Codex Meeting Ties Up Loose Ends on Newly Adopted Guidelines, Proposes New Work
Image credit: Andrej Lišakov via Unsplash
The 54th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) convened in Nairobi, Kenya on March 11–15, 2024 to discuss unresolved specifics of guidelines adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission during its 46th session in November 2023, as well as new work proposals.
The Codex Alimentarius “Guidelines for the Control of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef, Fresh Leafy Vegetables, Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheeses, and Sprouts” (CXG 99-2023) was adopted in November 2023, at which time the parts of the guidance covering the control of STEC in raw beef, raw milk, and raw milk cheeses was completed. At the recent meeting in Nairobi, CCFH proposed draft Annex II on leafy vegetables and draft Annex IV on sprouts, agreeing to forward the annexes for adoption at the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, scheduled to take place in November 2024.
CCFH also discussed Codex “Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production and Processing” (CXG 100-2023), agreeing to forward proposed draft Annex III on milk and milk products to the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption. Additionally, Annex III of CXG 100-2023 on fishery and fishery products was considered, but it was not advanced due to the need for elaboration in certain sections.
Work was also advanced on two drafts of Codex standards—a revised “Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood” (CXG 73-2010) and new “Guidelines for Food Hygiene Control Measures in Traditional Markets for Food.” Both were forwarded for adoption at the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
New work proposals were also made at the 54th session of CCFH, which were supported by the committee:
- Revision of “Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food” (CXG 79-2012). The project document will be forwarded to the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for approval as new work, and an electronic working group will be established, chaired by Canada and co-chaired by the Netherlands, to prepare proposed draft revisions for comment and consideration at the 55th session of CCFH.
- Revision of “Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat” (CXG 78-2011). An electronic working group chaired by the U.S. and co-chaired by Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Honduras, and India will be established to prepare proposed draft revisions for comment and consideration at the 55th session of CCFH.
- Revision of “Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods” (CXG 61-2007). The project document will be forwarded to the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for approval as new work, and an electronic working group will be established—chaired by the U.S. and co-chaired by Canada, China, and France—to prepare proposed draft revisions for comment and consideration at the 55th session of CCFH.
The 55th session of CCFH will be held at the end of 2025 in the U.S.
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