100. The Committee considered the contaminants provisions in several commodity standards under elaboration or revision in the Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMP), the Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (CCCPC), the Committee on Soups and Broths (CCSB), and the Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (CCNMW).
101. The Delegation of the United States, recalling earlier discussions on this issue, expressed the view that the level for lead of 1mg/kg proposed for several commodities was too high and should be lowered significantly. The Delegation of Australia expressed the view that as a rule, maximum limits should be established only for commodities which contributed significantly to the intake for each contaminant on the basis of exposure assessment. Unless such was the case, the maximum limit might be viewed as a quality standard rather than a health-related one.
Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Edible Casein
Products
Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Whey
Powders
102. The Committee recalled that its last session had finalized a maximum level for lead in milk with a footnote to the effect that “for dairy products, an appropriate concentration factor should apply”. The Committee agreed that, in view of this decision, there was no need for specific levels in milk products and did not endorse the levels proposed in the standards.
Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa Butter
103. The Delegation of Malaysia, supported by other delegations, expressed the view that the level of 0.1 mg/kg for lead in Cocoa Butter was not justified and would create barriers to trade without any significant reduction of health risk.
104. The Delegation of Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Swiss Secretariat of the CCCPC, indicated that the reduction of the lead level had been proposed in the CCCPC and extensively discussed, and that it was consistent with the lead levels for vegetable oils finalized by the Committee at its last session. The Committee decided that there was no need for endorsing the maximum levels for lead in cocoa butter, as it was included in the draft maximum levels for lead in vegetable oils that had been submitted to the Commission for final adoption at Step 8 (ALINORM 01/12, Appendix XI).
Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa (Cacao) Mass
(Cocoa/Chocolate Liquor) and Cocoa Cake
Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa Powders (Cocoas) and Dry
Mixtures of Cocoa and Sugars
105. Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Swiss Secretariat of the CCCPC, informed the Committee that the CCCPC had reduced the maximum level for lead from 2 to 1 mg/kg, and that the high levels of lead in cocoa beans were recommended due to the fact that contamination arose from the soil and environmental pollution and therefore, the CCCPC indicated that 1 mg/kg was the lowest level achievable. Some delegations indicated that there was a need for further information on exposure assessment in order to decide whether specific levels should be established for cocoa and chocolate products in order to address food safety concerns. The Committee decided not to endorse the maximum levels for lead in these products (including chocolate and chocolate products) as this would be considered within the framework of the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods.
Proposed Draft Standard for Chocolate and Chocolate Products
106. The Committee recommended that copper should be transferred from the Contaminants section to the “Composition and Quality Factors” Section in the standard, in view of its earlier decision (ALINORM 99/12A, para. 96) and to ensure consistency with other Codex standards. The Committee decided to withdraw the level for arsenic in view of its earlier decision to discontinue work on levels for arsenic as no adequate methods were available (ALINORM 99/12A, para. 137).
107. The Delegation of Germany proposed to establish a level for cadmium in chocolate and chocolate products and the Committee agreed to consider this question under Agenda Item 16d concerning cadmium levels.
Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Bouillons and Consommés
108. Some delegations expressed the view that the level proposed for lead in dry products was too high. The Committee had an exchange of views on the need for a level of lead in canned products. The Committee decided not to endorse the maximum levels for lead in these products as they would be considered in the framework of the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods.
109. The Committee agreed not to endorse the level for tin as the establishment of maximum levels for tin in canned foods was still under consideration.
Standard for Natural Mineral Waters
110. The Committee endorsed the levels of health related substances in the Standard for Natural Mineral Waters (ALINORM 01/20, Appendix III), noting that the Committee on Natural Mineral Waters had brought them in conformity with the levels included in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality.
