1. The Twelfth Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa was held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 19–22 November 1996 at the kind invitation of the Government of Zimbabwe. The Session was chaired by Mr. David Nhari, Government Analyst, Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. The Session was attended by 20 member countries, 1 observer country and 5 international organizations. The List of Participants is attached to this report as Appendix I.
OPENING OF THE SESSION (Agenda Item 1)
2. The Session was opened by Dr. T.J. Stamps, Zimbabwe Minister of Health and Child Welfare, who highlighted the importance of establishing international standards based on sound principles of health, safety and quality to ensure the protection of consumers and the facilitation of global trade. Dr. Stamps stressed the importance of the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). Welcoming statements were also made by:
Mr. S. Tavengwa, His Honor the Executive Mayor of Harare;
Professor Pakdee Pothisiri, Chairman of the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
Mr. Opare, FAO Sub-Regional Representative for Africa; and,
Dr. L. Arevshatian, WHO Representative for Zimbabwe.
3. Dr. P.L.N. Sikosana, Permanent Secretary of Health and Child Welfare, thanked the speakers for their participation and words of encouragement.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA1(Agenda Item 2)
4. The Committee adopted the Provisional Agenda as proposed.
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WHO COMPLEMENTARY TO THE WORK OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION SINCE THE 11TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE2(Agenda Item 3)
5. The Committee noted selected Joint FAO/WHO activities related to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives; the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues; the Joint FAO/WHO Consultation on the Application of Risk Analysis to Food Standards Issues; the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation; the Joint FAO/WHO Workshop on Assessment of Fermentation as a Household Technology; and, the Joint FAO/WHO Consultation on Guidelines for Predicting Dietary Intake of Pesticide Residues.
6. Selected FAO activities included highlights of the recently concluded FAO World Food Summit; technical cooperation programmes; the strengthening of National and Regional Food Control Infrastructures as related to food quality control (fruits and vegetables, gum arabic); mycotoxins; street foods; establishment of National Codex Committees; and, National Plans of Action related to the International Conference on Nutrition.
7. Selected WHO global activities included highlights of Guidelines for Developing or Strengthening National Food Safety Programmes; guidance concerning the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System; GEMS Food; Food Technologies and Public Health; Biotechnology; a Guide on Safe Food for Travellers; Hygiene in Food-Service and Mass Catering; Emerging Pathogens; and, collaboration with Non-Governmental Organizations. Activities of the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean were also noted.
8. The Codex Secretariat informed the Committee that in addition to the recently held Joint FAO/WHO Consultation on the Application of Risk Analysis to Food Standards Issues (Geneva, March 1995), Joint FAO/WHO Consultations were also scheduled to be held on the Application of Risk Management to Food Safety Matters (Rome, 28–31 January 1997) and on Food Consumption and Risk Assessment (Geneva, 10–14 February 1997).
9. The Codex Secretariat also noted that FAO was planning to hold an FAO Expert Consultation on Animal Feeding and Food Safety (Rome, 10–14 March 1997) to review animal feeding practices and human food safety, including the issue of BSE. The objective of the Consultation was the development of an internationally recognized code of practice on the feeding of animals for the production of safe food. The Representative of WHO noted that guidelines on the implications of BSE had been developed by WHO in collaboration with FAO, OIE and the European Community, and that WHO was not anticipating the recommendation of any other actions regarding beef and cow milk in addition to those already taken to date.
10. The Delegation of Sudan stressed that efforts to develop international specifications for gum arabic to assist producing countries in their efforts to improve the quality of their products to meet international specifications should not be restricted to analytical data on chemical composition only.
11. The Committee noted the importance of the Joint FAO/WHO Workshop on the Assessment of Fermentation as a Household Technology and the wide participation of countries in the region, and welcomed the offer of the Representative of WHO to provide copies of the report on request.
