Convention on Biological Diversity: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
27. The Executive Committee noted the adoption of the Cartagena Protocol by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at their special session in Montreal, Canada in January 2000. The Executive Committee noted the adoption of this international instrument that provided rules in relation to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology with reference to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health and that focussed on transboundary movements.
28. While noting that in general there was little overlap between the work of Codex and the content of the Protocol, the Executive Committee noted that consultations were about to begin between relevant international organizations on the need for and modalities of developing standards with regard to identification, handling, packaging and transport practices as foreseen under Article 18.3 of the Protocol (Handling, Transport, Packaging and Identification). It was of the view that linkages may exist between this work and the work being developed by the Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology in relation to “traceability”. It also noted that linkages may exist to FAO and WHO work on safety assessment in relation to risk assessments from a food safety point of view, as foreseen in Annex III of the Protocol.
29. The Executive Committee requested the Secretariat to be kept informed of developments in the application of the Protocol.
World Trade Organization (WTO)
30. The Executive Committee noted the workshops that had been undertaken or were planned to provide developing Members of the WTO with better insight into aspects of the SPS and TBT Agreements such as risk analysis; transparency and information exchange; and technical assistance. It requested be kept informed of developments in matters related to the application of these Agreements.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Biotechnology and Other Aspects of Food Safety
31. The Executive Committee noted the activities being carried out by the OECD at the request of the G-8 Economic Summit held in Cologne, Germany in June 1999. It noted that in general the findings of the OECD were favourable to the position of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at the primary reference point for food safety recommendations to governments. It also noted that for the moment that was no immediate duplication of work, but expressed concern at the possibility of this in the future. It also noted the limited membership of the OECD and the importance of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as the international body representing worldwide interests for the protection of consumers’ health and for ensuring fair practices in the food trade world-wide. The Executive Committee was informed that FAO had provided an information note to the “sherpas” of the forthcoming Economic Summit in Japan in July 2000, on the work of the Commission and FAO and WHO in relation to biotechnology and other aspects of food safety.
32. The Executive Committee requested the Codex Secretariat to monitor developments arising from the OECD reports and the G-8 Summit and report to the next session of the Executive Committee.
OECD Scheme on the Application of International Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
33. The Executive Committee noted the proposal being discussed by the OECD Scheme “that one single international grade standards setting body” be established in relation to commercial quality standards for fresh fruits and vegetables. Some Members of the Executive Committee drew attention to the long-standing work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in this area and the procedures for cooperation that had been established between that body and the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, but stated that recently these procedures had not been fully observed and that the views of the UNECE had not been fully taken into account. These Members suggested that the Commission should delegate the work of establishing commercial grade standards for these products to the UNECE and/or OECD. Other Members of the Executive Committee drew attention to the international nature of Codex work and the need for truly world-wide standards with input from a full world-wide membership. They stated that the lead role should be with the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, and that duplication should be avoided.
34. The Executive Committee requested the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to discuss the implications of the OECD proposal in the light of its Terms of Reference and its cooperative arrangements with the UNECE.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
ISO/DIS 5162.2: Guidance for the Application of ISO 9001 and 9002 in the Food Industry
35. The Executive Committee noted that this work was being undertaken by ISO with inputs from the Codex Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems and expressed its appreciation of the cooperation. It also supported the approach of providing guidance for the integration of HACCP principles into ISO 9000 quality management texts for the food industry as a means of assisting the food industry, especially small and medium sized businesses, in applying HACCP effectively. It requested that this work be reported to the Committee on Food Hygiene and the Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems to ensure appropriate coordination.
