FSIS Announces Codex Electronic Working Groups on Food Import/Export Systems, Etc.

February 17, 2012 by Brian Feito|Other U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that three Codex electronic working groups (eWG) will be meeting to discuss the evaluation of control systems for food exporters, hygiene recommendations for berry production, and discussion papers regarding the fruits Kava and Nonu.

The details of these three eWGs are as follows:

Codex Committee on Food Import and Exports Systems (CCFICS). Costa Rica will lead an eWG, working in English and Spanish, to develop a harmonized questionnaire/generic document with the most relevant information needed for the evaluation of the Control Systems for Food Exporting establishments. The goal of the eWG is to develop a discussion paper that would clearly describe the problems, including examples faced by exporting countries due to multiple questionnaires, and to identify possible solutions. Individuals in the United States interested in contributing to the eWG should send their name, official title, and email address to the U.S. Codex Office (USCodex@fsis.usda.gov). Codex Members and Observers interested in participating in this eWG to provide the name(s), official title and e-mail address of their representatives to the Costa Rican Codex Contact Point (infocodex@meic.go.cr) by Feb. 17, 2012.

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH). Brazil will lead an eWG to develop the Proposed Draft Annex on Berries to the Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CAC/RCP 53-2003). The proposed draft annex will provide additional recommendations to the safety provisions along the berry production chain. These recommendations will be based on current primary production, processing and trade practices, and new developments in science and technology. Individuals in the United States interested in contributing to the eWG should send their name, official title, and email address to the U.S. Codex Office (USCodex@fsis.usda.gov). Codex Members and Observers interested in participating in this eWG to provide the name(s), official title and e-mail address of their representatives to Andre Oliveira (andre.oliveira@agricultura.gov.br) and to Andrea Silva (inspecao.alimentos@anvisa.gov.br) by March 1, 2012.

Coordinating Committee for North America and the SouthWest Pacific (CCNASWP). Tonga and Papua New Guinea will co-chair an eWG, working in English, to revise the Kava discussion paper as well as the Nonu (noni) discussion paper. Circulation of the first draft of both the Kava and Nonu discussion documents will go out Feb. 16, with a deadline for the submission of comments on the first draft by March 10. The goal is to submit the final eWG report, after two rounds of comments, to the Codex Secretariat by May 31. The report will then be distributed to regional members for consideration at the next CCNASWP meeting, to be held in Papua New Guinea from Sept. 17-20, 2012. Individuals in the United States interested in contributing to the eWG should send their name, official title, and email address to the U.S. Codex Office (USCodex@fsis.usda.gov). Other Codex Members in the region and/or Observers interested in participating in this eWG to provide the name(s), official title and e-mail address of their representatives to the Codex Contact Points of Tonga (codexoffice.tonga@mafff.gov.to) and Papua New Guinea (eliastaia@yahoo.com) by Feb. 15, 2012.