PROGRESS REPORT ON ACCEPTANCES, ADOPTION AND USE OF CODEX STANDARDS AND ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN FOOD (Agenda item 4)3
Implementation of the Codex Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food4
12. The Committee was informed that the Code was developed in light of considerations that many countries, particularly developing countries, do not yet have adequate food control infrastructures to protect consumers against possible health hazards in food and against fraud. Governments were invited to inform the Secretariat of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of action taken to implement the Code.
4 CAC/RCP 20–1979, Rev. 1 (1985); Volume 1A of the Codex Alimentarius (General Requirements).
Acceptance of Codex Standards in Relation to the SPS and TBT Agreements5
13. The Committee was informed that the 21st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission6 agreed in principle to revise the form of notification of acceptance by Codex Members of Codex standards to include information about the use of Codex standards and related texts to meet the needs of Codex Members and also the new rules under the WTO SPS Agreement, and to make consequential revisions to the Guidelines for the Acceptance Procedure for Codex Standards. The Commission also agreed to refer the question of which Codex standards and related texts have major trade impact to the Regional Coordinating Committees which would report to the next sessions of the Executive Committee and the Commission. The Commission agreed to remind members that until a new acceptance scheme is ready, governments should continue to notify acceptance of Codex standards to the Secretariat under the current scheme.
14. The Committee noted that a paper7 concerning the “Review of the Acceptance Procedure for Codex Standards in the Perspective of the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements” was scheduled for discussion at the 12th Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (Paris, 25–28 November 1996). The paper will examine the status of Codex texts and the present acceptance procedure in the framework of the SPS and TBT Agreements, especially concerning the obligations undertaken by member countries of the WTO in relation to the acceptance procedures.
15. The Representative of the WTO informed the Committee that notwithstanding the Codex acceptance procedures, WTO members were encouraged to base their sanitary and phytosanitary measures on international standards, guidelines or recommendations on as wide a basis as possible.
Acceptances of Codex Standards by Countries in the Region of Africa
16. Many delegations indicated their acceptance of one or more Codex standards. Some delegations stated that they utilize Codex standards in the development of their national food legislation, and others noted that in the absence of national legislation Codex texts were being enforced. One delegation stated that in addition to harmonizing its food legislation with those of Codex, it was also in the process of harmonizing its texts with those of its neighbours. The Committee 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 standards, codes and guidelines.
5 Also see paras. 34–40 of this report.
6 ALINORM 95/37, paras. 17–22.
STRENGTHENING FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION SYSTEMS IN AFRICA (Agenda Item 5)
Report of the FAO Workshop on Strengthening Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification in Africa8
17. The Codex Secretariat informed the Committee that the 43rd Session of the Executive Committee had noted that support to developing countries through project activities, exchange of national experts, and national seminars in relation to Codex matters was on-going and was expected to be enhanced.9
18. The FAO Workshop (Harare, 18 November 1996) was chaired by Mr. David Nhari, Codex Coordinator for Africa and Chairman of the Codex Committee for Africa. Representatives from Angola, Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Life Sciences Institute and the Chairman of the Codex Alimentarius Commission attended the Workshop. During the Workshop, South Africa presented a full report on its import and export inspection and certification systems.
19. Reports on current approaches to food import and export inspection and certification were presented by representatives of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The representatives stressed the importance of strengthening food inspection and certification in the region through the harmonization of procedures, the enhancement of inter-agency coordination, the dissemination of information, the revision of food regulations and laws, the improvement of food laboratories and the prioritization of such programs through increased resources.
20. On the basis of the above Workshop discussions, the Committee agreed to revise and provide the following advice to governments within the Codex Region of Africa:
National food laws and regulations for food import and export inspection and certification should be harmonized with existing Codex standards and guidelines and in consideration of the WTO Agreements on SPS and TBT. These Codex initiatives include the Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification and the Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Control Emergency Situations.
Governments should give the utmost priority and support to the strengthening of national food control activities by providing increased resources, including support to allow the participation of governments at Codex Committee sessions.
