Science - the basis of CODEX work. The Role of Science in Codex Decision-Making Key principles Risk analysis guide Codex stds from development to implementation.

Science - the basis of CODEX work

The Role of Science in Codex Decision-Making

Key principles Risk analysis guide Codex stds from development to

implementation Codex texts shall be based on science and evidence Food safety risk assessment should be based on

sound data and includes four steps process Functional separation of Risk Assessment & Risk

Management

Science guides the whole process of Codex work

Codex Process: Science-based, Participatory and

Transparent

Scientific advice

Requests for advice, risk assessment CODEX

ALIMENTARIUSCOMMISION

• JECFA (food additives, veterinary drug residues, contaminants in food)

• JMPR (pesticide residues in food)

• JEMRA (microbiological hazards in food)

• ad hoc expert consultations

emerging issues (e.g. Nanotechnologies in agri-food sector)

International Risk Assessment International Risk Management

Criteria for the Establishment of Codex

Work Priorities Contribution to the protection of consumer health Diversification of national legislations and potential

impediment to international trade Product suitability for standardization Existence of duplication with work already undertaken in this

area Volume of production and consumption

Members can request for prioritization of work

• Provide scientific arguments to include topic in the priority list

• Provide data

Sorghum - mycotoxin formation Concerns raised in the Codex

Committee on Contaminants as to human health impact

Important staple food in many African countries

Lack of information on formation and levels of mycotoxins in grain

Science to start work: the case of Sorghum

FAO/WHO are implementing a project with funding from EC in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mali and Sudan to

gather data and knowledge to feed back into the discussion at

international level on options for action

Science to update work: the example of Fumonisins

Fumonisins were previously evaluated by JECFA in 2001 The 3rd Session of the CCCF agreed to initiate work on establishing MLs for fumonisins in

maize and some maize-based products Data were submitted only by Argentina, Australia, China, Japan, Nigeria, EU, the UK and USs

General agreement on the need for MLs but not on the levels The 4th session CCCF agreed to retain the proposed draft MLs at Step 4 until further advice

was provided by JECFA JECFA (June 2011) evaluation concluded

Implementation of the MLs proposed by CCCF could significantly reduce exposure to total fumonisins

the proposed MLs would result in rejection of 2–88% of “Corn/maize grain, unprocessed” and 4–57% of “Corn/maize flour/meal” across the clusters.

submitted data show that the exceedance of the PMTDI occurs only in limited regions presenting high maize consumption levels and highly contaminated maize.

PMTDI for fumonisins was retained

Codex Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood in have been developed in 2010

CCFH requested FAO/ WHO to work on risk assessment tools to facilitate the implementation of Codex guidelines

FAO/ WHO work An expert meeting was organized in Ottawa, Canada on October 17-19, 2011 to:

(a) identify possible end uses of Vibrio methodologies (b) look at the performance characteristics of available methods and provide recommendations on the requirements for different end uses (c) provide recommendations for collection of data to support national/regional risk assessments.

The output of this Expert Meeting and subsequent discussions are being used to develop a “Guidance document” addressing performance characteristics of Vibrio methodology and approaches for data collection.

As a follow up to this, a Regional training Workshop for Asia on Vibrio methodologies is scheduled to be held in Singapore during November 19-23, 2012.

Science to implement work: the case of Vibrio

Conclusions

Science guide Codex working process from stds development to implementation.

It is essential that countries generate science data/information to support their positions at Codex to actively guide the stds development process to ensure global relevance of Codex outputs