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Biotechnology >Labelling The Codex Standards Development Process and the
Labelling of Foods Obtained from Biotechnology
What is the process that the Codex Alimentarius follows in developing international
standards?
The Codex Alimentarius (Codex) develops voluntary international food standards to
protect the health of consumers and to facilitate fair practices in food trade. Codex
currently consists of 164 member countries, including Canada.
Codex uses a consensus process to develop standards. Consensus means that member
countries reach substantial agreement and attempt to resolve all objections before a
standard is adopted. It does not mean that member countries have to unanimously agree on
an appropriate standard.
Codex standards are voluntary, and member countries are not obliged to adopt them under
their national legislation. In this regard, when member countries agree on the necessary
level of protection of public health, but have differing views about other considerations,
member countries may refuse acceptance of the standard without necessarily preventing a
decision by Codex.
The development of standards is carried out through the work of a number of committees
established by Codex and hosted by member countries. Codex standards are developed through
an eight step procedure which provides opportunity for input:
- Step 1 The work is assigned to the appropriate Codex Committee, e.g
Codex Committee on Food Labelling.
- Step 2 Codex arranges for the preparation of a proposed draft.
- Step 3 The proposed draft is circulated to member countries for
comment.
- Step 4 Comments are forwarded to the responsible Codex Committee for
consideration and the proposed draft is modified accordingly.
- Step 5 The proposed draft is forwarded to Codex’s Commission (its
executive or decision-making body) for consideration as a Draft Standard.
- Step 6 If adopted by Codex’s Commission at Step 5, the Draft
Standard is again circulated to member countries and international organizations for
comment.
- Step 7 Codex forwards all comments received to the responsible
Committee.
- Step 8 After consideration of the comments, the Draft standard is
forwarded to the Codex’s Commission for adoption as a final standard to be sent to
member countries for acceptance.
What is the status of the work on the labelling of foods obtained from biotechnology ?
The work of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) relative to foods from
biotechnology is currently at different stages of the procedure.
At the Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting in Geneva (July 2-7,2001), mandatory
labelling of allergens in foods derived from biotechnology, as proposed by the CCFL, was
adopted as an amendment to the general food labelling standard.
The remainder of the proposal, which addresses labelling of changes in nutrition,
composition, end-use, and method of production, was again circulated to member countries
for further comments prior to the CCFL meeting, April 28-May 2, 2003 (Step 3).
It should be noted that this agenda item was not discussed at the recent CCFL
meeting. Instead, the chair of CCFL proposed the creation of a working group to
develop options for the management of this agenda item. The management options to be
developed by the working group will be considered at next year's CCFL meeting (May 10-14,
2004).
Canada will host the working group meeting scheduled for October 28-30, 2003, in
Calgary. |