National inter-agency and intra-governmental coordination and harmonization should be rationalized to allow for maximum efficiency, utilization of resources and exchange and dissemination of information to the public and private sectors, including consumers.
Governments should improve laboratory facilities, including accreditation and cross-utilization of resources (e.g., sharing of facilities, maintenance of equipment, etc.), for food import and export control.
Food control authorities should be adequately and continuously trained in the latest inspection, certification and analytical techniques and procedures.
International bodies and governments should be encouraged to provide assistance in the above areas.
HARMONIZATION OF NATIONAL/REGIONAL STANDARDS WITH CODEX STANDARDS10(Agenda Item 6)
Cooperation with the African Regional Standards Organization (ARSO)
21. The 11th Session of CCAFRICA discussed11 the results of a meeting held in March 1994 between ARSO, the Codex Secretariat and the Codex Coordinator for Africa. In addition to a number of working arrangements designed to facilitate Codex/ARSO cooperation, it was agreed that ARSO would take account of relevant Codex texts when elaborating regional standards. The meeting also discussed cooperation in training, possible sources of funding and the exchange of information.
22. Subsequent to the 11th Session of CCAFRICA, a meeting was held in August 1996 between the Codex Coordinator for Africa and representatives of ARSO. Following the Codex/ARSO meeting the matter was tabled at the ARSO Council (Cairo, Egypt) in October 1996. The ARSO Council noted that in view of existing cooperation with the Codex Alimentarius Commission, it agreed that Codex should continue with its normal programme of formulating food standards and regulations and that ARSO should contribute to this work. The ARSO/TC Committee on food and agriculture should continue to liaise closely with Codex by submitting written comments on Codex Standards regularly.
23. In view of the above ARSO Council decision, the Committee stressed that Codex and ARSO should continue to cooperate and coordinate towards the elaboration of harmonized regional standards without duplication of effort. The Committee noted that this decision would allow the Codex Alimentarius Commission to consider ARSO Standards, where relevant, in the elaboration of Codex standards.
Country Reports on the Harmonization of National and Regional Standards with Codex Standards
24. The delegation of Zimbabwe informed the Committee that the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare had revised their regulations on labelling, food additives and contaminants on the basis of Codex standards. The Standards Association of Zimbabwe, an independent body publishing standards, also uses Codex standards as their basis. The newly established Standards Organization in Sudan had adopted several Codex standards. Swaziland indicated that the newly established Food Standards Authority was using Codex standards in regulating food trade with South Africa. Mozambique relied on Codex standards in the establishment of their national food control regulations. The Food Control Board in Botswana had adopted several Codex standards and welcomed a reciprocal agreement with South Africa and Zimbabwe to facilitate their trade. Tanzania and Kenya reported that they relied on Codex standards for the establishment of their national regulations. The delegation of Egypt reported that their NCC was in the process of examining Codex texts for potential application, and the delegation of Malawi noted that its food standards were based on Codex standards. The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) had adopted a number of Codex standards as national food standards and where no national food standards exist, the GSB uses Codex standards for its inspection, certification and quality evaluation programmes.
25. The Committee 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. It agreed that progress reports on these harmonization efforts would be discussed at its next session.
11 ALINORM 95/28, paras. 23–26.
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL ACTION PLANS TO ESTABLISH/STRENGTHEN THE ROLES OF CODEX CONTACT POINTS AND NATIONAL CODEX COMMITTEES IN THE REGION12(Agenda Item 7)
26. The Secretariat recalled recommendations made by the FAO Meeting of Codex Contact Points in Africa (Abuja, Nigeria; 5–6 May 1995), which were subsequently endorsed by the 11th Session of the Coordinating Committee for Africa.13 The 11th Session of the Committee urged governments to identify obstacles in their countries to establish or strengthen, as appropriate, the countries' Codex Contact Point (CCP) or National Codex Committee (NCC). Government comments concerning this issue were requested under CL 1996/2-AFRICA in May 1996.
