96. The Delegation of the United States introduced document CX/FH 00/7, which was based on the framework approach that was agreed upon at the last session of the Committee. The Delegation noted that, while progress had been made on the document, much work remained to be done particularly with regard to the Annexes. The Delegation advised that some of the drafting partners had recognized that the issues of validation and suitability needed to be resolved and that they were fundamental to the development of the Code. The Delegation stated that the drafting partners needed to have another meeting to further develop the Code, in particular the annexes, before the next session of the Committee.
97. The Committee expressed its appreciation for the work of the United States and the drafting partners and generally supported the approach taken in the development of the Code.
98. The Committee recalled that the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products had referred the Heat Treatment Definitions[9] to the Committee on Food Hygiene. The Representative of IDF noted that these definitions would be incorporated into the appropriate section of the Proposed Draft Code, in particular in the Annex that dealt with microbiocidal treatments. The Delegation of Canada stressed the importance of these definitions as they are closely related to the protection of health. The Delegation of Korea pointed out that variation between countries in practices of microbiocidal treatment should be taken fully into account in the process of drafting.
99. Some delegations noted the importance of “suitability” with respect to the Code and that this issue could be discussed as a general issue applying to other food hygiene texts (see also paragraph 152 of Agenda Item 15). The Committee confirmed that discussion on the nature of “suitability” does not prevent its immediate consideration within the Code. The Delegation of France, speaking on behalf of the Member States of the European Union present at the Session, expressed the view that the Code should reflect the importance of Good Agricultural Practices at primary production and that appropriate guidance should be developed within the annexes.
100. The Observer from Consumers International drew the attention of the Committee to the work of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food with regard to “control of veterinary drug residues in milk and milk products and suggested that consideration be given to the labeling of raw milk products.” The Delegation of Switzerland pointed out that the use of terms in the Code should be fully aligned with the Codex General Standard for the use of Dairy Terms.
101. The Delegation of the United Kingdom stressed the need to reserve significant time at the next session to consider the Code in detail and the Committee so noted. The Committee concluded that due to the lack of technical development, particularly with respect to the Annexes that were the integral part of the Code, it was not possible to advance the Code.
Status of the Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products
102. The Committee agreed to return the Proposed Draft Code to Step 3 for redrafting by the United States with the assistance of a drafting group, and to circulate the revised draft for government comments prior to the next session of the Committee. The Observer of the European Commission offered the same facilities in terms of venue and the translation for the drafting group, as it was done for the previous meeting.
