OTHER MATTERS - "OTHER LEGITIMATE FACTORS"

143. The Committee noted the request of the 14^th Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) for relevant Codex committees "to identify and clarify other factors, in the framework of risk analysis, to facilitate the general CCGP debate on other legitimate factors".[78]

144. Several delegations and the representative of Consumers International stated their opinion that the CCFAC had considered the following "other legitimate factors" when discussing matters under its mandate:

• Economic costs associated with the establishment of maximum levels and method of analysis;
• General technical and technological need and feasibility;
• Availability of resources to undertake analyses and enforce standards;
• Prevention of environmental contamination through the use of Source Directed Measures;
• The proper use of labelling to inform consumers about health and safety issues, to prevent them from being misled, or to respond to their concerns;
• Good Agricultural Practices;
• Good Manufacturing Practices;
• Consumer concerns related to the safety of food additives and contaminants;
• Traditional, cultural, national and regional differences in food intakes and consumption;
• The effects of processing on contamination of food;
• Enforceability of maximum levels;
• Control of pathogens;
• Impact on nutrition; and,
• Prevention of any practices that may mislead consumers and of unfair trade practices in international trade.

145. The representative of the Institute of Food Technologists strongly supported that "other legitimate factors" be soundly based and only be used in risk management and should not detract from other factors, such as the availability of nutritious foods.

146. The Committee requested the Codex Secretariat to verbally report on the outcomes of its discussion on "other legitimate factors" to the forthcoming 15^th Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (April 2000). The Committee further agreed that its preliminary deliberations should be reported to the forthcoming 47^th Session of the Executive Committee in order to clarify the current status of the consideration of "other legitimate factors" within Codex with a view towards providing advice on a uniform approach to the matter.

147. The Committee decided to consider the possible inclusion of a separate Annex concerning "other legitimate factors" in the Discussion Paper on the Application of Risk Analysis Principles for Food Additives and Contaminants at the 33^rd session of the CCFAC based on conclusions and discussions at the CCGP, CCEXEC and other Codex committees.