ALINORM 03/26/1 - codex - BSN

REP12/CAC 35
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (Agenda Item 13) 49
Relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other International Intergovernmental
Organizations
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
236. Dr Vallat, Director-General of the OIE, noted that during the past 12 months representatives of the OIE
and Codex have continued to participate in relevant meetings of each organization. He emphasized that the
maintenance and further strengthening of these arrangements is essential to ensure that standards pertaining
to the food production continuum are consistent and to avoid gaps, contradictions and duplication in
coverage.
237. Dr Vallat recalled that the potential development of joint standards was considered at the 27 th Session
of the CCGP and that following comments of Member Countries of the Commission, the OIE withdrew its
original proposal and made a new one on possible means to harmonize approaches to standard setting,
consistent with recommendations of the WTO SPS Committee. The OIE was pleased with the decision by
the CCGP to establish an electronic working group to propose guidance for the OIE and the CAC on making
consistent cross references to standards and guidance of each organization. Dr Vallat assured the Commission
that the OIE will participate actively in this work.
238. On the issue of private standards in international trade, Dr Vallat indicated that the OIE has continued
working on this issue with the objective of encouraging global private standard setting organizations to
respect the official standards of the OIE and CAC. The OIE has taken steps to establish closer relationships
with relevant global private standard setting organizations which included the signing of official agreements
with ISO and the GFSI during 2011.
239. Dr Vallat noted that the OIE Expert ad hoc Group on Zoonotic Parasites, which includes participation
from the WHO, FAO and CAC, is developing a revised Terrestrial Code chapter on trichinellosis which may
be proposed for adoption at the 81 st OIE General Session in May 2013. He sees that the current work of the
Commission on trichinellosis has provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and coordination. The
active involvement in each others’ work on this topic will facilitate coordination between the two
organisations in this area of work.
240. He also provided an update on OIE standards regarding antimicrobial resistance.
241. Dr Vallat noted that standards for high quality veterinary services and aquatic animal health services
are set out in the OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes, respectively, and that these standards
address animal production food safety and related activities, including the legislative framework for
regulatory activities. In addition, he added that the OIE Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary
Services (OIE PVS Tool) covers food safety, including veterinary inspection at abattoirs, standards for the
use of veterinary drugs and management of residues, and health certification for trade. Dr Vallat considered
that these OIE standards and the PVS Tool were relevant to the development of Codex Guidelines on
National Food Control Systems, by the CCFICS.
242. Dr Vallat assured the Commission of his strong commitment, on behalf of 178 OIE Member Countries,
to maintaining and strengthening the close relationship between the OIE and the Codex Alimentarius
Commission.
World Trade Organization (WTO)
243. The Observer from WTO presented a summary of the main aspects of relevance to Codex work since
the 34 th session of the Commission namely: trade concerns related to food safety; transparency, technical
assistance; monitoring the use of international standards; cooperation between the WTO/SPS Committee and
Codex, IPPC and the OIE and update on dispute settlement cases in the WTO addressing the SPS Agreement
as indicated below. It was noted that further detail on WTO activities relevant to Codex could be found in the
information document CAC/35 INF/3.
244. Food safety: in 2011 and the first trimester of 2012, 20 trade concerns related to food safety were
discussed of which 12 were raised for the first time.
49 CAC 12/35/16. Information provided by OECD (CAC/35 INF/1); OIE (CAC/35 INF/2); WTO (CAC/35 INF/3); STDF (CAC/35
INF/4); OIV (CAC/35 INF/5); ISO (CAC/35 INF/6); and IAEA (CAC/35 INF/7).