INTRODUCTION
1. The sequence of the procedure set out in this Appendix is briefly as follows. The Commission decides that a standard should be elaborated and sets up a Codex Committee or entrusts the elaboration to some other body. The Codex Committee or other body produces a draft which at this stage is a ‘Proposed draft provisional standard’. It is circulated to governments for comments and may be considered and further amended, in the case of a regional or group of countries proposal, by the appropriate Co-ordinating Committee if one exists or otherwise by the Codex Committee or other body. It is then presented to the Commission as a ‘Proposed draft provisional standard’ and the Commission uses it as the basis for producing a ‘draft provisional standard’ This is sent to governments for comments and in the light of these comments, and after further consideration by the Co-ordinating Committee or Codex Committee or other body, as the case may be, the Commission reconsiders the draft and adopts it as a ‘provisional standard’. This is sent to governments for acceptance and when, as determined by the Commission, a sufficient number have accepted it, the ‘provisional standard’ is printed in the Codex Alimentarius as a Codex Standard.
2. It will be open to the Commission and to the Co-ordinating Committees, Codex Committees and other bodies dealing with the preparation, amendment or adoption of a standard at steps 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the procedures in PARTS 1 and 2 of this Appendix to decide that the draft be returned for further work at any appropriate previous step in the procedure.
3. It will be open to the Commission at any stage in the elaboration of a standard to entrust any of the remaining steps to a Codex Committee or other body different from that to which it was previously entrusted.
4. It will be for the Commission itself to keep under review the revision of Codex Standards after they have been printed in the Codex Alimentarius. The procedure for revision should, mutatis mutandis, be that laid down for the elaboration of Codex Standards.
5. The provisions set out in PART 2 of this Appendix apply mutatis mutandis to the elaboration of Codex Standards for groups of countries specifically enumerated by the Commission.
PART 1
PROCEDURE FOR THE ELABORATION
OF
WORLD-WIDE CODEX STANDARDS
STEP 1:
The Commission decides on the elaboration of a world-wide Codex Standard and decides which subsidiary body or other body should undertake the work.
STEP 2:
The subsidiary body or other body so designated prepares a proposed draft provisional standard, taking into account the work accomplished by the appropriate international Organizations. The draft is sent to the Commission's Secretariat by the Chairman of the subsidiary body or other body.
STEP 3:
The proposed draft provisional standard is sent by the Commission's Secretariat to Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international Organizations concerned in order to obtain their comments.
STEP 4:
The Commission's Secretariat sends the comments received from governments and from the international Organizations concerned to the subsidiary body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such comments and to amend the proposed draft provisional standard, if appropriate.
STEP 5:
The proposed draft provisional standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission with a view to its adoption as a draft provisional standard. The Commission may, however, refer it to a special subsidiary body, set up under Rule IX.l(a) of the Rules of Procedure, before adopting it as a draft provisional standard or may entrust the special subsidiary body with responsibility for undertaking steps 5, 7 and 8 of this procedure or any part thereof.
STEP 6:
The draft provisional standard is sent by the Commission's Secretariat for comment to all Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international organizations concerned.
STEP 7:
The comments received from governments and from the international organizations concerned are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such comments and amend the draft provisional standard, if appropriate.
STEP 8:
The draft provisional standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission with a view to adoption as a provisional standard of the type determined by the Commission.
STEP 9:
The provisional standard as adopted is sent to all Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international organizations concerned. Members of the Commission notify the Secretariat of their formal acceptance of the provisional standard.
STEP 10:
The provisional standard will be printed in the Codex Alimentarius as a world-wide Codex Standard when the Commission determines that a sufficient number of Members have formally accepted it.
PART 2
PROCEDURE FOR THE ELABORATION
OF
REGIONAL CODEX STANDARDS
STEP 1:
On the proposal of the majority of Members belonging to a given region submitted at a session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Commission decides on the elaboration of a Codex Standard for the region concerned and decides which subsidiary body or other body should undertake the work.
STEP 2:
The subsidiary body or other body so designated prepares a proposed draft provisional standard, taking into account the work accomplished by the appropriate international organizations. The draft is sent to the Commission's Secretariat by the Co-ordinator for the region concerned if a Co-ordinator has been appointed; if no Co-ordinator has been appointed, the draft is sent by the Chairman of the subsidiary body or other body.
STEP 3:
The proposed draft provisional standard is sent by the Commission's Secretariat to Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international organizations concerned in order to obtain their comments.
STEP 4:
If the Commission has appointed a Co-ordinating Committee for the region concerned, the comments received from governments and from the international organizations concerned are sent by the Secretariat to that Committee, which has the power to consider such comments and amend the proposed draft provisional standard if appropriate.* If a Co-ordinating Committee has not been appointed, the Secretariat sends the comments received from governments and from the international organizations concerned to the subsidiary body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such comments and to amend the proposed draft provisional standard, if appropriate.
STEP 5:
The proposed draft provisional standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission with a view to adoption as a draft provisional standard for the region concerned. At the appropriate session of the Commission, all Members may present their comments, take part in the debate and propose amendments but only the majority of the Members of the region concerned can decide to amend and adopt the draft.
STEP 6:
The draft provisional standard for the region concerned is sent by the Commission's Secretariat for comment to all Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international organizations concerned.
STEP 7:
If the Commission has appointed a Co-ordinating Committee for the region concerned, the comments received from governments and from the international organizations concerned are sent by the Secretariat to that Committee which has the power to consider such comments and amend the draft provisional standard, if appropriate.* If a Co-ordinating Committee has not been appointed, the Secretariat sends the comments received from governments and from the international organizations concerned to the subsidiary body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such comments and to amend the draft provisional standard. if appropriate.
STEP 8:
The draft provisional standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission with a view to adoption as a provisional standard for the region concerned of the type determined by the Commission. At the appropriate session of the Commission, all Members may present their comments, take part in the debate and propose amendments but only the majority of Members of the region concerned can decide to amend and adopt the draft.
STEP 9:
The provisional standard as adopted is sent to all Member States and Associate Members of FAO and WHO and to the international organizations concerned. The Member of the region concerned notify the Commission's Secretariat of their formal acceptance of the provisional standard; other Members of the Commission may likewise notify the Secretariat of their formal acceptance of the provisional standard or of any other measures they propose to adopt with respect thereto, and also submit any observations as to its application.
STEP 10:
The provisional standard will be printed in the Codex Alimentarius as a Codex Standard for the region concerned when the Commission determines that a sufficient number of Members of that region have formally accepted it.
STEP 11:
The Codex Standard may be printed in the Codex Alimentarius as a world-wide Codex Standard when the Commission determines that a sufficient number of Members have formally accepted it.
