clear definition of the term “dietetic food” and precise terms of references would be required for the Codex Committee. The delegations of the Federal Republic of Germany and United Kingdom undertook to collaborate in the preparation of draft terms of reference for the proposed Codex Committee and a definition of the term “dietetic food”. The Co-ordinating Committee would consider these drafts at its next meeting in October 1965 and make proposals to the Commission at its Third Session.
HONEY
9. The Committee considered in general terms the draft European regional standard for honey prepared by the Committee of Experts which met under the chairmanship of the Government of Austria. The draft would be sent to Member Governments of the Commission as a working paper for the Third Session of the Commission. It was agreed that the members of the Co-ordinating Committee interested in honey would send their comments to Codex Contact Points on the draft standard in advance of the Commission Session. All countries present indicated they would be sending their comments to Contact Points.
MINERAL WATERS
10. The Co-ordinating Committee discussed the priority to be assigned to standards for mineral waters. Five countries were in favour of work being commenced in the near future on such standards and the delegation of Switzerland indicated a willingness to accept responsibility for a Codex Committee on Mineral Waters. The result would be put to the Commission for consideration at its Third Session.
BROTHS AND SOUPS
11. After hearing about work being carried out by the International Soup Manufacturers' Association on standards, the Committee requested the Swiss delegation to submit a progress report on the question of standards for soup to the next meeting of the Committee in October. The Co-ordinating Committee would then decide in the light of this report what proposals to make to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for future work whether on a world-wide or European basis.
JAMS, JELLIES AND MARMALADES
12. The Co-ordinating Committee discussed the existing arrangements for the elaboration of standards for jams, jellies and marmalades by the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables. The Committee also examined generally draft standards for these products prepared by the Government of France for the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus. The Committee thought it would be desirable, as recommended by the Commission at its First Session, that the Codex Committee should take fully into account the work of the French Committee. It was agreed to propose to the Commission that France should assume responsibility within the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables for the preparation of draft standards for jams and marmalades in collaboration with the U.K., Sweden and the Netherlands. Other countries wishing to participate in the preparatory work on the drafts would have an opportunity to inform the Commission at its Third Session.
WINE
13. The Co-ordinating Committee decided not to discuss this subject for the time being. The item was therefore deleted from the Agenda.
OTHER BUSINESS
14. Prof. Krauze (Poland) requested that the attention of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis be drawn to the need for real collaboration between the various international organizations already working in this field. Prof. Krauze as a past Vice-President of the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus expressed a wish for shorter sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and a reduction in the number of working documents to be considered at each session. The Secretariat informed the meeting that the Provisional Agenda and length of each session was determined by the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the light of actual business requiring to be transacted by the Commission.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
15. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee for Europe on the 20th October 1965 at FAO Headquarters, Rome. This would mean suspending the plenary session of the Commission for a day.
Rome, 20 October 1965
1. The meeting was opened by Prof. O. Högl (Switzerland) and attended by delegates and observers from the following Members of the European region: Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia. Observers from Canada, Tunisia, U.S.A. and from E.C.E., I.F.M.A. and the Liaison Committee of Glucose Manufacturers of EEC also attended the meeting.
2. The Chairman, after adoption of the Provisional Agenda of the meeting, reviewed the report of the first meeting (Berne, 1–2 July 1965, document EURO/ REPORT 65/1). The Chairman introduced Min. a. D. Dr. H. Frenzel who had been proposed by the Committee as the new Co-ordinator for Europe.
3. The internal organization of the Coordinating Committee.- The internal organization of the Coordinating Committee would be taken up at the next meeting in the light of consultations of the new Co-ordinator with the Chairmen of Codex Committees and Codex Contact Points in the region.
