4. The Task Force noted the information presented in document CX/FBT 01/2. It noted in particular that the 47th session of the Executive Committee had approved as new work the Proposed Draft General Principles for Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Biotechnology, the Proposed Draft Guideline on the Risk Assessment of Foods Derived from Biotechnology, and a List of Available Analytical Methods for the Detection and Identification of Foods Derived from Biotechnology. It noted that the exact titles of the first two documents had yet to be confirmed.
5. The Task Force noted the progress of the work undertaken by the Executive Committee on the Medium Term Plan 2003-2007 in which work was foreseen on the development of standards or guidelines for the production, processing, labelling and marketing of foods derived from biotechnology
6. The Task Force was further informed of the decision by the 47th Session of the Executive Committee that responsibility of the consideration of “other legitimate factors” should rest with the Committee on General Principles (CCGP).
7. Among the matters arising from other Codex Committees relevant to its work, the Task Force noted in particular the work undertaken by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) concerning the elaboration of Recommendation for the Labelling of Foods Obtained through Biotechnology. The Task Force was further informed by the Secretariat that the 23rd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) had agreed that the CCMAS should have a general coordination role as regards the development of methods of analysis for foods derived from biotechnology.
8. The Task Force noted that the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), in view of the system-wide interest and involvement in traceability, had recommended that a short paper be prepared by the Secretariat for consideration by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its next Session in order to obtain the Commission’s guidance in this matter. The CCFICS had noted that certain aspects of traceability fell within its Terms of Reference. The Task Force noted that concept of “traceability” was being dealt with by the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding as well. The Delegation of Sweden, speaking on behalf of the Member States of the European Union present at the session, expressed its preference for traceability to be considered by the CCGP rather than the CCFICS.
