ALINORM 03/26/11: Add. 6



Agenda Item 10

JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME



CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION



Twenty-sixth Session, FAO Headquarters, Rome (Italy), 30 June-7 July 2003



JOINT FAO/WHO EVALUATION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS AND OTHER FAO AND WHO WORK ON FOOD STANDARDS


Addendum 6: Consideration of the Evaluation Report by FAO and WHO Governing Bodies

The report of the Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation has been submitted to the governing bodies of FAO and WHO for consideration. The present document contains Resolution WHA 56.23 of the World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, 19-28 May 2003 and an extract of the report of the Eighty-Ninth Session of FAO’s Programme Committee (Document CL 124/14) held in Rome 4-9 May 2003. The report of FAO’s Programme Committee will be considered by the 124th Session of FAO Council, Rome, 23-28 June 2003.


EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION OF FAO’S PROGRAMME COMMITTEE (DOCUMENT CL 124/14)

Joint FAO/WHO Evaluation of the Codex Alimentarius and Other FAO and WHO Food Standards Work

50. The Committee commended the evaluation report for its thoroughness, transparency and independence of evaluation. The importance member countries attached to the evaluation was testified to by their input into the evaluation process and the seriousness with which it was being addressed in the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

51. The Committee fully agreed with the four main areas for improvement in FAO and WHO food standards work identified by the evaluation, i.e.:

52. The Committee discussed the recommendations of the evaluation in some detail, noting that these had been the subject of an in-depth discussion at a Special Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in February and had also been discussed in WHO’s Executive Board in January 2003. It was noted that the Codex Alimentarius Commission had committed itself to implementing strategies that would meet the objectives of the recommendations of the evaluation and had begun a process of consultation and debate so that the main recommendations addressed to the Commission could be taken up in the Commission's June meeting. The Committee joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission in supporting the overall thrusts of the evaluation report. Members in particular emphasized the importance of:

53. There was general agreement on the desirability of annual sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

54. In common with the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Committee emphasized the need for FAO and WHO to give high priority to allocation of the necessary Regular Programme resources. Some members also noted that it would be difficult to realize this priority in the absence of an increased overall budget for FAO.

55. While in general supporting the intent of the recommendations members also questioned the need for and practicality of:

56. Varying views were expressed on the priority which should be given to non-health related aspects of standard setting. Views also differed on the desirability of Codex developing agreement on acceptable levels of protection for health, for use in setting its own standards.

57. The Codex Alimentarius Commission and both FAO and WHO management had already put in process a programme of work to consult further with members and move forward in developing strategies to implement the main thrusts of the evaluation recommendations. This needed to be discussed further in the FAO and WHO Governing Bodies both to ensure resource availability and that the direction of change represented the interests of all members. The Programme Committee would review the progress in two years’ time with a view to maintaining the momentum of change and requested a follow-up report at that time.