24th Edition of Codex Procedural Manual published

Nov 13, 2015, 14:26 PM by System

The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission describes the legal foundations and practical functioning of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

Following the 38th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission held in July 2015, the following amendments were made to the Procedural Manual.

Limits for pesticides in minor crops

Some crops are considered of major importance for food security. These include wheat, rice, maize, potato, sweet potato, soybean, sugar crops, and banana/plantain. Minor crops can include millets, roots and tubers (other than the ones listed above), tree nuts (except coconut), and certain fruits and vegetables such as dates, guavas, shallots and mushrooms. These "minor" crops are defined as globally minor based on consumption levels, but may actually be sub-regionally or nationally major and considered as a staple food in some countries or regions.

The changes to the procedural manual allow member countries to carry out a minimum number of trials in order to establish maximum residue levels for pesticides than would otherwise be the case for major crops, which will require a greater number of trials.

The new Annex D to the Risk Analysis Principles applied by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues in the procedural manual, now provides the guidance necessary to facilitate this process.

Terms of Reference of the Committee on General Principles.

This committee, established in 1965 and hosted by France, deals with procedural and general matters.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted the revised terms of reference for this committee which can be seen on the committee page.

Procedures for new work or to revise a standard.

This text has been amended so that when either new work, or revisions, are being considered at the critical review phase, the member or committee proposing the work has to take into account other ongoing work in Codex assisted by the Codex Secretariat.

 

 

At the heart of the Codex mandate are the core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Governmental and non-governmental, public and private organizations alike play a vital role in ensuring Codex texts are of the highest quality and based on sound science.

Codex would have little authority in the field of international standard setting if it did not welcome and acknowledge the valuable contributions made by observers. Expert technical bodies, industry and consumer associations contribute to the standard-setting process in a spirit of openness, collaboration and transparency.

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can apply for observer status in Codex in order to attend and put forward their views at every stage of the standard-setting process.

Current Codex Alimentarius Commission

240
Codex Observers
60
IGOs
164
NGOs
16
UN

24th Edition of Codex Procedural Manual published

Nov 13, 2015, 14:26 PM by System

The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission describes the legal foundations and practical functioning of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

Following the 38th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission held in July 2015, the following amendments were made to the Procedural Manual.

Limits for pesticides in minor crops

Some crops are considered of major importance for food security. These include wheat, rice, maize, potato, sweet potato, soybean, sugar crops, and banana/plantain. Minor crops can include millets, roots and tubers (other than the ones listed above), tree nuts (except coconut), and certain fruits and vegetables such as dates, guavas, shallots and mushrooms. These "minor" crops are defined as globally minor based on consumption levels, but may actually be sub-regionally or nationally major and considered as a staple food in some countries or regions.

The changes to the procedural manual allow member countries to carry out a minimum number of trials in order to establish maximum residue levels for pesticides than would otherwise be the case for major crops, which will require a greater number of trials.

The new Annex D to the Risk Analysis Principles applied by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues in the procedural manual, now provides the guidance necessary to facilitate this process.

Terms of Reference of the Committee on General Principles.

This committee, established in 1965 and hosted by France, deals with procedural and general matters.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted the revised terms of reference for this committee which can be seen on the committee page.

Procedures for new work or to revise a standard.

This text has been amended so that when either new work, or revisions, are being considered at the critical review phase, the member or committee proposing the work has to take into account other ongoing work in Codex assisted by the Codex Secretariat.

 

 

Codex and Observer

Food is a sensitive commodity, which has travelled
around the world since ancient times.
We might not always know where it comes from,
but we expect it to be available, safe and of good quality.