27. The Committee was informed that the 10th Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia14 (March 1996) agreed to advance proposed draft Guidelines for Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees (ALINORM 97/15, Appendix V) to the 43rd session of the Executive Committee for adoption at Step 5. Subsequent to the CCEXEC adoption, government comments were requested at Step 6 under CL 1996/31-ASIA in July 1996. The Committee also noted discussions held at the 20th Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Europe concerning this matter.15
28. In reporting on situations in their countries, Malawi informed the meeting that its Bureau of Standards was the CCP and assistance was provided by FAO/Codex to help Malawi set up its NCC. In Kenya, the Kenya Bureau of Standards is the CCP. In Tanzania, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards was the CCP, while the Agriculture and Food Divisional Committee (AFDC) of the Bureau was designated by the Nation's Executive Council as the NCC. Plans were underway in Tanzania to educated members of the NCC of their responsibility/functions. South Africa became a member of Codex in 1994; a CCP and NCC had already been established. The South African NCC was in the process of establishing general and commodity committees which will draft regulations in their areas of specialization for consideration by the regulatory authorities.
29. The Committee was informed that FAO/Codex provided assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe to organize a workshop16 to advise, among other things, on the establishment of its NCC. One of the recommendations of the workshop was that the Commodity Standards Committee of the Food and Food Standards Advisory Board be established as the National Codex Committee. The Board had since set up seven committees which were requested to prepare and present their plans of action for consideration by the Board by January 1997. The Board was also mandated to operate an account to fund Codex activities. The Codex Contact Point is the Government Analyst.
30. In Nigeria, the CCP and NCC were in place. The CCP is the Standards Organization of Nigeria while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is chairman of the NCC. The NCC has a committee which considers Codex texts to provide comments to the NCC for consideration. In Botswana, the Food Act of 1993 provided for the establishment of the National Food Control Board (NFCB). The Board decided that the Food Legislation Advisory Committee be designated as the NCC. The Board planned to create a Codex Budget to fund its activities.
13 ALINORM 95/28, paras. 47–54.
14 ALINORM 97/15, paras. 36–41.
15 ALINORM 97/19, paras. 43–46.
16 FAO Workshop on Strengthening Food Quality Control in Zimbabwe; Harare, 13–14 June 1996.
31. In Egypt, the Director of the Egyptian Organization for Standardization is the CCP, while the NCC consists of high level officials drawn from relevant Ministries, research institutes, etc. The NCC was in the process of reviewing and updating its standards and laboratory practices. In Swaziland the composition of the NCC was currently under consideration. The Director of Agriculture and Cooperatives is the CCP. Mali has a committee in which all concerned parties, including consumer associations, play active roles in the plan of action for food safety/control.
32. The Ghana Standards Board, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is the CCP for Ghana. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is responsible for international trade relations. With the signing of the WTO SPS Agreement by the government of Ghana, policy makers are now recognizing the importance of Codex standards to international trade. In Sudan, the current CCP is located in the Sudanese Standards and Meteorological Organization (SSMO). The emphasis of the SSMO was the participation of the private sector in the work of the Committee.
33. The Committee agreed with the proposal of the Chairman to solicit additional comments on the establishment and strengthening of Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees for consideration at its next session. The Committee 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.
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WTO AGREEMENTS ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (SPS) MEASURES AND ON THE TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (TBT)17(Agenda Item 8)
Working Arrangements Between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organization
34. The 21st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission18 noted the specific provisions of the SPS and TBT Agreements to facilitate their implementation by developing countries, and that regional workshops were being organized in cooperation with WTO to explain the privileges and obligations under the Agreements. The Commission also noted with satisfaction the working arrangements which had been established between WTO and itself. The Commission requested the Codex Committee on General Principles to develop guidance on the modalities to be used for the implementation of these working arrangements.
