13. Member countries and observer organizations were invited to express their views on identification of area of the work of the Task Force, work priorities, and key concepts and definitions to be developed by the Task Force. Member countries and observer organizations had been invited by means of CL 1999/27-FBT to submit their comments on these matters, and responses had been compiled in the working documents referenced for this agenda item.
14. Many delegations and observer organizations identified safety and nutrition assessment of foods derived from biotechnology as the main priority area of the work. While recognizing that the concept of the substantial equivalence was being used in safety assessment, several delegations and observer organizations stressed the need for further review of the concept and its applicability to safety assessment. Several delegations stated that risk management and especially pre-market approval were fundamental aspects of risk analysis in relation to foods derived from biotechnology. The Task Force noted the necessity to study marker genes and the potential for non-intentional and long-term health effects. Some delegations expressed the view that it would be useful to establish an international expert body that would be responsible for risk assessment.
15. Concerning legitimate factors other than science that were relevant to the health of consumers and the promotion of fair trade practice, several delegations and the observer from the European Commission proposed to develop a specific guideline to take into account those factors. Several other delegations were of the opinion that since the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) was currently working on this issue, and that therefore the development of a guideline specific to the Task Force was not an immediate priority. The following factors were mentioned by some delegations as potential other legitimate factors: ethical/religious/cultural considerations, consumer concerns/interests, food security, enforcement capacity and environmental risk.
16. Many delegations and observers also pointed out the need for addressing precautionary principles/approaches to be recommended by the Task Force. Several other delegations stressed that the issue of precaution should first be discussed at the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP).
17. It was also proposed that the concept of “familiarity” used in environmental risk assessment should be considered. It was noted that this concept had not previously been used by Codex and that further clarification would be needed.
18. Many delegations and observers identified the development of a guideline for the monitoring and traceability of the foods derived from biotechnology as a priority, indicating that these issues were not related only to consumer information but to consumer health protection. Other delegations and observers stated that the concept of “traceability” was new to Codex and required further clarification and explanation including the implications for developing countries. It was also noted that the concept may not be exclusive to foods derived from biotechnology and may need to be considered at a more general level.
19. The need to consider the methods of analysis, including the detection methods of genetically modified foods was also pointed out by some delegations. Several delegations were of the view that these issues also required the involvement of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) or the Codex Committee on Method of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS).
20. The need to develop a specific guideline on transparency and involvement of all stakeholders particularly consumers in the decision making process was emphasised by many of the delegations and observer organizations.
21. Regarding key concepts and definitions, many delegations emphasised the need to establish clear definitions on several key words. The definitions of “modern biotechnology” and “substantial equivalence” were identified by many delegations and it was suggested that the Task Force refer to definitions established or to be established by other fora, e.g. the definition on modern biotechnology to be developed by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling. The words “Recombinant DNA technique” and “Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)” were also identified by several delegations and observers as possibly requiring definitions.
22. Among various food categories that may fall under the scope of the Task Force, many delegations and observer organizations identified genetically modified foods derived from plants, microorganism and animals in order of the priority, while others were of the opinion that these three categories should all be addressed. Animal feed and food additives were also identified. It was noted by some delegations that animal feeding would be covered by the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding to be held in Denmark in June 2000.
23. The Task Force finally elaborated, on the basis of an aide-mémoire prepared by the Chairman, a list of subjects potentially to be dealt with in its work by summarizing the proposals made by delegations. The list is reproduced as Appendix II to this report and is considered to cover the maximum range of proposals made during discussions.
24. The Task Force recognized that the time frame prescribed in its terms of reference necessitated the prioritization of its work subjects and that a considerable part of the proposed subjects were duly or partly covered by other Codex Committees or other international organizations. The Task Force recalled also that, according to its terms of reference, the Task Force should coordinate and closely collaborate with appropriate Codex Committees and take full account of existing work carried out by other international organizations. It agreed to identify those subjects that were already under discussion by other Codex subsidiary bodies or other international organizations and which therefore would not need to be considered in detail in the priority areas of the work of the Task Force. It noted that the issue of labelling was covered by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) and agreed that the precautionary approach/principle should be dealt with as a matter of priority by the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP). The Task Force further agreed that the environmental risk was addressed by other instruments or bodies such as the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA).
