English
▾
French
Spanish
Portuguese
The 46th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) was conducted physically at the FAO headquarters (Plenary Hall) in Rome, Italy, from November 27th to December 2nd, 2023, also commenced the 60th anniversary of the first CAC in 1963. During this session, the Commission discussed the adoption of a series of new food safety and quality standards, aligned with its objectives of ensuring the production and trade of safe food. Let’s delve into the major points discussed in this session.
Purpose of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
Codex’s primary aim is to establish global food standards founded on scientific evidence and objective measures. These standards prioritize food safety by evaluating scientific discoveries and potential risks. The WHO and FAO serve as the scientific bedrock for these standards. The Codex Alimentarius convenes leading global scientists to analyze available data and address specific microbiological or chemical hazards.
While these recommendations aren’t obligatory for member states, they serve as a framework for national health legislation. They play a pivotal role in enhancing consumer protection against unsafe or subpar food products and instilling greater confidence among importers regarding the conformity of received goods. The Commission’s goal is to ensure uniformity in worldwide food standards and the establishment and maintenance of guidelines pertaining to food safety, quality, and equitable practices.
Their focus is on safeguarding the most vulnerable groups, such as children and pregnant women, while considering regional variations in food consumption. In light of today’s extensive and intricate food chain, preventive measures and control systems, exemplified by Codex, have gained immense significance in ensuring food safety. The Codex also outlines food quality by offering directives on hygiene, labeling, nutrition, and methods for measuring and sampling to guarantee its safety.
Over its span of six decades, the Commission has endorsed numerous guidelines, codes of practice, and thousands of quantitative standards. It has evolved into a worldwide standard for ensuring the safe production, storage, and distribution of food globally, and has now brought forth the following aspects as new or enhancements of food safety and quality standards:
- New Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts;
- Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing; and Revisions to the Standard for Follow-up Formula (CXS 156-1986)
- A new Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of mycotoxin contamination in Cassava and Cassava-based Products
- Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Remote Audit and Inspection in Regulatory Frameworks
- Revisions to General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50-2004).
Key Highlights of the 46th CAC Session
The 46th session of the FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts the following new food safety and quality standards, encompassing brief descriptions of some of the standards approved.
- Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts
Recommendations have been adopted to assist risk managers and food operators in tackling Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in raw beef, raw milk, raw milk cheeses, and potentially risky produce like fresh leafy vegetables and sprouts. These guidelines aim to offer science-backed advice for controlling STEC and reducing foodborne illnesses.
- Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing
Acknowledging the scarcity of safe water and its crucial role in food production, these guidelines provide advice on utilizing appropriate water types across different food production stages. By adopting a risk-based approach, these guidelines aim to assist food producers in minimizing hazards linked with waterborne microbes that pose health risks to consumers.
- Revisions to the Standard for Follow-up Formula (CXS 156-1986)
The standard for follow-up formula has undergone a significant update, now divided into sections for older infants (6-12 months) and young children (more than 12 months up to 3 years). Careful discussions led to ensuring the adequacy of follow-up formula for the growth of older infants while delineating specific requirements for drinks or products catering to young children.
- General Standard for Food Additives: Inclusion of the provision for trisodium citrate in fluid milk (plain)
Trisodium citrate, a stabilizer used in processing milk, especially Ultra Heat Treated (UHT) bovine milk, has undergone deliberation within the Codex Committee for Food Additives. The adopted provision limits its use in sterilized and UHT milk from bovine species, imposing a specific use level.
- MRLs for Zilpaterol Hydrochloride (cattle kidney, liver, muscle)
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for zilpaterol hydrochloride in various animal-origin products have been accepted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). These limits, derived from risk assessments conducted by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), are voluntary, allowing countries to choose adoption into legislation.
- Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxins Contamination in Cassava and Cassava-based Products
This new code aims to equip governments, food businesses, growers, processors, and distributors with strategies to detect, reduce, or prevent mycotoxin contamination, particularly aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in cassava and its derivatives. It includes examples of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to minimize risks and serves as a basis for training those involved in cassava production and trade.
- Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Remote Audit and Inspection in Regulatory Frameworks
These newly established guidelines on remote audit and inspection are designed to complement existing Codex texts. They outline seven principles for implementing remote audits in regulatory frameworks, ensuring effective oversight while leveraging modern technologies for inspection.
- Revisions to General Guidelines on Sampling (CXG 50-2004)
The updated Codex Guidelines on Sampling offer guidance for creating sampling plans related to product acceptance, food import/export, and compliance with Codex standards regarding composition, contaminants, or pesticide residues. These revisions align with current scientific and statistical approaches for designing effective sampling plans used by governments and regulatory agencies.
- Revision of Classification of Food and Feed (CXA 4-1989)
The revision of the Classification of Food and Feed standard aims to ensure uniform classification and nomenclature of foods, allowing the establishment of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food and feed. Notably, this update includes the revision of Class B and E, marking a milestone toward establishing MRLs for a broader range of commodities in international trade, including minor crops significant to developing countries.
The newly released Codex guidelines and standards underscore a collective effort toward bolstering global food safety and quality. These updates prioritize comprehensive strategies, leveraging scientific advancements and risk-based approaches to mitigate the presence of contaminants, enhance production processes, and ensure the suitability of food products for consumers worldwide. Emphasizing risk reduction across various stages of food production, from cultivation to processing, these guidelines aim to standardize practices, fortify oversight mechanisms, and harmonize international trade by addressing emerging concerns while safeguarding public health.
Given the trajectory of technological evolution across farm-to-fork activities, tech-driven solutions can be considered to significantly aid food industries in complying with the newly adopted food safety and quality standards by collectively offering proactive measures for the food industry to maintain compliance, enhance safety protocols, and ensure the production of high-quality, standardized food products.
Smart Food Safe to Assist Global Industries Conform to CAC46 Food Safety & Quality Standards
Smart Food Safe emerges as a smart investment for digital Food Safety, Quality, Traceability, and Regulatory management, equipped to contribute to assisting food businesses in implementing and adhering to standards across various aspects of the food supply chain. Smart Record presents functionalities to ensure that the necessary documented steps and protocols are followed at each stage of production, processing, and distribution. Smart Specification can assist in formulation management, ensuring the correct ingredients are used in the right proportions. Managing sampling plans and test results, as outlined in the updated guidelines on sampling can be made more optimized with Smart Lab.
Smart Compliance can manage testing schedules, record results, and provide alerts if residue levels approach or exceed the set limits. Smart Docs can facilitate the efficient management of documents to oversee and supervise traceability, processing conditions, and procedures to prevent contamination. Smart Audit can serve to conduct remote audits by storing and organizing relevant documentation, allowing inspectors to easily access necessary records from anywhere.
In essence, Smart Food Safe serves as an all-encompassing solution for overseeing, enforcing, and guaranteeing adherence to Codex guidelines in food safety and quality management.
