ALINORM 03/26/1 - codex - BSN

24 REP12/CAC
Proposed Draft Levels for Radionuclides in Food 35
143. The Delegation of Japan emphasised the importance of working in the Codex framework of risk
analysis on this issue and expressed gratitude to the Joint FAO/IAEA Division for their kind intention of
providing scientific support. They expressed their interest in working closely with the Netherlands in the
development of this document.
144. The WHO Representative informed the Commission of the work undertaken by WHO to perform a
preliminary global health risk assessment on the implication of the Fukushima nuclear accident. The first part
of the work, the preliminary dose assessment has been published recently. This feeds into the preliminary
health risk assessment currently being undertaken and the final report will be published in the fall. This
preliminary assessment, based on information available up to September 2011, feeds into a more detailed
assessment undertaken by UNSCEAR.
145. The Commission approved new work on the proposed draft levels for radionuclides in food.
Coordinating Committee for the Near East
Regional Standard for Date Paste 36
146. The Commission noted the advice given by the Executive Committee on this matter, which was to
adopt new work and to refer the proposal on a standard for date paste to the Committee on Processed Fruits
and Vegetables (CCPFV) as the project document indicated that there was worldwide trade in this
commodity. The Executive Committee had also recommended that if the CCPFV considered that the
development of a worldwide standard for date paste was not possible, work could be carried out as a regional
standard in the CCNEA.
147. The Delegation of the United States, speaking as Chair of the CCPFV, said that the Committee could
examine the proposal and then either continue the work or recommend its elaboration as a regional standard.
The goal of developing an international standard for this commodity could be reached faster if it started in
the CCPFV rather than developing a regional standard first and then converting it.
148. The delegations of the Near East region who expressed their views and one IGO observer stated that it
was their preference that work on a standard for date paste would start in the CCNEA as the main production
and trade of the product and the main expertise were concentrated in the region, and it would be difficult for
delegations from the region to attend the CCPFV. They proposed further that the conversion into a worldwide
standard could be undertaken at a later step of the procedure.
149. The Secretariat clarified that the procedure for conversion of a regional standard could be started at
any time after adoption of the regional standard at step 8, thus if work was started in the CCNEA it would
have to continue there until Step 8, after which a project document for development of a worldwide standard
could be submitted for approval to the Commission.
150. One delegation stated that as there was international trade in the commodity, Codex procedures
required that a worldwide standard be considered, as regional standards for products that were traded
internationally could be trade disruptive.
151. Noting the strong support from the region for the development of a regional standard for date paste
and the fact that the main expertise about the product was in the Near East region, the Commission agreed as
a pragmatic way forward to approve new work on a regional standard for date paste which would be
undertaken by the CCNEA. After completion of the work, a project document would be submitted to allow
the CCEXEC and the Commission to consider the conversion into an international standard.
DISCONTINUATION OF WORK
152. The Commission approved discontinuation of work as summarized in Appendix VII.
35 REP12/CF, para. 169.
36 REP11/NEA para. 92, CX/CAC 12/35/9-Add.1 Rev.1.