Background Paper
SUMMARY OF CODEX ALIMENTARIUS ISSUES
I. CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD LABELLING (CCFL)
1. Labelling of Foods Obtained through Biotechnology
At the previous CCFL meeting, a Working Group, chaired by Canada,
was established to redraft the proposed recommendations for the
labelling of foods obtained through biotechnology. A smaller Drafting
Group was appointed to develop a draft document for consideration
by the Working Group. The document that had been developed by the
CCFL Drafting Group contained two labelling choices: Option 1 (generally
known as the US position) and Option 2 (generally known as the EU
position).
Three additional proposals were introduced within CCFL for further
discussion, as follows: (1) The US tabled a conference room document
(CRD) and proposed that the Working Group be reestablished to consider
the issues raised in the CRD; these issues included the practical
outcomes, ramifications, consumer perception and other aspects of
the implementation and enforcement of any food labelling activity.
The document contained a list of questions as examples of the types
of issues requiring clarification. (2) Japan suggested that the
proposals in Option 2 be developed as guidelines rather than as
mandatory sections of the labelling standard. (3) Norway and India
proposed that all foods and ingredients produced by means of genetic
modification/engineering be labelled, no exceptions.
The CCFL Working Group on the labelling of foods from biotechnology
will address these issues. As was the process last year, a Drafting
Group will develop the drafts for consideration by the full Working
Group. Members of the Drafting Group are Germany, the EC, Japan,
Australia, Brazil, USA, India, South Africa. and Thailand.
CCFL decided to coordinate its activities with the ad hoc Task
Force on Biotechnology. The Codex Committee on Methods and Analysis
(CCMAS) was requested to study analytical issues.
2. Definitions of Biotechnology Terms
The biotechnology definitions that had been adopted at Step 5
by the Commission were discussed with the proposed revisions from
the Drafting Group. The Committee decided to use the term "obtained
through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering"
for food and food ingredients from biotechnology. The definitions
will be discussed further at the next meeting.
3. Health Claims
The Committee that conditions for the use of health claims would
be related to national health policies. This is consistent with
the nutrition claims guidelines. There was considerable discussion,
with no agreement, on the definition of "enhanced function
claims” and "reduction of disease risk claims."
Much of the discussion related to differences in the interpretation
of the terms.
One of the major discussion items for health claims was the wording
for the required scientific evidence (e.g.; scientific substantiation;
generally accepted scientific data; scientific consensus). The final
wording agreed upon was "health claims must be based on relevant
scientific substantiation and the level of proof must be sufficient
to substantiate the type of claimed effect as recognized by generally
acceptable scientific data [and the scientific substantiation should
be reviewed as new knowledge becomes available]."
The health claims draft was returned to Step 3 for further comments.
A meeting of the Working Group will be held immediately prior to
the next CCFL meeting.
4. Amendments to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling
There was a significant increase among countries in support of
the labelling for sodium, saturated fat, sugars, and fiber under
certain conditions. The proposal under discussion had been that
all of these four nutrients must be labelled when a claim is made
about any of them. Several countries supported an added requirement
that the four nutrients should be labelled not only when a claim
is made about any of them, but also if any of them is voluntarily
listed in the nutrition label. These conditions were included in
the new draft guidelines, which will be circulated for comments
at Step 3.
5. Guidelines for Use of the Term “Vegetarian”
Work will be discontinued on this issue.
6. Quantitative Declaration of Ingredients
At the last Commission meeting the International Association of
Consumer Food Organizations (IACFO) requested that CCFL consider
quantitative declaration of ingredients, and the Commission agreed.
IACFO prepared a discussion paper on the issue, which was discussed
at the CCFL meeting. It was agreed that a proposed draft will be
circulated for comments and discussion at the next CCFL meeting.
7. Country of Origin Labelling
The UK submitted a proposal for new work that would consider labelling
the country of origin and country of processing for foods and major
ingredients. This proposal was based upon the results of consumer
surveys recently conducted in the UK. Delegations were mixed in
their support of the proposal. It was decided that a discussion
paper would be prepared for consideration at the next CCFL meeting.
8. Next Meeting
April 30 - May 4, 2001.
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