Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Cassava (Agenda Item 4a)
Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Apples (Agenda Item 4b)
Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes (Agenda Item 4c)
Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes (Agenda Item 4d)
79. The 8th Session of the CCFFV agreed to return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Cassava to Step 2 for redrafting by Costa Rica in light of changes made at the meeting and written comments submitted with a view towards its circulation for additional comment at Step 3 and further consideration at the 9th Session of the CCFFV.
80. In discussing the draft Standard at Step 4, the Committee agreed with the text as proposed, except for the following changes:
Section 1 - Definition of ProduceSTATUS OF THE PROPOSED DRAFT CODEX STANDARD FOR CASSAVA81. The Committee clarified the Section to indicate that the standard applied to commercial varieties of cassava roots grown from Manihot esculenta Crantz of the Euphorbiaceae family, and deleted the sentence indicating that “It is a plant whose edible part is the tuberous root” as redundant to the text.
82. The Committee was informed that both sweet and bitter varieties of Cassava were traded internationally and therefore, it was decided to delete references to “sweet roots” in the Section. In this regard, it was noted that bitter varieties of cassava might contain high levels of the naturally occurring toxicant cyanogenic glycosides and therefore, it was suggested that a provision should be included in the Standard to indicate that cassava should not contain levels of the compound which might be injurious to human health.
83. The Codex Secretariat informed the Committee that if a specific maximum level for cyanogenic glycoside was included in the Standard, it would require endorsement by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants. However, as it was noted by several delegations that cassava was only consumed after peeling and cooking, the levels of cyanogenic glycosides remaining in the product as consumed did not present a threat to consumers. Other delegations, however, noted that the product was not familiar to consumers in many parts of the world and therefore, toxic levels of the substance might be unintentionally consumed if the product was not adequately prepared.
84. The Committee noted that there were several options available to address this issue, namely:
- Limiting the Definition of Produce section to sweet roots of cassava only;
- Establishing a maximum level for the compound;
- Establishing a specific warning statement on the label; or,
- Establishing specific preparation instructions on the label to indicate that the product must be peeled and adequately cooked prior to consumption.
85. As the Committee could not reach a consensus position on this issue, it was decided to seek specific comments on the aforementioned options for further discussion and consideration at the 10th Session of the CCFFV. It was also agreed to request information on this matter from the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) and the Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique/Caraïbes/Pacifique (COLEACP) as well.
Section 2.1 - Minimum Requirements
86. The Committee decided to delete the phrase “without cuts exposing the flesh” for consistency with other Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables. In this regard, however, the Committee agreed to add the following two phrases to the end of the Section to address damages to the flesh:
- The cut at the distal (narrow) end of the cassava should not exceed 2 cm in diameter.
- The stalk end of the root should have a clean cut with a length between 1 and 2.5 cm.
Section 2.2.1 - “Extra Class”
87. The Committee added the phrase “and/or commercial type” to the sentence concerning characteristics of the variety in this Section as well as in Section 2.2.2 - Class I.
Section 2.2.2 - Class I
88. The Committee deleted the phrase “provided these do not affect the typical appearance of the produce” from the first indent of the section as the concept was already covered in the first paragraph. The Committee agreed to make the same revision to Section 2.2.3 - Class II.
Section 3 - Provisions Concerning Sizing
89. The Committee revised the first sentence of the Section to indicate that “Size is determined by the diameter at the thickest cross-section of the root, as opposed to the produce. In addition, the Committee agreed to stipulate that “In all cases, cassava must not be less than 300 grams in weight and 20 cm in length”.
Section 5.1 - Uniformity
90. The Committee agreed to stipulate that “the contents of each package must be uniform in shape and contain only cassava of the same origin, variety and/or commercial type, quality and size”.
Section 6.2.4 - Commercial Identification
91. The Committee agreed to add a new second indent to read “Size, expressed in size code or minimum and maximum diameter in centimeters” as per the provisions in Section 3 - Provisions Concerning Sizing.
92. The Committee forwarded the proposed draft Codex Standard for Cassava to the 24th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption at Step 5 (see Appendix VII).
93. The 8th Session of the CCFFV agreed that Uruguay, assisted by Argentina and the United States, would elaborate a proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples, subject to approval as new work by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission approved the elaboration of a proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples as new work, and encouraged the CCFFV to perform this task in close collaboration with the UN/ECE, as it had already elaborated a standard for this product.
