85) The Delegation of Argentina presented the activities of the Codex Contact Point (Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock Fisheries and Food) and highlighted the high participation of Argentina in Codex meetings. In the framework of FAO Project TCP/ARG/6713, initiated in April 1998, the National Committee was being strengthened and extensive efforts were being made to disseminate information on Codex throughout the country. Seminars and training courses held in most provinces were directed to government officials and industry participants and covered subjects such as HACCP, inspection and certification, additives and contaminants.
86) The Delegation of Colombia informed the Committee that the National Codex Committee (NCC), established by decree in 1998, integrated four ministries, competent institutes, industry and the consumers and that it was functioning satisfactorily. The Delegation of Paraguay reported on the recent creation of the NCC and presented the results obtained by the NCC and its technical subcommittees. The activities initiated in the Contact Point "National Institute of Technology and Standardization" were reinforced in its final stages by FAO Project TCP/PAR/6611. Efforts were currently being made for the diffusion of information to all interested sectors in the strengthening of the NCC.
87) The Delegation of Bolivia indicated that the NCC, established through Ministerial Resolution in 1991 and a Supreme Decree in 1997, included all concerned ministries, the industry and consumers, while specialized sub-committees considered technical matters. Several standards had been elaborated on the basis of Codex standards, and seminars had been organized to disseminate information on Codex issues in the public and private sectors. In particular, Training of Trainers courses on HACCP had been organized in the framework of FAO TCP/BOL/6712 for the development of an integrated food control programme.
88) The Delegation of Chile indicated that the NCC integrated concerned ministries, the private sector, consumers and the universities. The NCC, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was responsible for coordinating the national position and inform FAO, the Commission and other organizations of this position, while the Ministry of Health was in charge of technical coordination, as well as maintaining the archives of Codex publications.
89) The Delegation of Uruguay presented the organization of its Committee created in 1994, with an alternating chairmanship, the participation of all competent ministries, the Congress of mayors, the contact points, and referred to the creation of technical sub-committees. The Delegation emphasized the necessity of strengthening the activities of the NCC and recalled that a request had been made to FAO for technical assistance in this process.
90) The Delegation of Dominican Republic stated that the National Codex Committee incorporated concerned ministries, other official bodies, representatives of the industry, the consumers and the universities, and included several technical committees which met regularly. The Delegation stressed the importance of the approximation of national legislation to the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice on Street-Vended Foods.
91) The Delegation of Mexico referred to its efforts to involve all interested sectors and persons across that country notwithstanding the difficulties related to geographical distance; for this purpose, electronic means of communication and the media were used as much as possible.
92) The Delegation of Guatemala indicated that the National Codex Commission (NCC) incorporated the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Economy, Industry and Commerce, the academic sector and other involved institutions, the most active Committees being additives, pesticides and milk products. A government decree establishing the NCC as an institution was soon to be approved.
93) The Delegation of Brazil reported on the activities of its National Codex Committee since the 10th Session of the CCLAC, especially the follow-up to FAO Project TCP/BRA/4555, and in particular the following: the conferences held in the whole country with the objective of divulging the work of Codex; the involvement of researchers, experts and academia in the NCC; and the resulting improvement in the country’s participation in the activities of Codex Committees. The Delegation also stressed the important effort of government regulatory bodies, in cooperation with the industry, in the implementation of good hygienic practice and HACCP in the industry, which was regularly increasing. Notwithstanding the progress achieved, there were still some difficulties, and the Delegation expressed its interest in continued technical cooperation such as had been achieved with TCP/BRA/4555.
94) The Delegation of Costa Rica, supported by all delegations, stressed the importance for countries in the region to meet the requirements of WTO and to strengthen their involvement in Codex work, in order to establish their national position on a solid basis and defend their interests accordingly. In this perspective, the Delegation proposed that a meeting of Codex Contact Points in the region should be convened in 1999; this would be especially useful in view of the changes currently taking place in the National Committees and Contact Points of the region.
95) The Secretariat referred to the activities developed by FAO for the strengthening of Codex activities in the region, through national projects and/or seminars and subregional meetings such as the one held in 1997 in Jamaica. It was however noted that FAO could not envisage the organization of a regional meeting in the first half of 1999, due to the preparation of the Commission but that the feasibility of such a meeting at a later date would be considered.
96) The Delegation of Uruguay pointed out that the task of the contact points was diffusion of Codex work, distribution of documents, whereas the political responsibility for the position of the country rested with the National Codex Committees, and their representatives should therefore participate in such a meeting. The Delegation noted the practical difficulties to organize a meeting of contact points in 1999 and suggested that it could be held in conjunction with the next session of the Committee. The Secretariat indicated that as workshops or seminars were generally held prior to the CCLAC session, a meeting of contact points could be considered in this framework.
97) The Committee recognized the importance of regional coordination between the authorities responsible for Codex matters, and recommended that a meeting of Contact Points and representatives of National Codex Committees should be held in conjunction with the next session. The Delegation of Costa Rica noted that consideration should be given to the feasibility of convening such a meeting at an earlier date.
98) The Committee referred to the recommendation of the Workshop of Codex Contact Points held in Jamaica concerning the development of regional Guidelines. The Committee reasserted its earlier decision that detailed guidelines were not required as the situation differed significantly from country to country. It was noted that the CCEURO and the CCNASWAP had reached a similar conclusion, while the Draft Regional Guidelines for Asia were being forwarded to the Commission at Step 8. The Committee also noted that, following a proposal of the CCASIA, the Committee on General Principles had agreed to consider the inclusion in the Procedural Manual of "Core Functions of Contact Points" at its next session. Member countries were invited to present their comments on this proposal which had been circulated through CL 1998/34-GP.
