The SPS Agreement & International Standards

Codex standard setting procedures Current activities of International Standard

setting

Ms. Shashi Sareen Senior Food Safety & Nutrition Officer

FAO Regional Office for the Asia & the Pacific E-mail: shashi.sareen@fao.org

at Inception Workshop: Principles & further activities

for Codex implementation (17-19 September 2012, Bangkok, Thailand)

under

Project:Support to Capacity Building & Implementation of International Food Safety Standards in ASEAN Countries (GCP/RAS/280/JPN)

Outline

• SPS Agreement and link to Codex

• Codex standard setting procedures

• Current activities of International Standard setting

• Current activities of FAO projects in the region in relation to Codex

Objectives of the SPS Agreement • To protect & improve the current human health,

animal health & phytosanitary situation of all Member countries

• To protect Members from arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination due to different sanitary & phytosanitary standards

• To maintain the sovereign right of any Government to provide an appropriate level of protection ie allow countries to set their own standards for health & safety

SPS Article 3 Harmonization

• Encourage use of international standards

Food safety & Animal health Plant health Animal health & zoonoses

Codex OIE IPPC

• SPS permits higher standards based on risk assessment

• An Intergovernmental body

• Founded in 1962 to implement the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

• Programme Objectives protect the health of consumers ensure fair practices in international food trade coordinate all food standardization work at the

international level

• Membership - 184 countries + 1 member org (EC) – representing 99% of world population

• Observers: 208 international organizations:- 48 IGOs, 144 NGOs, 16 UN (representing scientific, industry, trade, consumers)

Codex Alimentarius Comission

Codex Documentation

• Standards – relate to product characteristics

• Codes of Practice – hygiene codes (define practices)

• Guidelines – 2 categories

Principles that set out policies in certain key areas

Guidelines for interpretation of these principles

Codex Documents(Standards/ Guidelines/ Recommendations)

• Food safety & hygiene

• Nutrition

• Labelling

• Import & export inspection & certification

• Quality of foodstuffs

Codex Documentation breakup

• Commodity standards – 186

• Commodity related texts – 46

• Food labeling – 9

• Food Hygiene – 5

• Food safety risk assessments – 3

• Sampling and analysis – 15

• Inspection and Certification procedures – 8

• Animal food production – 6

• Contaminants in foods (max levels, detection & prevention) – 12

• Max limit for pesticide residues – 2930; covering 218 pesticides

• Limits of veterinary drug residues – 441, covering 49 vet drugs

• Food additives provisions – 1112, covering 292 food additives

• Food additives related texts – 7

• Regional Guidelines - 3

Codex General Subject Committee

• General Principles – France

• Food Hygiene – USA

• Contaminants in food – Netherlands

• Food Additives – China

• Pesticide Residues – China

• Residue of Vet Drugs in Food – USA

• Food Labeling – Canada

• Methods of Analysis & Sampling – Hungary

• Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems – Australia

• Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Use - Germany

Codex Commodity Committees • Commodity Committees that meet regularly:

– Fats And Oils – United Kingdom – Fish And Fishery Products - Norway – Fresh Fruits And Vegetables - Mexico – Milk And Milk Product – New Zealand – Processed Fruits and Vegetables - USA

• Commodity Committees that meet through correspondence or are in recess : – Cereal, Pulses and Legumes - USA – Natural Mineral Water - Switzerland – Meat Hygiene – Sugars - United Kingdom – Cocoa Products And Chocolates - Switzerland – Vegetable Proteins - Canada

Standards Setting Procedure

• Step Procedure

Total 8 steps are involved in the final adoption of standard, guideline or other text.

Sometimes text is considered to be ready for final adoption at Step 5 – often called Step 5/8.

• Principles of Codex Elaboration Procedure

Inclusiveness - Step by step, by consensus. Every member is included. Every members concerns are considered before taking a decision.

Transparency- Open discussion & communication, free to all interested.

Elaboration procedures (8-step normal)

Step 2

Step 3

Step 7 Step 4

Step 6 Step 5

Step 8

Step 1

Commission decides to elaborate a standard & assigns work to a committee

Secretariat arranges preparation of proposed draft standard

Proposed draft standard sent to governments & Int orgs for comments

Secretariat forwards comments to committee

Proposed draft standard is send to commission for adoption as a draft standard

Draft standard send to government & international organization for comments

Draft standard is submitted through commission for adoption as a Codex Standard

Secretariat forwards comments to committee

Some latest Approaches (Policy) in Codex

• Scientific basis (Measures conform to international standards or based on risk assessment)

• Food chain approach

• Risk-based approach

• Preventative systems approach

• Effective food control systems

Science-based documents/ decisions

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)

Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR)

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA)

Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Specifications (JMPS)

Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Nutrition (JECN)

• Scientific advise through scientific expert bodies

Current Areas of Focus in CAC • Some priority areas include: MRLs for bovine somatotropin in cattle tissues

Draft MRLs for Ractopamine

Proposed draft guidelines on the approval of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the control of viruses in food

Principles & GL for National Food Control Systems – draft discussed at 18th Session of CCFICS held in March 2010

