OTHER BUSINESS, FUTURE WORK AND DATE AND PLACE OF NEXT SESSION (Agenda Item 12)[14]

Other Business

82) The Delegation of the United States introduced the proposal put forward in CRD 9 concerning new work on the consideration of misleading claims, pointing out that although misleading claims were covered in general terms in the General Guidelines on Claims, there was a need for further clarification of what would constitute a misleading claim. The Delegation indicated that some claims might be factually correct but give misleading messages concerning health or other benefits, as compared to similar products, for example by referring to "cholesterol free" for 100% vegetable oil with a heart symbol, and proposed to develop criteria to prevent the use of such claims.

83) Several delegations and the Observer from IACFO expressed the view that misleading claims were already covered by the general labelling texts and that there was no need to develop additional criteria in this area, and expressed their concern that the proposal would create confusion. These delegations also noted that there had not been enough time to consider the paper presented and indicated that it would need careful consideration to clarify its implications as related to possible future work of the Committee. The Delegation of Denmark indicated that its national legislation contained a general clause against misleading claims.

84) As there had been insufficient discussion at the present session, the Committee agreed that the Delegation of the United States would redraft its proposal as a discussion paper on criteria for misleading claims in order to clarify its objectives, for further consideration at the next session. The Delegation of the United States invited member countries to provide information and comments on their experience in this area.

Future Work

85) The Committee noted that in addition to standing items on the Agenda, its future work would include:

• Draft Guidelines for the Production Processing Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (Livestock and Livestock Products)
• Draft Amendment to the General Standard - Class Names (milk protein)
• Draft Amendment to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling
• Labelling of Foods Obtained through Biotechnology
• Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Use of Health Claims
• Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Use of the Term "Vegetarian"
• Discussion paper on misleading claims

Date and Place of the Next Session

86) The Committee noted that its 28^th Session was tentatively scheduled to be held in Ottawa from 8 –11 May 2000, the exact arrangements to be determined between the host country and Codex Secretariats.

SUMMARY STATUS OF WORK

Subject Matter	Step	Action by	Document Reference in ALINORM 99/22A
Draft Guidelines for Organically Produced Foods (section 5.1)	8	Governments 23rd CAC	para. 33 Appendix II
Draft Amendment to the General Labelling Standard (composite ingredients)	8	Governments 23rd CAC	para. 39 Appendix III
Draft Guidelines for Organically Produced Foods (Livestock)	6	Governments 28th CCFL	para. 33 Appendix IV
Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Labelling Standard (class names)	5	Governments 23rd CAC	para. 52 Appendix V
Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling	5	Governments 23rd CAC	para. 59 Appendix VI
Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Use of Health Claims	3	Governments 28th CCFL	para. 66 Appendix VII
Proposed Draft Recommendations on Labelling/Biotechnology	3	Governments 28th CCFL	para. 49
Proposed Draft Guidelines for Use of the Term "Vegetarian"	3	South Africa/India Governments 28th CCFL	para. 81
Proposed Draft Recommendations for Sports and Energy Drinks		22nd CCNFSDU	para. 74