FSIS Issues Draft U.S. Positions for Codex Food Hygiene Committee Meeting

Highlights of draft U.S. positions are as follows:

U.S. Supports Draft on Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken

The U.S. remains supportive of the content of the Proposed Draft Guidelines for Control

of Campylobacter and Salmonella spp. in Chicken Meat in terms of its overall approach,

framework, and substantive content, especially in light of certain changes by the working group.

The proposed guidelines together with their web-based risk management decision tool are science and risk-based; have a farm-to-plate structure; have specific GHP controls for Campylobacter and Salmonella, and have specific hazard-based controls that are quantitative examples. In addition, the choice on the use of controls is to be made at a national level.

The U.S. believes that this document greatly advances protection to consumers and should proceed, as developing countries are especially dependent on it being published. The U.S. recommends that this document be advanced to Step 5/8 (i.e, ready for final adoption²).

Draft Microbiological Criteria Need to Address Sampling Variability, Etc.

According to the U.S., the proposed draft revision of the Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria (MC) for Foods needs more work in several areas including:

• addressing uncertainty and variability related to sampling in establishing MC;
• application of MC for processing and the processing environment;
• developing the examples on the different ways to use MC; and
• elaboration of an annex outlining the process, including underlying statistical considerations, in establishing MC.

The U.S. believes that the draft should be returned for revision at Step 2 by the working group and then circulated at step 3 for comments³ prior to the 43rd session of the Committee.

Draft Principles on Control of Viruses in Food Needs Clarity, More Information

The U.S. states that the latest version of the proposed draft Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food is greatly improved. However, it still has too many redundancies, needs more information on the Hepatitis E virus, and numerous other revisions are needed, primarily to provide clarity. The U.S. recommends that the document be returned to step 2 for the revisions suggested by the delegations, with the aim of progressing the document to step 5/8 at the 43rd session of the Committee.

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.

²At Step 5, Codex has reviewed the progress made and agreed that a draft should go to finalization. In general, drafts advance to Steps 6 and 7 for further comment by governments and finalization by the relevant Codex committee. However, sometimes the text is considered to be ready for final adoption at this stage - often called Step 5/8.

³During Step 2, the first cut of a new standard is drafted, and at Step 3, the draft standard is circulated to member governments and relevant international organizations for comment.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/01/10 news, 10100139, for BP summary of FSIS announcing a November 2, 2010 public meeting to discuss the draft U.S. positions and receive public comment.)

Draft U.S. positions available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com