Proposal for establishment of a Committee on spices, aromatic herbs and their formulations

• Other issues Traceability - Definition (adopted in 2004 at 27th CAC) and

Principles (adopted in 2006 at 29th CAC) – food recall

Risk analysis

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

New Technologies of Production Systems: Nanotechnologies

Other Issues

CAC Strategic Plan 2008-2013 : Strategic Goals

• Promoting sound regulatory frameworks • Promoting widest and consistent application of

scientific principles and risk analysis • Strengthening Codex work management

capabilities • Promoting cooperation between Codex &

relevant international organizations • Promoting maximum and effective participation

of members

CAC Strategic Plan 2014-2019:

• Presents the vision, goals, objectives for the CAC & is supported by a more detailed work plan that includes activities, milestones, & measurable indicators to track progress toward accomplishment of the goals.

• Underpins the high priority placed on food safety & quality by FAO/ WHO & ensures that CAC will carry out responsibilities given to it by FAO/ WHO.

• Informs Members, inter-governmental & international non-governmental organizations, & other stakeholders of how CAC intends to fulfill its mandate to meet the needs & expectations of its Members during the period 2014-2019.

Draft Codex Strategic plan 2014-2019

• Vision: The CAC should be the pre-eminent international food standards –setting body to protect the health of the consumers & ensure fair practices in the food trade

• Core values - In fulfilling its strategic vision, Codex adheres to core values that include, but are not limited to:

collaboration inclusiveness consensus building transparency

• Strategic goals: 4

• Work Plan - objectives, activities, responsible parties, time lines, expected milestones, measurable indicators/ outputs

• Finalize mid March 2013

Strategic Goal 1: Establish international food standards that address current & emerging food

issues.

• Objective 1.1: Establish new & review existing food standards, based on priorities of the CAC

• Objective 1.2: Proactively identify emerging issues & member country needs &, where appropriate, develop relevant food standards.

• Objective 1.3: Strengthen coordination & cooperation with other international standards-setting organizations seeking to avoid duplication of efforts & optimize opportunities.

Strategic goal 2: Ensure the application of risk analysis principles in the development of Codex

standards

• Objective 2.1: Ensure consistent use of scientific advice and risk analysis principles.

• Objective 2.2: Achieve sustainable access to scientific advice

• Objective 2.3: Increase scientific input from developing countries

Strategic goal 3 Facilitate the effective participation of all Codex members

• Objective 3.1: Increase the effective participation of developing countries in Codex.

• Objective 3.2: Promote capacity development programs that assist countries in creating sustainable national Codex structures.

Strategic goal 4: Implement effective & efficient work management systems &

practices

• Objective 4.1: Ensure an effective, efficient, transparent, & flexible standard setting process for the timely adoption of standards.

• Objective 4.2: Enhance capacity to arrive at consensus in standards setting

Codex - Golden jubilee • 50th anniversary of the Codex during 36th session during

2013

• 1st session in 1963 - 120 delegates from 30 countries + observers from 16 International organizations

• 35th session in 2012- 37 international & Non Governmental organizations

• Current number of member countries 185; Observers 205

• Unique opportunity to increase awareness about Codex

• Celebrate key achievements

• Look ahead and consider emerging issues and future challenges and envisage how CAC could address them

• To promote Codex as the only acceptable form of international food safety standards

Codex Logo

• 35th session of CAC held during 2-7 July 2012 decided to proceed with the development of a Codex Logo

• Why Logo?

- Establish recognizable visual identity

- increase visibility of CAC globally

- help promote the use of codex standards

- helps in the promotion of other codex activities

Trust funds • Codex trust fund operated by FAO/WHO for support

participation of LDC/ Developing countries

• Trust fund activities in the biennium Training workshop on “Improving regional standards setting

process in CCASIA & enhancing collaboration in the region on agreed priority areas”, 4 November 2012, Tokyo, Japan immediately prior to CCASIA

Workshop on chemical risk assessment in food chain, Beijing, China (Jan 2013)

• GIFSA (Global Initiative for food related Scientific advice) multidonor trust fund – main focus will be to facilitate the extra budgetary resources for scientific advice activities

CCASIA meeting • 18th session of CCASIA, Tokyo, Japan, November 5-9, 2012.

• TORs of Regional Coordinating Committees

defines problems & needs of the region on food standards & control;

promotes contacts – for mutual exchange of information on proposed regulatory initiatives; problems arising from food control; stimulates strengthening of food control infrastructures;

Recommends (CAC) development of worldwide standards for products of interest to region, incl those with int market potential;

develops regional standards for intra regional trade;

draws attention of CAC to its work of specific significance to region;

promotes coordination of all regional food standards work undertaken by international governmental/ NGOs within region;

exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission;

promotes use of Codex standards & related texts by members.