35. The 43rd Session of the Executive Committee noted 19 that the WTO Committee on SPS Measures had not yet established a list of Standards, guidelines or other recommendations of importance to international trade. It reiterated the need for Secretariat guidance to be provided to Coordinating Committees in their review of standards which had a potential trade impact. It noted that, in part, this review was useful in identifying areas where the development of additional Codex texts was required. It also had the potential to assist in the setting priorities for the revision of standards and in identifying problems in the application of standards.
36. The Committee did not identify Codex standards which had a major impact on trade.
17 CX/AFRICA 96/7; also see paras. 13–15 of this report.
18 ALINORM 95/37, paras. 13–16.
Status of Codex Guidelines, Codex of Practice and Other Advisory Texts
37. The 43rd Session of the Executive Committee noted20 that Codex “advisory” texts covered a very wide range of subject matter and varied considerably in their content. The Executive Committee requested the Secretariat to undertake an analysis of all so-called “advisory texts” with a view to clarifying the status of these texts and their specific contents, especially within the context of the relevant WTO agreements.
38. The Committee was informed that the 12th Session of the Codex Committee on General Principles (Paris, 25–28 November 1996) would be considering a “Review of the Status of Codex, Guidelines and Related Texts”.21 The paper examines the status of Codex texts other than standards, which are sometimes referred to as “advisory”.
39. The Representative of the WTO informed the Committee that the Agreement on SPS Measures includes requirements concerning the provision of technical assistance to members, especially developing country members, as well as requirements to take account of the special needs of such countries. The Representative noted that the Committee on SPS Measures is currently developing a procedure to monitor the process of international harmonization and the use of international standards, guidelines or recommendations, and that the SPS Committee is focusing its efforts in areas where the non-use of standards is causing problems in international trade. The Representative stressed that the SPS Agreement, in its reference to Codex, does not differentiate between different types of Codex texts.
40. Delegations were encouraged to attend a WTO Seminar on the Implications of the SPS and TBT Agreements scheduled to be held in Harare on Thursday, 21 November 1996. The Secretariat also agreed to present a progress report on the implementation of the WTO Agreements at the next Session of CCAFRICA.
20 ALINORM 97/3, paras. 51–52.
CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAFT CODE OF PRACTICE FOR STREET FOODS IN AFRICA AT STEP 722(Agenda Item 9)
41. The Committee was informed that the proposed draft Code was adopted by the 21st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at Step 5. The Commission noted that the Code would need to be amended to incorporate the new approach contained in the revised General Principles of Food Hygiene and the use of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System.23 The Commission had requested that the matter continue to be considered in view of its importance for public health and consumer protection. Comments were requested at Step 6 under CL 1996/2-AFRICA.
42. The Committee reaffirmed that street foods were not intended for international trade, but that the Code was important for public health and consumer protection. The Committee stressed that governments could utilize the Code for application, as appropriate, to their own local conditions.
23 ALINORM 95/37, para. 50 and Appendix 4.
43. The Committee discussed the draft Code in its entirety, and while concurring with the proposed revised text presented (CX/AFRICA 96/8 - Part II), made minor revisions and agreed to the following changes:
Title
44. In consideration of the Committee's decision that the Code was not intended for mandatory application, the title was changed to read as “Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street Vended Foods in Africa”.
Section 1 - Introduction/Scope
45. The Committee deleted the reference to “affordable prices” as being irrelevant to the Guidelines.
Section 2 - Definitions
46. The term “beverages” and “ready-to-eat” were removed from the text of the Guidelines and replaced by “Street Foods” throughout the Guidelines, as these terms were already covered by the “Street Foods” definition.
47. The definition for “relevant authority” was clarified by referring to “local or officially recognized” authorities.
48. The definition for “pests” was deleted.
Section 3 - General Requirements
49. Section 3.1.2 was strengthened by indicating that local conditions, including specific risk factors that are relevant to each operation, should be taken into account.
Section 4 - Vendors
50. Sections 4.1.1 and 4.2.3 were deleted as they were covered elsewhere in the Guidelines. Section 4.2.2 was restored. The first sentence of section 4.2.7 was deleted as it was addressed in Section 4.1.2. “Chewing gum” was restored to section 4.2.8.
Section 5 - Design and Structure
51. Section 5.1.1 was clarified by referencing “street food stalls”. The reference to paving with smooth impervious material was removed from Section 5.1.3 as it was impractical.
Section 7 - Food Preparation
52. The Committee decided to add a new section 7.1.2 to state that “The food handling method employed should be such as to minimize the loss of nutrients”. Section 7.2.2 was clarified to indicate that raw food used in food preparation should be washed, where appropriate. Section 7.2.6 was revised by referencing “appropriate chemical agent”. A new section 7.3.5 stating “Food grade packing materials should be used” and a new section 7.6.11 concerning date marking was added.
Status of the Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods in Africa
53. The Committee advanced the draft Guidelines (see Appendix II) to the 22nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption at Step 8.
PROGRESS REPORT ON MAIN PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF PESTICIDES IN THE REGION24(Agenda Item 10)
54. The 11th Session of the CCAFRICA agreed to include this agenda item at its present session, with the objective of improving the collection of data on imported/exported commodities of the region and on the main use of pesticides at the regional level.25
55. A “Questionnaire for Information on Pesticides in Current Use in Developing Countries in Relation to International Trade in Food” was revised by the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) (April 1996) on the basis of recommendations developed by its Ad Hoc Working Group on Pesticide Residues in Developing Countries. The questionnaire was developed in order to collect and assess information from developing countries concerning their main agricultural exports, the most commonly used pesticides on these commodities and any apparent trade difficulties associated with product rejections in those cases where Codex or national MRLs were exceeded or when pesticides lacking tolerances in importing countries were detected, with a view towards identifying pesticide/commodity combinations for which Codex MRLs be established.26
56. The amended CCPR questionnaire (CL 1996/15-PR) was circulated for comment under CL 1996/2-AFRICA in May 1996. Comments submitted by Malawi, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania have been forwarded to the CCPR for consideration at its 29th Session in April 1997.
57. The Committee agreed that future submissions of information and data should be forwarded by individual governments directly to the CCPR. Therefore, it was further agreed that the Committee would discontinue the consideration of this subject at its future meetings.
25 ALINORM 95/28, paras. 55–59.
26 ALINORM 97/24, paras. 99–103.
OTHER BUSINESS AND FUTURE WORK (Agenda Item 11)
58. The committee had no other business to discuss. The Committee stressed the importance of enhancing communication between the Secretariat and Codex members. The Committee noted its Current Status of Work (see Annex).
NOMINATION OF COORDINATOR (Agenda Item 12)
59. The Committee unanimously supported Mr. David Nhari as Coordinator for Africa for appointment by the 22nd Session of the Commission until the end of the 23rd Session of the Commission.
DATE AND PLACE OF NEXT SESSION (Agenda Item 13)
60. The Committee was informed that its 13th Session was tentatively scheduled to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 3–6 November 1998.
ANNEX
CODEX COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA
CURRENT STATUS OF WORK
| SUBJECT | STEP | FOR ACTION BY | REFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vended Foods | 8 | 22nd CAC | Appendix II |
| Progress Report on Acceptances, Adoption and Use of Codex Standards and on the Implementation of the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food | ----- | Governments 13th CCAFRICA | paras. 12–16 |
| Strengthening Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection Systems in Africa | ----- | Governments 13th CCAFRICA | paras. 17–20 |
| Harmonization of National/Regional Standards with Codex Standards | ----- | Governments 13th CCAFRICA | paras. 21–25 |
| Progress Report on the Implementation of National Action Plans to Establish/Strengthen Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees in the Region | ----- | Governments 13th CCAFRICA | paras. 26–33 |
| Progress Report on the Implementation of the WTO Agreements | ----- | 13th CCAFRICA | paras. 34–40 |
