The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will meet in Rome, Italy, July 2-7, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The core of the agenda is consideration of proposed amendments to the Procedural Manual, the adoption of 23 new or revised standards (or groups of standards) proposed by 12 committees (along with the revocation of existing standards that are being superseded by any newly adopted standards), and the consideration of proposals for new work or the discontinuation of work proposed by committees, said FSIS. Agendas and documents that will be under consideration for both committees are available here.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails June 18 announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
On June 18 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) will meet in Rome, Italy, June 26-29, to conduct the critical review of proposed standards and related texts to be submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Also on the agenda is continued implementation of the current Strategic Plan and development of a new Strategic Plan for 2014-2019, FSIS said. The U.S. is a member of this Committee.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a notice summarizing and asking for comments on the sanitary and phytosanitary standard (SPS) setting activities on the Codex Alimentarius Commission from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, and June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. The notice also provides a list of other standard setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails June 15 announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for June 1 through June 8:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the U.S. is leading a working group on the establishment of Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) work priorities, and has invited member governments to propose new work for consideration by the working group, including the possible revision and/or revocation of existing codes of practice. Comments should be sent to Jenny Scott, senior advisor, Office of Food Safety, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (jenny.scott@fda.hhs.gov), and to Barbara McNiff, senior advisor, U.S. Codex Office (Barbara.McNiff@fsis.usda.gov), with a copy to the Codex Secretariat (codex@fao.org) by September 7.
On June 15 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
On June 14 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports: