126. The 31st Session of the CCFAC requested the Netherlands to revise the Discussion Paper on Dioxins for circulation, comment and consideration at its current meeting.[67] The 23rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission noted that work on dioxins had recommenced at the 31st Session of the CCFAC, and data was being sought to allow the establishment of an appropriate guideline or maximum level.[68] The Committee noted that dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs were on the CCFAC Priority List for JECFA evaluation.
127. Some delegations noted the absence of data on levels from many regions and rapid, cheap and reliable methods of analysis for dioxins and therefore, felt that it was premature to establish maximum levels. These delegations also noted that a reliable method of exposure assessment as well as the results of the JECFA evaluation were needed before proceeding further.
128. Other delegations, the representative of Consumers International and JECFA pointed out that WHO had undertaken a risk assessment in 1998 and that this could provide the basis for the elaboration of maximum levels and would provide industry and governments with a strong incentive to enforce source directed measures for the control of dioxins.
129. The JECFA Secretariat encouraged the submission of data on the types of foods and range of levels found in foods to allow the potential consideration of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs at the 57th JECFA meeting in June 2001.
130. The Committee agreed that the delegation of the Netherlands would finalize the Discussion Paper and use it as a basis for the elaboration of a Position Paper on Dioxins and Dioxin-like PCBs. The Position Paper would include the potential range of levels in the commodities of interest (including feedingstuffs), explore the arguments for and against setting maximum limits and information on available methods of analyses, for consideration by the next Session of the CCFAC.
131. The Committee further agreed that Germany, in collaboration with Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States, would develop a proposed draft Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Dioxin Contamination of Foods for circulation, comment and consideration at its next meeting.
132. The Committee agreed to inform the ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task Force on Animal Feeding and the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling of the above discussions as a matter of interest. It also requested the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling to provide information on methods of analysis for dioxins.
