FSIS Finalizes U.S. Positions on Draft Codex Antimicrobial Resistance Guidelines
On September 21, 2010, the Food Safety and Inspection Service finalized U.S. comments on the latest draft guidelines for risk analysis of food borne antimicrobial resistance (Alinorm 10/33/42, Appendix II) in preparation for the October 18-22, 2010 meeting of the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Codex1 Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance.
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Mostly Technical Edits, Suggested Change to “Cross-Resistance” Definition
The U.S. positions are mostly technical edits to the draft guidelines for risk analysis of food borne antimicrobial resistance. However, the U.S. does state that it believes that “cross-resistance” is incorrectly defined in the document. The U.S. suggests that the new definition read: “A resistance mechanism in a microorganism that confers the ability to survive in the presence of related members of a particular antimicrobial class, or across certain classes due to a related mechanism of resistance. Cross-resistance is often used to imply selection pressure exists when any of the affected antimicrobials are used.”
1The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC or Codex) was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade; and promote coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/10/10 news, 10091028, for BP summary of FSIS’ announcement of a September 16 meeting to discuss the U.S. positions.)
U.S. positions available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com