JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
Twenty-Second Session
Geneva, 23–28 June 1997

NOTE: This document includes Codex Circular Letter CL 1996/47-Africa.

The attached report of the 12th Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa will be considered by the Twenty-second Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Geneva, 23–28 June 1997).

PART A: MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE COMMISSION

1. Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods in Africa; (paras. 41–53 and Appendix II).

Governments wishing to propose amendments or to comment on the above Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods in Africa should do so in writing in conformity with the Guide to the Consideration of Standards at Step 8 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards Including Consideration of Any Statements Relating to Economic Impact (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Ninth Edition, pages 33–35) to the Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy not later than 1 April 1997.

PART B: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATION

1. Progress Report on Acceptances, Adoption and Use of Codex Standards and on the Implementation of the Code of Ethics in International Trade in Food; (paras. 16).

2. Strengthening Food Import and Export Certification Systems in Africa; (paras. 17–20).

3. Harmonization of National/Regional Standards with Codex Standards; (paras. 21–25).

4. Progress Report on the Implementation of National Action Plans to Establish/Strengthen the Roles of Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees in the Region (paras. 26–33).

Governments are invited to submit information and comments on the above subject matter to Mr. David B. Nhari, Chairman of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa, Government Analyst, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, P.O. Box CY 231, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe not later than 1 July 1998.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The Twelfth Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa reached the following conclusions:

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION

• Advanced draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods in Africa to the Commission for adoption at Step 8 (para. 53 and Appendix II), and;

• Agreed to nominate Mr. David Nhari as Coordinator for Africa for appointment by the 22nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (para. 59).

OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION

• Reaffirmed the need for each country to effectively monitor and accept Codex standards and to encourage governments of the region to participate in the elaboration of Codex texts (para. 16);

• Agreed to provide advice to governments within the Codex Region of Africa on the Strengthening of Food Import and Export Certification Inspection Systems (para. 20);

• Stressed that Codex and the African Regional Standards Organization (ARSO) should continue to cooperate and coordinate towards the elaboration of harmonized regional standards without duplication of effort (para. 23);

• Urged countries in the Region to continue to base their standards on Codex texts, especially in view of the implications of the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements (para. 25);

• Thanked FAO and WHO for their efforts in conducting workshops on the establishment of Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees, and suggested that such meetings take place in other countries in view of their importance to the Region (para. 33);

• Requested the Codex Secretariat to present a progress report on the Implementation of the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements at its next Session (para. 40), and;

• Agreed that future submissions of data and information on the main problems associated with the use of pesticides in the region should be forwarded by individual governments directly to the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (para. 57).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Opening of the Session

Adoption of the Agenda

Report on Activities of FAO and WHO

Progress Report on Acceptances, Adoption AND Use OF Codex Standards AND ON THE Implementation OF THE Code OF Ethics IN International Trade in Food

Strengthening Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection Systems in Africa

Harmonization of National/Regional Standards With Codex Standards

Progress Report on the Implementation of National Action Plans to Establish/Strengthen the Roles of Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees in the Region

Progress Report ON THE Implementation OF THE WTO SPS and TBT Agreements

Consideration of the Draft Code OF Practice FOR Street Foods IN Africa

Progress Report on Main Problems Associated With the Use of Pesticides in the Region

Other Business and Future Work

Nomination of Coordinator

Date and Place of Next Session

APPENDICES

APPENDIX I: List of Participants

APPENDIX II : Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods in Africa