FNSC3180 Food Microbiology, Chinese Univ of Hong Kong, by HS Kwan: Codex News

The U.S. Codex Program is an interagency partnership that engages stakeholders in advancing science-based food standards

View as a webpage

A reminder that the U.S. Codex Program's website is now located at www.usda.gov/codex. The U.S. Codex Office will complete transitioning all materials to this new site address in the next few weeks, after which the former site will only have a few specific redirects. Please make sure to go to www.usda.gov/codex for the most up-to-date information.

Electronic Working Groups (EWGs)

Ad-Hoc Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR)

Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: TFAMR invites members and observers to join an Electronic Working Group (EWG), chaired by The Netherlands and co-chaired by Chile, China, and New Zealand, working in English and Spanish, to review and revise the Guidelines for the Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance. Individuals interested in working on the United States (U.S.) contributions to the EWG should contact Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by February 15, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their Codex Contact Point (CCP) to rm.peransala@minvws.nl with a copy to a.ottevanger@minvws.nl by February 20, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance: TFAMR invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by the U.S. and co-chaired by Chile, China, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, working in English and Spanish, to further develop the Code of Practice (COP) to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXC 61-2005). Individuals interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by February 15, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to donald.prater@fda.hhs.gov with a copy to ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov by February 20, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)

Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC): CCFH invites members and observers to join an EWG chaired by the U.S. and co-chaired by Chile, working in English and Spanish, to prepare Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Beef Meat, Leafy Greens, Raw Milk and Cheese Produced from Raw Milk, and Sprouts. Individuals in the U.S. interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by January 30, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to william.shaw@fsis.usda.gov with a copy to constanza.vergara@achipia.gob.cl by January 31, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

General Principles of Food Hygiene: CCFH invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by the United Kingdom and co-chaired by France, Ghana, India, Mexico, and the United States, working in English, French, and Spanish, to revise the General Principles of Food Hygiene. Individuals in the U.S. interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by January 30, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to ewg.gpfh@food.gov.uk by January 31, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Management of Biological Foodborne Outbreaks: CCFH invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by the Denmark and co-chaired by Chile and the European Union, working in English, French, and Spanish, to revise the Guidance for the Management of Biological Foodborne Outbreaks. Individuals in the U.S. interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by February 25, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to kigre@fvst.dk with a copy to gus@fvst.dk by February 28, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)

Review of the Follow-up Formula Standard: CCNFSDU invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by New Zealand and co-chaired by France and Indonesia, working in English, to consider proposals on dextrose equivalence (DE) for products (for young children) not based on milk protein and provide recommendation(s) for comment and consideration by the CCNFSDU41 for the Follow-up Formula Standard. Individuals in the U.S. interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by January 30, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to charlotte.channer@mpi.govt.nz and jenny.reid@mpi.govt.nz by February 1, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF): CCNFSDU invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by South Africa and co-chaired by Uganda and Senegal, working in English and French, to continue drafting Guidelines for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods. Individuals in the U.S. interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by January 30, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to gilbert.tshitaudzi@health.gov.za; nolene.naicker@health.gov.za; iwanyenya@nda.or.ug; and moussa.ndong@ugb.edu.sn with a copy to cacpsa@health.gov.za; info@unbs.or.ug; and codexsenegal@sante.gouv.sn by January 31, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Requests for Comments

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)

Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/11-CF) requesting comments on the Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants for Evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The CL is available in English, Spanish, and French at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by March 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP by email to codex@fao.org by March 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA)

International Numbering System for Food Additives: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/12-FA) requesting comments at Step 3 on the proposed changes and/or additions to the International Numbering System for Food Additives (CXG 36-1989). The CL is available in English, Spanish, and French at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by February 12, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP by email to ccfa@cfsa.net.cn with a copy to codex@fao.org by February 15, 2019.

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)

Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/95/OCS-FA) requesting comments at Step 3 on the proposed draft Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives arising from the 86^th JECFA meeting. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by January 30, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by January 31, 2019.

Histamine Control Guidance: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/92/OCS-FH) requesting comments on the alignment of the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products with the Histamine Control Guide. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Food Allergen Management: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/93/OCS-FH) requesting comments at Step 5 on the proposed draft Code of Practice on Food Allergen Management for Food Business Operators. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL)

Labelling of Non-Retail Containers: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/13/OCS-FL) requesting comments at Step 3 on the proposed draft Guidance for the Labelling of Non-Retail Containers of Foods. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Alexandra Tarrant (alexandra.tarrant@fsis.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS)

Voluntary Third-Party Assurance (vTPA) Programmes: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/96/OCS-CCFICS) requesting comments at Step 5 on the Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third-Party Assurance (vTPA) Programmes. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (osc.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)

Follow-up Formula: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/94/OCS-FH) requesting comments on the alignment at Step 5 on the Review of the Standard for Follow-up Formula: proposed draft scope, description, and labelling for follow-up formula for older infants. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

Recommendations of the 2018 Join FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/97-PR) requesting comments at Step 3 on the recommendations of the 2018 joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). The Report of the JMPR (including the Annex) can be found on the FAO website at: www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/pests/jmpr/jmpr-rep/en and the WHO website at: www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/jmpr-reports/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by February 26, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ccpr@agri.gov.cn with a copy to codex@fao.org by March 1, 2019.

Establishment of Codex Schedules and Priority Lists of Pesticides: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/06-PR) requesting comments on the establishment of the Codex Schedules and Priority Lists of Pesticides for Evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings of Pesticides. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by February 26, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ian.reichstein@agriculture.gov.au with a copy to ccpr@agri.gov.cn and codex@fao.org by March 1, 2019.

Other

50^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene: The Delegate Report for the 50^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) held in November 2018 has published. It is posted on the USDA website at: www.usda.gov/topics/trade/international-food-standards/codex-delegation-reports.

83^rd JECFA Meeting on Contaminants: The Monographs of the 83^rd JECFA Meeting, Safety Evaluation of Certain Contaminants in Foods, has published. It is posted on the WHO website at: apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/276868/9789241660747-eng.pdf?ua=1.

U.S. Codex Strategic Plan: The new U.S. Codex Strategic Plan, covering fiscal years 2019-2023 is now available on the USDA Codex website at www.usda.gov/codex. This plan was developed through a collaborative process involving input from U.S. agencies with an interest in the international food standards work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, external stakeholders, and the public.