25. For Methods (Analysis/Sampling) some delegations observed that this was primarily within the terms of reference of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) while others were of the opinion that the identification of methods appropriate for the detection of genetic modification should be done primarily by the Task Force. The Task Force agreed finally to include analytical methods within its work area, recognizing the use of such methods for control, monitoring and labelling purposes.
26. For other legitimate factors the Task Force recalled that this issue was dealt with by the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) but other relevant Committees were also asked to identify legitimate factors other than science which were considered relevant for risk analysis. The Task Force noted that several factors had been proposed by delegations as such other legitimate factors but decided not to take a decision thereon at this stage, recognizing that the Task Force had not accumulated sufficient experiences on this subject.
PROGRAMME OF WORK
27. Taking into account the priorities discussed above, the Task Force decided that it would proceed with the elaboration of two major texts, namely:
28. The Task Force agreed that in the preparation of these texts preference should be given to guidance that was applicable to all foods derived from biotechnology, however should it be necessary to prioritise the work, first priority should be given to foods of plant origin, followed by micro-organisms used directly in foods and then foods of animal origin. It was noted however, that early attention may have to be given to fish.
29. The Task Force also agreed that consideration should be given to the development of guidelines for transparency in decision-making and the participation of all stake-holders in the decision-making process. It was noted that the approach of establishing over-arching general principles would allow the development of further, detailed explanatory guidelines on specific issues if these were required and if time allowed.
30. It was agreed that careful attention should be paid to the development of adequate and appropriate definitions, drawing on definitions already developed and agreed to in other texts (such as the Cartagena Protocol) or by other bodies (such as the Codex Committee on Food Labelling).
31. Concerning the issues of Traceability and Familiarity raised by several delegations, the Task Force noted that a better understanding of these concepts and their implications was required before they could be included definitively in either of the main texts to be developed. It therefore agreed that discussion papers should be prepared on these issues as soon as possible. In the meantime, any reference to these issues in the main texts under development would remain in square brackets.
32. The Task Force agreed that a list of available analytical methods including those for the detection or identification of foods or food ingredients derived from biotechnology should be prepared, and that this list should indicate the performance criteria and status of the validation of each method. It was further agreed that the list of methods, once finalized, should be transmitted to the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for endorsement.
33. The Task Force recognized that the work programme outlined above was very substantial taking into account the time-limited mandate assigned by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and that it did not cover all of the items proposed for consideration. Nevertheless, there was a general consensus that the above issues had the highest priority and should be achievable within the time-frame allowed. It agreed that this programme of work should be reported to the Executive Committee for approval as new work at Step 1 of the Uniform Codex Procedure for the Elaboration of Standards and Related Texts.
34. Noting that finalization of its work programme would require the resolution of questions regarding labelling, the application and use of precautionary approaches, and consideration of legitimate factors other than science in decision-making, the Task Force called upon the Codex Committees on Food Labelling and on General Principles for an early resolution of these matters.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AD HOC WORKING GROUPS
35. In order to develop the programme of work as quickly as possible, the Task Force decided to establish two ad hoc Working Groups open to the participation of all Members and Observers participating in the present session and other Members and international organizations that might later indicate their interest. The first of these Working Groups, to be chaired by the Delegation of Japan, was charged with the development of the proposed draft general principles and guidelines indicated in paras. 27 and 28 above. This Working Group would also develop draft definitions. It would also review the discussion papers on traceability and familiarity if they became available in time. The Delegation of Japan indicated that it was its intention for the Working Group to meet twice before the Second Session of the Task Force, probably in July and November 2000, after which proposed draft texts would be sent to Member governments and interested international organizations for comment at Step 3.
36. The second ad hoc Working Group, to be chaired by the Delegation of Germany, would compile a list of appropriate analytical methods for consideration by the Task Force, together with their performance characteristics and the status of their validation. To facilitate this work it was agreed that a Circular Letter would be sent to Members and interested international organizations requesting information and that the information received would be compiled by the Delegation of Germany for review by the Working Group at a one-half day meeting to be held immediately prior to the next Session of the Task Force.
MATTERS REQUIRING EXPERT ADVICE
37. The Task Force welcomed the initiative of FAO and WHO to convene an Expert Consultation to support the scientific aspects of its work. In support of the programme of work outlined above, it requested advice on the five specific questions as contained in Appendix III to this report.
38. It requested FAO and WHO to make the results of the Consultation available as soon as possible to all interested parties and that responses to the questions contained in Appendix III be made available to the ad hoc Working Group chaired by Japan.
