ALINORM 03/26/1 - codex - BSN

36 REP12/CAC
245. Transparency: the SPS information management system (SPS-IMS) allowed easy access and
management of all WTO-SPS related documentation including notifications of regulations affecting different
products and countries or trade concerns presented to the WTO/SPS Committee.
211. Technical assistance: four regional workshops on the application of the WTO/SPS Agreement had
been planned in 2012 for Latin America; English-speaking Africa; Asia and the Pacific; and Central and
Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. A workshop on transparency focused on the use of the SPS
IMS and the new online SPS notification submission system (SPS NSS) would be organized and the 3
sisters would be invited to present their online available tools in this regard.
246. Monitoring the use of international standards: several WTO members presented a joint submission on
SPS measures and international standards, guidelines and recommendations, raising concerns with the
increase in the number of SPS measures that were not based on international standards, guidelines and
recommendations or that had inadequate scientific justification.
247. Cooperation between the WTO/SPS Committee and the three sister organizations: the WTO
Secretariat organized a workshop on coordination of SPS matters at the national and regional levels, to bring
together officials responsible for participation in and implementation of the SPS Agreement, Codex, IPPC
and/or OIE to discuss best practices in coordination at national and regional levels. Two specific
recommendations resulting from the workshop were (i) the possibility to develop guidelines for good
national coordination and/or (ii) a manual of good practices. Also, the SPS Committee formally agreed to
encourage the Three Sisters to undertake joint work on cross-cutting issues, such as, inter alia, certification,
inspection, approval procedures and/or risk analysis.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
248. The Representative of the IAEA reported on relevant matters of interest to Codex arising from the
Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture since the 34 th Session of the
Commission, including the control of food contaminants, the use of ionizing radiation and the
management of nuclear and radiological emergencies particularly following the Japanese nuclear
emergency.
249. The Representative noted that in follow-up to discussions at the 6 th Session of the Committee on
Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) to involve the IAEA and other relevant international organizations in the
proposed revision of the Codex Guideline Levels for Radionuclides in Foods, the Joint FAO/IAEA Division
noted its intention to participate actively in this new work. The participation of the IAEA and the Joint
FAO/IAEA Division in the review of the guideline levels was also strongly supported by the latest meeting
of the IAEA Radiation Safety Standards Committee.
250. The Representative also noted that the Joint FAO/IAEA Division had collaborated with the Committee
on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods in publishing analytical methods through the Joint FAO/IAEA
Division Food Contaminant and Residue Information System (FCRIS) web application system. The methods
database contained methods from various sources and would accommodate both multi-residue analytical
methods and single analyte methods. Access to the methods is intended to enhance the capabilities of
developing countries and strengthen residue monitoring plans.
251. The associated FCRIS Pesticide Attributes Database (PAD) and the Pesticide Residue Methods (PRM)
database are being developed through collaboration with the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues as
resources for physicochemical / toxicological data and for methods of analysis for pesticides, respectively.
252. The Representative further noted that two new Food Irradiation Treatment Facilities and Irradiated
Food Authorization databases have been developed and published on the Joint FAO/IAEA Division website.
253. The Joint FAO/IAEA Division representative noted that the IAEA Scientific Forum on “Food for the
Future: Meeting the Challenges with Nuclear Applications”, would be held from 18-19 September 2012
during the 56 th Session of the IAEA General Conference and would include three separate sessions on
Increasing Food Production, Ensuring Food Protection and Enhancing Food Safety.
254. The Delegation of Japan presented updated information on measures taken following radioactive
contamination of food caused by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, as contained in CRD 15. The
Delegation expressed its thanks for the continued support and assistance provided by IAEA and other
international organizations in this regard. The Delegation explained that various countermeasures had been
taken concerning radionuclides in foods such as monitoring, restricting the distribution of foods exceeding
regulatory limits, and disclosing monitoring results. Japan announced that new standard limits for