6) The Committee noted that the Joint FAO/WHO/IAEA Study Group on Food Irradiation had considered the wholesomeness of food irradiated with doses above 10 kGy, the current limit in the Codex Standard, and had concluded that food irradiated to any dose appropriate to achieve the technological objective was both safe and nutritionally adequate. In view of this recommendation, the Committee considered the need for a revision of the current General Standard for Irradiated Foods.
7) The Delegations of the Philippines and India informed the Committee that the regulations on irradiated foods were being harmonized with the ASEAN countries and supported the revision of the standard. This view was supported by several delegations and the Committee agreed to propose the revision of the General Standard for Irradiated Foods as new work to the 23rd Session of the Commission. The Proposed Draft Revised Standard including the amendments proposed by the Study Group would be circulated after the Commission for comments at Step 3 and consideration by the next session. The Representative of WHO informed the Committee that the final report of the Study Group would be published in a few months, probably before the Commission.
8) The Committee was informed that the Third Joint FAO/WHO/UNEP Conference on Mycotoxins had been held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 3-6 March 1999 with the following objectives: (i) to increase the awareness of policy makers about mycotoxin contamination; (ii) to provide a forum for the exchange of current scientific information on mycotoxins, (iii) to promote the harmonization of mycotoxin regulations and control procedures; and (iv) to provide recommendations for the assessment, prevention and control of mycotoxin contamination. The Committee noted that the report of the Conference would be made available on the Internet, and that its recommendations would be of use to its current work on contamination by mycotoxins.
