50. The 7th Session the CCFICS requested the 23rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to approve the elaboration of Proposed Draft Codex Guidelines for the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems as new work[11]. The 23rd Session of the Commission noted[12] the general support for the elaboration of the Guidelines and agreed that a substantive working paper be prepared for presentation at the 8th CCFICS Session. The proposed draft Guidelines were prepared by Australia with the participation of Canada, Denmark, France, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. The proposed draft Guidelines were presented by Australia.
51. The Committee thanked Australia and the other countries for their work and generally supported the continued development of the Guidelines in view of the importance of quality assurance systems in providing consumer protection and in facilitating trade in food.
52. Some delegations were of the opinion that the Guidelines should be limited to matters of food safety because other provisions relating to quality were subjective and therefore the elaboration of Codex guidelines covering both aspects could potentially lead to a situation in which unjustified non-tariff barriers to trade could be applied. It was also suggested that quality assurance systems related to non-safety measures should be voluntary and that resources and infrastructures for the promotion of quality assurance systems were limited.
53. Other delegations believed that the guidelines should relate to the use of quality assurance systems which include both safety and other quality factors. However, it was noted that the current document should clarify the relationship between HACCP principles and quality assurance systems including the ISO 9000 series and the relationship between quality objectives and food safety objectives. It was noted that good manufacturing practice and the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene should be used in the first instance to ensure the quality and safety of foods.
54. Some delegations suggested that the Guidelines should focus more directly on how voluntary quality assurance systems could be used to assist those responsible for official controls.
55. The Committee agreed to modify the title to read as Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems to meet Requirements in Relation to Food in order to confirm that the scope of the text referred to all aspects of food quality, including safety.
56. In view of divergent opinions concerning the successful integration of HACCP principles into a broader quality assurance system, the Committee deleted the second sentence of paragraph 2 in the Scope section. In response to concerns, the Committee noted that the text of the Guidelines did not mandate the use of quality assurance systems.
57. The Committee agreed that the definitions needed to be revised to take account of recent decisions of the Commission and definitions established by the ISO.
58. The Committee agreed that elements of a quality assurance system (paragraph 5, Section 3) should also include: corrective actions, internal audit, supplier assessment, traceability, measurement, reliability and system review. The Committee noted that the linkage between HACCP principles and quality assurance systems in paragraph 7 and in Appendix I needed to be addressed in a much clearer and discursive manner.
59. The Committee noted that ISO Standards did not require a recall procedure (paragraph 19) as such but provided for the identity of products at any stage. Some countries considered that public communication of the recall process was essential and should be reflected in the text.
Status of the Proposed Draft Codex Guidelines for the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems to Meet Requirements in Relation to Food
60. The Committee agreed that Australia, with assistance from Canada, Denmark, France, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, the United States and the European Commission, would prepare a revised version of the document for circulation and comment at Step 3 prior to the next session of CCFICS.
61. It was further agreed that the drafting group would primarily address the use as well as promotion of generic quality assurance systems; the relationship between quality assurance and HACCP principles; written comments; and, discussions at the current meeting.
