Comments on Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Food Additives and Contaminants in Foods (Agenda Item 17a)
Comments on the Inventory of Processing Aids (Agenda Item 17b)
Comments on Packaging Provisions to Maintain the Stability of Iodised Salt in the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt (Agenda Item 17 c)
144) Following the request for additional methods of analysis for the determination of food additives and contaminants in foods (CL 1997/6-FAC) on the basis of the criteria established earlier (ALINORM 97/12, para. 28), the Committee considered the comments from Sweden proposing methods for the determination of Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Copper and Iron. The Committee agreed to forward these proposals to the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for consideration.
145) The Committee recalled that the 30th Session had agreed to ask for additional comments on the Inventory of Processing Aids as a follow-up to CL 1997/6-FAC. The Committee accepted the offer of the Delegation of New Zealand to develop a discussion paper on how Codex should deal with processing aids, with the support of Canada, The Netherlands, Australia and France.
146) The Delegation of the United States proposed to include Sodium Phosphate Tribasic as a microbial control agent in Appendix A of the Codex Inventory of All Compounds Used As Processing Aids in Codex Volume 1A. The Delegation of Turkey also proposed to include Potassium Carbonate Solution in the list.
147) Several delegations were of the opinion that further information about the use and function of these substances would be necessary before the Committee could address these requests. The Committee asked the Delegations of the United States and Turkey to provide the necessary information in order to consider these matters at the next session.
148) The Committee recalled the decision of the 30th Session to circulate this proposal for comments and its approval by the 45th Session of the Executive Committee as new work, with the understanding that the proposed amendment referred to the packaging requirements to preserve the stability of iodised salt 34.
149) Several delegations expressed the view that the provisions concerning the packaging materials in Section 8.1 were too specific and stringent, and should be described in more general terms. The Delegation of Germany suggested to delete the last sentence of Section 8.1 (balancing the cost of different measures).
150) The Committee asked the Delegation of Malaysia to revise the document in the light of the comments received for circulation at Step 3 and further discussion at the next session, and noted that the recommendations of the International Council for Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICIDD) and WHO concerning salt iodisation should be taken into account as appropriate.
