Managing food additives at national level

Seven Codex Alimentarius Members took the stage on Tuesday 26 March to share the ways they manage food additives at national level. Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union (EU), Japan, Kenya and the United States outlined their regulatory frameworks at a side event on the second day of the 51st session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA).

Keen to capture the detailed information on screen, CCFA delegates snapped photos and, following the presentations, engaged in dialogue with the six countries and the EU, who explained how they implement food additive-related standards. They highlighted the similarities or differences with Codex standards, in particular the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). Several speakers began their presentations by explaining how their countries define food additives and which institutions oversee their management to both protect public health and facilitate trade.

The topics addressed spanned a wide range - from conducting toxicological assessments, meeting labelling and pre-market access requirements to addressing consumer concerns about food additives. Challenges to accelerating the harmonization of standards across countries within an economic bloc were also noted.

CCFA participants expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to hear national experiences, and two provided statements.

“We found the information shared on the management of food additives at the national level useful in respect of consumers’ concerns for food additives”, said the CCFA51 Nigeria Team.

India delegation members found the side event very relevant to the work and principles of the CCFA. “It provided excellent insights on how the presenting countries adopt Codex provisions in their respective countries while ensuring food safety and balancing trade requirements”, they said.

The side event was organized by the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, the government agency hosting the CCFA meeting in Jinan, China. Honorary CCFA Chairperson, Professor Junshi Chen, served as the moderator of the discussion.

Download the side-event presentations here

Read more on the CCFA51 meeting page