FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS BODY TO MEET IN ROME, 30 JUNE – 7 JULY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA/ROME, 26 June (FAO) -- As concerns rise about the safety of the food chain, including worries about the use of irradiation and biotechnology in food production, as well as diseases linked to intensive animal farming and increased trade, the United Nations commission charged with setting food and agricultural safety and trade standards will meet next week to adopt new food safety and trade standards and to upgrade others based on the latest scientific information available.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), will hold its twenty-sixth session at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, 30 June - 7 July bringing together some 600 experts in food safety and agricultural trade from 168 countries.

The Commission will adopt standards relating to food safety, including standards for levels of radiation allowed in food irradiation; principles of meat hygiene, a code of practice on good animal feeding, including feed additives; maximum residue limits in food products for pesticides and veterinary drugs; a code of practice on the prevention of patulin contamination in apple juice; a code of practice for the prevention of mycotoxin contamination in cereals and a code of practice for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Also on the Codex agenda are guidelines for food import control systems, standards for food additives, principles for risk analysis of foods derived from modern biotechnology, including genetically modified organisms and the use of genetically modified micro-organisms in food and beverage production.

Codex will consider the adoption of new standards on many food items, including the following:  chocolate and chocolate products, including the use of term "chocolate" and a declaration of minimum cocoa content; anchovies; limes, pummelos and grapefruits; olive oils and olive pomace oils and named vegetable oils; canned bamboo shoots; aqueous coconut products, such as coconut milk and coconut cream; fruit juices and nectars; cream and prepared cream and fermented milk products, such as yoghurt and cheese.

The Commission will also discuss proposals to overhaul its structures and procedures so that food standards can be developed more rapidly at the international level with an increased focus on the health of consumers and with greater active participation by developing countries.  The practical initiation of a trust fund mechanism to enable increased participation of developing countries in the standard setting process will also be discussed.

Accreditation to cover the twenty-sixth session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission can be arranged in advance by calling +39 06 570 52232, or in the lobby of building A on the opening day of the Conference, beginning at 9 a.m. 30 June.

A news conference will take place at 12:45 on Thursday, 3 July, in the Iran Room, Building B, of FAO Headquarters.  Please arrive at 12:30.

For more information, contact:  John Riddle, FAO News Service, e-mail: John.Riddle@fao.org, tel.: (+39) 06 570 53259, mobile: (+39) 348 257 2921; or Gregory Hartl, WHO Media Adviser, e-mail: hartlg@who.int, tel. (Geneva): (+41) 22 791 4458, mobile from 29 June: (+41) 79 203 6715.

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