The 49th Session of Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) opened in Beijing on April 24, 2017. Yu Xinrong, Vice Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Vincent Martin, FAO Representative to China, and Tom Heilandt, Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

The session was hosted by Dr. Qiao Xiongwu, Chairman of CCPR and President of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The meeting discussed a variety of issues including the Draft of Pesticide Residue Limitation Standard, the Draft Amendment of Classification of Food and Animal Feed of Codex Alimentiarius, and the revision of International Estimate of Short-Term Intake equations. Over 300 delegates attended the Session, representing over 10 international organizations including FAO, WHO, IAEA, OECD, as well as 60 member countries and regions including the EU, the US, and Australia.

The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is one of the subcommittees of Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international standard organization for food safety, which is co-founded by FAO and WHO. China started to hold the presidency of the commission in 2006, and has hosted 10 annual sessions (39th-48th) successfully. The 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residue (CCPR) was held at Beijing Kunlun Hotel from April 24 to 29 in 2017.

Vice Minister Yu Xinrong briefed on China’s progress in pesticide management last year and its MRLs-setting scheme in the 13th Five-Year Plan period. He recognized CCPR's remarkable work in protecting consumer health, building open, safe and fair international pesticide residue standards and food trade mechanism, and facilitating the standard-setting and pesticide governance in its member countries.

“The CCPR is one of the most important Codex Committees in the development of Codex Minimum Residue Limits (MRLs). The Codex MRLs play an important role in enhancing international food safety thereby significantly contributing to the protection of consumer health, and the facilitation of export and import of food and agricultural commodities, thus contributing positively to agricultural development,” Vincent Martin said. “FAO and WHO have made unremitting efforts in support of the CCPR, especially in providing scientific advice and guidance through such FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).  The two Organizations will continue to provide the support necessary for this Committee to fulfil the goal of improving public health and ensuring consumer protection, whilst facilitating trade and agricultural development.”

Several penal discussions were held during the Session, including bilateral and multi-lateral consultations as well as working group meetings. Over 300 delegates attended the Session, representing 54 member countries, 1 member organization (the EU) and 13 international organizations.