94. In this regard, the Committee noted that its terms of reference encouraged collaboration with the UN/ECE, in that the UN/ECE “may prepare proposed draft standards for fresh fruits or vegetables at the request of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables or of the Commission for distribution by the Codex Secretariat at Step 3 of the Codex procedure, and for further action by the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”.
95. The Committee also noted that its terms of reference allowed the UN/ECE “to consider proposed draft standards and draft standards for fresh fruits and vegetables and transmit comments on them to the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables at Steps 3 and 6 of the Codex Procedure”.
96. In light of the CCFFV terms of reference outlined above, the representative of the European Community suggested that the CCFFV might wish to entrust the elaboration of the proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples to the UN/ECE, especially in view of the fact that the UN/ECE Standard for Apples and Pears (FFV-01) had been successfully and extensively tested and used in international trade over a period of several years.
97. However, several delegations were of the opinion that the elaboration of the proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples should remain under the responsibility of the CCFFV, especially since the terms of reference of the CCFFV encouraged the UN/ECE to provide comments to the CCFFV at Steps 3 and 6 of the Codex procedure. It was also noted that in any case, the CCFFV terms of reference also stated that “Codex proposed draft standards and draft standards for fresh fruits and vegetables at Steps 3 and 6 of the Codex procedure should be submitted to the UN/ECE Secretariat for obtaining comments”.
STATUS OF THE PROPOSED DRAFT CODEX STANDARD FOR APPLES
98. The Committee decided to return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Apples to Step 2 for redrafting by the United States, with assistance provided by Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the European Community, for circulation and comment at Step 3 and further consideration by the 10th Session of the CCFFV. The Committee emphasized that the UN/ECE Standard for Apples and Pears, as well as written comments submitted at the current meeting, would be considered by the drafting group when elaborating the standard.
99. In taking this decision, the Committee reaffirmed the decision of the 43rd Session of the Executive Committee that “In regard to cooperation between the UN/ECE and Codex in the elaboration of fresh fruit and vegetable standards, the need for close cooperation in order to avoid duplication of effort was reiterated and the suggestion was made that UN/ECE standards should be used as a starting point for draft Codex standards where appropriate”.
100. The 8th Session of the CCFFV agreed that Chile, assisted by India and the United States, would elaborate a proposed draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes, subject to approval as new work by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission approved the elaboration of a proposed draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes as new work, and encouraged the CCFFV to perform this task in close collaboration with the UN/ECE, as it had already elaborated a standard for this product.
STATUS OF THE PROPOSED DRAFT CODEX STANDARD FOR TABLE GRAPES
101. The Committee decided to return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Table Grapes to Step 2 for redrafting by Chile, with assistance provided by India and the United States, for circulation and comment at Step 3 and further consideration by the 10th Session of the CCFFV. The Committee emphasized that the UN/ECE Standard for Table Grapes, as well as written comments submitted at the current meeting, would be considered by the drafting group when elaborating the standard.
102. In taking this decision, the Committee reaffirmed the decision of the 43rd Session of the Executive Committee that “In regard to cooperation between the UN/ECE and Codex in the elaboration of fresh fruit and vegetable standards, the need for close cooperation in order to avoid duplication of effort was reiterated and the suggestion was made that UN/ECE standards should be used as a starting point for draft Codex standards where appropriate”.
103. The 8th Session of the CCFFV agreed that Mexico, assisted by the United States, would elaborate a proposed draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes, subject to approval as new work by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission approved the elaboration of a proposed draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes as new work, and encouraged the CCFFV to perform this task in close collaboration with the UN/ECE, as it had already elaborated a standard for this product.
STATUS OF THE PROPOSED DRAFT CODEX STANDARD FOR TOMATOES
104. The Committee decided to return the proposed draft Codex Standard for Tomatoes to Step 2 for redrafting by Mexico, with assistance provided by Brazil and the United States, for circulation and comment at Step 3 and further consideration by the 10th Session of the CCFFV. The Committee emphasized that the UN/ECE Standard for Tomatoes, as well as written comments submitted at the current meeting, would be considered by the drafting group when elaborating the standard.
105. In taking this decision, the Committee reaffirmed the decision of the 43rd Session of the Executive Committee that “In regard to cooperation between the UN/ECE and Codex in the elaboration of fresh fruit and vegetable standards, the need for close cooperation in order to avoid duplication of effort was reiterated and the suggestion was made that UN/ECE standards should be used as a starting point for draft Codex standards where appropriate”.
