35. The 22nd Session of the Commission (July 1997) adopted[12] the four Statements of Principle Relating to the Role of Food Safety Risk Assessment[13], with the understanding that the Codex Committee on General Principles would further consider issues related to equivalence and food safety objectives, and recognized that adequate flexibility should exist to take into account the needs of developing countries. In addition, the Commission adopted[14] Definitions of Risk Analysis Terms Related to Food Safety[15], with the understanding that they would be subject to regular review and that Member countries would have the opportunity to provide comments for further consideration by the Committee on General Principles. Although the report of the 13th Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (September 1998) had not been finalized at the time of the present meeting, the Committee noted that their discussions on these subjects were ongoing, and that their future work included the consideration of both the risk analysis principles and definitions[16].
36. However, in discussing the Application of Risk Analysis Principles in Codex, the Commission[17] recommended that until such time as the principles were adopted by the Commission, JECFA, JMPR and other advisory bodies and Codex Committees should be requested to continue evaluating and improving the application of the elements of risk assessment and risk management that they have prioritized for attention.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Application of Risk Management to Food Safety Matters (Rome, Italy, 27-31 January 1997)[18]
37. The WHO Representative informed the Committee that the Commission took note of recommendations 2 to 6 addressed to it by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Risk Management, and requested the relevant Codex committees to consider the recommendations and to propose action as necessary[19]. The WHO Representative noted that the Consultation summarized risk management procedures in the various Codex Committees and proposed risk management principles and frameworks, including definitions for key risk management terms. The WHO Representative noted that, in contrast to risk assessment, the risk management paradigm proposed by the Consultation was not yet fully accepted by many Member Countries because the practice of risk management was often less formalized.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food Consumption and Exposure Assessment of Chemicals (Geneva, Switzerland, 10-14 February 1997)[20]
38. The WHO Representative noted that the above Consultation addressed a range of issues which involved methods for assessing both chronic and acute hazards posed by food. The Consultation also specifically addressed the need for greater harmonization of risk assessment procedures within various Codex Committees dealing with chemicals in food. The Consultation considered approaches for acute hazard exposure assessment which may be relevant for the CCRVDF and twelve specific recommendations related to both hazard characterization and exposure assessment were formulated.
39. In response to one recommendation, WHO was currently developing a database on single day food consumption for average adults and children ages six and under. A Codex Circular Letter had been issued requesting such information to be provided by Member Countries. Regarding harmonization, the Consultation reviewed dietary exposure methods used by Codex Committees and recommended that dietary exposure assessment should use terminology from its reports as a 19 means to standardize dietary exposure assessment procedures and as a basis for the development of definitions for additional exposure assessment terms. The Consultation also recognized the special needs of developing countries in understanding the principles and procedures for conducting exposure assessments and to have access to the necessary resources to utilizing such knowledge.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Application of Risk Communication to Food Standards and Safety Matters (Rome, Italy, 2-6 February 1998)
40. The WHO Representative noted that the report of the Consultation on risk communication was not yet available but summarized its conclusions. The Consultation considered elements and guiding principles of risk communications and on strategies to improve risk communications by Codex and national governments. The Consultation noted that improvements in risk communication among all parties could be achieved by giving more attention to the risk communication process. These included the involvement and interaction of all interested parties, the use of persons with training and experience in risk communication, the clear formulation of risk communication messages taking into account the target audience, and the fostering of transparency during the entire process. In regard to national governments, specific guidance was provided on risk communication during food safety crisis situations. Because the report was not available, the Committee agreed that it would be discussed at its next Session.
