APPENDIX V
FORMAT FOR CODEX COMMODITY STANDARDS INCLUDING STANDARDS ELABORATED UNDER THE CODE OF PRINCIPLES CONCERNING MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

Introduction

The Format is intended for use as a guide by the subsidiary bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in presenting their standards, with the object of achieving, as far as possible, a uniform presentation of commodity standards. The Format also indicates the statements which should be included in standards as appropriate under the relevant headings of the standard. The sections of the Format require to be completed in a standard only insofar as such provisions are appropriate to an international standard for the food in question.

Notes on the Headings

NAME OF THE STANDARD

The name of the standard should be clear and as concise as possible. It should usually be the common name by which the food covered by the standard is known or, if more than one food is dealt with in the standard, by a generic name covering them all. If a fully informative title should be inordinately long, a subtitle could be added.

SCOPE

This section should contain a clear, concise statement as to the food or foods to which the standard is applicable unless this is self-explanatory in the name of the standard. In the case of a general standard covering more than one specific product, it should be made clear as to which specific products the standard applies.

DESCRIPTION

This section should contain a definition of the product or products with an indication, where appropriate, of the raw materials from which it is derived and any necessary references to processes of manufacture. It may also include references to types and styles of product and to type of pack. There may also be additional definitions when these are required to clarify the meaning of the standard.

ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS

This section should contain all quantitative and other requirements as to composition including, where necessary, identity characteristics, provisions on packing media and requirements as to compulsory and optional ingredients. It should also include quality factors which are essential for the designation, definition or composition of the product concerned. Such factors could include the quality of the raw material, with the object of protecting the health of the consumer, provisions on taste, odour, colour and texture which may be apprehended by the senses, and basic quality criteria for the finished products, with the object of preventing fraud. Such factors do not, at this stage, include grades or quality classes. This section may also include tolerances for defects, such as blemishes or imperfect material.

FOOD ADDITIVES

This section should contain the names of the additives permitted and, where appropriate, the maximum amount permitted in the food. It should be prepared in accordance with paragraph 13(b) of the Guidelines for Codex Committees and may take the following form:

“The following provisions in respect of food additives and their specifications as contained in section … of the Codex Alimentarius are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Food Additives.”

Then should follow a tabulation, viz:

“Name of additive, (maximum) level of use (in percentage or mg/kg)”

CONTAMINANTS

1. Pesticide Residues: This section should include, by reference, any levels for pesticide residues that have been laid down by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues for the product concerned.

2. Other Contaminants: In addition, this section should contain the names of other contaminants and where appropriate the maximum level permitted in the food, and the text to appear in the standard may take the following form:

   “The following provisions in respect of contaminants, other than pesticide residues, are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Food Additives.”

   Then should follow a tabulation, viz:

   “Name of contaminant, maximum level (in percentage or Mg/kg)”

HYGIENE

Any specific mandatory hygiene provisions considered necessary should be included in this section. They should be prepared in accordance with paragraph 13(d) of the Guidelines for Codex Committees. Reference should also be made to applicable codes of hygienic practice. Any parts of such codes, including in particular any end-product specifications, should be set out in the standard, if it is considered necessary that they should be made mandatory. The following statement should also appear:

“The following provisions in respect of the food hygiene of this product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene.”

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

This section should include all provisions, other than labelling provisions, relating to weights and measures, e.g. where appropriate, fill of container, weight, measure or count of units determined by an appropriate method of sampling and analysis. Weights and measures should be expressed in S.I. units. In the case of standards which include provisions for the sale of products in standardized amounts, e.g. multiples of 100 grams, S.I. units should be used, but this would not preclude additional statements in the standards of these standardized amounts in approximately similar amounts in other systems of weights and measures.

LABELLING

This section should include all the labelling provisions contained in the standard and should be prepared in accordance with paragraph 13(a) of the Guidelines for Codex Committees. Provisions should be included either specifically or by reference to the appriate paragraphs of the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. The section may also contain provisions which are exemptions from, additions to, or which are necessary for the interpretation of the General Standard in respect of the product concerned. The following statement should also appear:

“The following provisions in respect of the labelling of this product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling.”

METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING

This section should include, either specifically or by reference, all methods of analysis and sampling considered necessary and should be prepared in accordance with paragraph 13(c) of the Guidelines for Codex Committees. If two or more methods have been proved to be equivalent by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, these could be regarded as alternatives and be included in this section either specifically or by reference. The following statement should also appear:

“The methods of analysis and sampling described hereunder are international referee methods which are to be endorsed [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling.”