FAO Initiatives

• Provide scientific basis to Codex through independent scientific expert Committees, meetings & consultations

• Development of guidelines & documents

• Communication & information Exchange mechanisms

• Capacity Building Initiatives

Guidance/ Tools– Some egs

• Strengthening national food control systems: GLs to assess capacity building needs -2006

• Risk-based food inspection manual (2008)

• FAO/WHO GLs for developing FSER plans (2010)

• FAO/WHO guide for application of risk analysis principles & procedures during food safety emergencies (2011)

• Guidelines for Risk categorization of food and food establishments applicable to ASEAN countries (2011)

• FAO/WHO Guide for developing and improving national food recall systems (2012)

• Nano technologies - State of the art on the initiatives and activities relevant to risk assessment & risk management of nanotechnologies in the f&a sectors”

Information exchange Mechanisms

• FAO food safety website: http://www.fao.org/ag/agn

• Codex web site: www.codexalimentarius.net

• Food safety portal: http://www.ipfsaph.org/En/default.jsp

• Infosan: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/fs_management/infosan/en

• RAP Agriculture Food Systems website: http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/afs/about/en/

• Approximately 150 projects on food safety & quality being delivered (national, regional, global) & number of tools & GL finalized or in progress

• Broadly cover:

SPS/Codex capacity building

official food control systems (policy, legislation/ regulatory, institutional development - e.g. Food control/ inspection, laboratory capacity)

commodity issues (e.g. meat, seafood, fresh fruits and vegs – safety, quality & value chains) – implementation of GP/FSMS

food safety emergency management

good food safety & agricultural practice guidelines - linkage of primary production

FAO’s Food safety Capacity Building

Regional Focus

• 31st FAO Regional Conference for the Asia & the Pacific (March 2012) FAO was requested to assist member countries to

– enhance capacity for participation in the design of animal health and food-safety standards

– harmonize food safety and quality standards in value chain development

– strengthen legal and institutional frameworks that govern food safety and quality in value chain development

Some Recent & Ongoing CD activities in Asia

Regional projects:

• ASEAN - Support to CB & Implementation of International Food Safety Standards in ASEAN Countries”(WS, training course, case studies, guidance documents)

• GMS – Core Agricultural Support Programme (case studies, WS, e-learning material)

• Promotion of rural development through development of Geographical indications at regional level in Asia

Country Projects

• Country Projects: Improving food safety in Bangladesh - Strengthening

standard formulation based on risk assessment

Enhancing food safety lab capacity in primary production (Thailand)

Policy assistance for bio-secure agro-food supply chain for enhanced market access & food security for small holding rural sector (Nepal)

Developing food law in Laos

Strengthening of Food Safety and Standards in Bhutan

Strengthening capacity of Mongolia to implement Codex

Cambodia : FAO /WHO project on control of microbial and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) hazards along the poultry food chain in Cambodia

CD Activities of FAO on Food Safety in Asia

Bangladesh: Strengthened Capacity for

Standards Formulation based on Risk Assessment

• Activity 2.1 Strengthening National Codex Contact

Point with effective participation by various governments/stakeholders

• Activity 2.2 Strengthening the capacity of national standards development with single standard for specific product/process & clear access/availability

• Activity 2.3 Establishment & strengthening of a risk-analysis capacity across Government agencies to be able to support the development of food safety measures & standards

Bhutan: Strengthening of food safety & standards

• Output 1: Standards for prioritised foods in harmony with Codex

Standardization structure developed, food commodities/ areas prioritized for standardization, draft standards developed

• Output 2: Food Safety Policy Document & revised Food Rules & Regns

• Output 3: Capacity of BAFRA strengthened in risk-based food inspection

System for risk based inspection developed – protocols/ manual, etc

Food safety database system developed

Food Handlers Training manuals – various food businesses

Training of inspectors on food handlers training

Consumer awareness (material & trainings)

• Output 4: Enhanced Capacity of BAFRA to supervise, certify & accredit various certification systems.

System of approvals & certification developed

Awareness for targeted food industries & officials on FSMS impln

Mongolia:Strengthening capacity to implement Codex

• Outcome - Codex standards/ codes implemented at national level &

Mongolia actively participates in CAC activities

• Outputs

1. National Policy & Strategy for Codex implementation

2. Institutional capacity for Codex improved – NCC restructured & Subcommittees/ Secretariat/ Technical advisory groups & working procedures established. Stakeholders involved in Codex activities on continuous basis.

3. Technical capacity of NCC members improved - training on identified subjects to enhance participation of Mongolia in Codex activities.

4. Importance of Codex standards for stakeholders improved - identifying & translating priority standards for food production/ control system & organizing WSs for food producers/traders.

• Regional consultation on Guidelines for Development of Food Safety Policy for countries in Asia

• Regional Training Workshop on Implementing GAP in Fruit and Vegetable Sector, its Certification and Accreditation

• Pre CCASIA Training WS on “Understanding Regional Standards”

• Technical workshop on chemical risk analysis in the food chain

• Private standards - FAO Food Safety/ Quality programme in the age of Private food standards

• ASEAN – Principles & activities for Codex Implementation (17-19 September)

• Traceability and recall

• Urban and peri-urban agriculture

• Others - retail sector (India), INFOSAN

Workshops/ seminars

THANK YOU

Any Questions?