4. Progress report by the Co-ordinator.- The Chairman referred to the meetings of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis (Berlin, 23-24 September 1965) and of the Codex Committee on General Principles (Paris, 4–8 October 1965) and stressed the importance of the decisions of these Committees for the activities of the Co-ordinating Committee for Europe. The General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius confirmed the possibility of elaborating standards on a regional or group-of-country basis in which the Co-ordinating Committee would play an important role. With regard to Methods of Analysis the necessity of close cooperation between the Committee on Methods of Analysis and other international bodies working on sampling was confirmed at the Berlin meeting and this would also have to be considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
5. Edible fungi.- The Committee had before it for consideration a document (No. SP 10/80) containing, in accordance with the request of the first meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee (document EURO/REPORT 65/1, paragraph 7), the comments of Poland on the standardization of edible fungi. The Committee was informed that the UNECE Working Party on Perishable Foodstuffs had undertaken work on the standardization of cultivated fresh fungi but had decided not to undertake the standardization of wild fresh mushrooms. The observer from ECE also mentioned that the finalization of a standard for cultivated fresh mushrooms had run into unexpected difficulties which might delay its presentation to Governments. During the discussion, concern was expressed on the one hand that there might be the danger of insufficient coordination if various bodies were to be separately entrusted with this work, and on the other hand, that the UNECE Working Party on Perishable Foodstuffs was establishing standards for commerce which would not necessarily correspond to the general principles of the Codex Alimentarius. The Committee recognized that work on world-wide standards for processed cultivated fungi was being undertaken by the Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables under the chairmanship of the USA. The Committee considered that no further action was required for the time being on cultivated fresh mushrooms pending a clearer indication of the probable result of the work being undertaken by the UNECE Working Party on Perishable Foodstuffs. On the proposal of the United Kingdom, the Committee agreed that Poland should be invited to elaborate general minimum requirements for all types of fungi and specific standards for wild chanterelles and for all types of dried fungi. A questionnaire would be prepared by Poland and should be sent out by the Secretariat of the Commission to all Members of the Committee seeking their views on whether there were any other varieties of wild fungi for which standards were required and also asking any Member suggesting a further variety to state whether it was prepared to elaborate the first draft of the necessary standard. Poland was also asked to maintain a general oversight of the work on edible fungi so that any inconsistencies could be corrected. The Government of Poland would, if necessary, convene a small meeting of experts to deal with the subject and would present drafts of standards to the Committee in due course.
6. Dietetic foods.- As requested by the Co-ordinating Committee, the Federal Republic of Germany in collaboration with the U.K. had prepared a paper on the proposed Terms of Reference for the European Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods (SP 10/83-TR). In introducing this document the delegate of the Federal Republic of Germany indicated that a European Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods would need to draw upon the advice of medical, nutritional and labelling experts. The European Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods would elaborate general guidelines for the individual commodity Codex Committees. The Committee then decided to recommend to the Commission that the European Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods should as a first task examine the proposed definition of dietetic food. The terms of reference of this Committee, as set out in document SP 10/83-TR, should for the time being serve as guidance except that the order of priority of the foods to be considered by the Codex Committee should as its first items be baby and diabetic foods. The Committee also recommended that point 1 (a) of the terms of reference should be expanded to read “foods for nursing mothers, infants and the aged”.
7. Broths and soups.- After receiving a progress report by the Swiss Government to which was attached an appendix prepared by the International Soup Manufacturers' Association, the Committee agreed to a proposal of the Swiss delegation that it would submit a further report on this subject in a year's time when the question of the establishment of a Codex Committee for these products could be re-examined.
8. Date and place of next meeting.- The Committee accepted an invitation of the Austrian Government to hold its third meeting in Vienna from 24 to 27 May 1966.
9. Other business
Honey - On a proposal of the Austrian delegation it was agreed to recommend to the Codex Alimentarius Commission that the redraft of the European Standard for honey prepared by the U.K. be taken as the document for the basis of the Commission's discussions on this subject.
Edible Ices - The Co-ordinating Committee briefly discussed a proposal for the elaboration of regional standards for edible ices. With regard to ice-cream it was pointed out that the International Dairy Federation had under consideration a standard which would be submitted to the Joint FAO/WHO Committee of Government Experts on the Code of Principles concerning Milk and Milk Products. With regard to other similar frozen products and the difficulty of appropriate nomenclature for such products, the Swedish delegation was requested to prepare a paper for consideration by the Co-ordinating Committee at its third meeting.
