REP13/FH JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME ...

REP13/FH 3
18. The Representative of FAO presented the outcome of the work that had been undertaken by FAO and
WHO in response to the request of the 42 nd Session to identify the parasite/commodity combinations of
greatest concern. Particular reference was made to the approach that had been taken to address this
request including holding an expert meeting, and it was noted that the multi-criteria based approach was
developed and documented in such a way as to facilitate its application at country or regional level. The
outcome of the ranking was considered to represent a “picture” in time and might need to be updated as
further information comes available. Furthermore, as the weighting applied to each of the criteria was
independent from the scoring along the criteria, alternative weighting schemes reflecting the judgement of
risk managers could be used to reflect their priorities in the ranking process. The expert meeting also
provided information on food attribution, potential control measures for the top third of the ranked parasites
as well as details on the extent of trade in the commodities of concern and existing risk management
measures.
19. The FAO Representative also provided the Committee with an update on the data collection work on
Vibrio spp in seafoods which had been recommended by the 42 nd Session noting the upcoming workshop in
South-East Asia and the plans to implement similar workshops in other regions, resources permitting, in
order to build a core expertise in Vibrio methodology to support data collection at regional level.
20. Reference was also made to the recently convened Expert Meeting on the Global View of
Campylobacteriosis convened by WHO in collaboration with FAO and OIE and in particular the discussions
on control of Campylobacter. The Representative also extended the appreciation of FAO and WHO to all the
experts and data providers who in the course of the year had made the abovementioned work possible.
21. The Committee expressed their appreciation to FAO and WHO for its work on the provision of
scientific advice which was essential for the Committee to undertake numerous aspects of its work.
INFORMATION FROM THE WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE) (Agenda Item 3b)
22. In addition to information provided in CX/FH 12/44/5, the Observer from OIE informed the Committee
of on-going work on the revision of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter 8.13 on trichinellosis.
This revised draft chapter provides recommendations for on-farm prevention of Trichinella infection in
domestic pigs, and safe trade of meat and meat products derived from suids and equids. The focus is on
requirements for establishing a ‘negligible risk compartment’ because there is a clear and objective means of
establishing this status in pigs kept under controlled management conditions. The articles dealing with
international trade of meat and meat products of suids and equids include a cross reference to the relevant
Codex Guidelines.
23. The Observer from OIE informed the Committee of the latest meeting of the ad hoc Group on zoonotic
parasites, which revised the draft chapter taking into account OIE Member comments, and had also included
the two co-chairs of the CCFH Working Group on Guidelines for Control of Specific Zoonotic Parasites. She
noted that the participation of the co-chairs provided an excellent opportunity for OIE and Codex to work
closely together to ensure alignment of risk-based recommendations while avoiding duplication of effort, and
overlap and gaps on the development of respective standards on Trichinella.
24. In addition, the Observer noted that OIE encourages its national delegates to collaborate with national
Delegates to the Codex, to ensure alignment of respective standards on Trichinella under development by
the OIE and Codex, and encouraged the delegates to the Codex to collaborate with national Delegates to
OIE.
25. The Observer confirmed OIE’s commitment to continue to explore ways to harmonise OIE and Codex
approaches in the development of standards of mutual interest in the food production continuum and their
willingness to participate in the electronic working group established by the Committee on General Principles
(CCGP) where this will be considered.
26. The Committee thanked the Observer from OIE for the useful information and their participation in
CCFH work and reiterated the importance of collaboration between Codex and OIE.