John R' Lupien

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CODEX and WTO UPDATES
Biotechnology,Functional Foods,Food Quality and
Safety
Malaysia, 2005

• John R. Lupien
• Adjunct Professor of Food Science
• University of Massachusetts
• Former Director, Food and Nutrition Division
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
  Nations (FAO)

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The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• Intergovernmental statutory body
• Currently 169 member countries and the European
  Community / EU
• To ensure consumers health and fair practices in
  the food trade

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scope and description
analysis and samples method
composition quality factors
CODEX STANDARD
additives and contaminants
labelling requirements
hygiene requirements
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Codex Standards

• Food quality and safety considerations
• Description of essential food hygiene and quality
  characteristics
• Labelling
• Methods of analysis and sampling
• Systems for inspection and certification
• Based on science, including risk assessment

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Codex and Biotechnology

• Codex Task Force on Foods Derived from
  Biotechnology- Meetings 2000, 2001, 2002
• Developed Codex texts on
• Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived
  from Modern Biotechnology
• Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety
  Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA
  Plants

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Codex and Biotechnology

• Developed Codex texts on (continued)
• Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety
  Assessment of Foods Produced Using
  Recombinant-DNA Microorganisms
• Annex on Possible Food Allergenicity Assessment

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Codex and Functional Foods

• General Standard for the Labeling for
  Pre-packaged Foods
• General Standard for the Labeling for
  Pre-packaged for Special Dietary Uses
• General Guideline on Claims, Nutrition Labeling
  and for the Use of Nutrition Claims
• CCFL / CCNFSDU

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Functional Foods and Newer Food Formulations

• What are they, current and Future?
• Food products to be taken as a part of the usual
  (hopefully balanced) diet in order to have
  beneficial effects.. (beyond traditional
  nutritional effects),..scientifically justified
  to support claims for enhanced function or reduce
  disease risk

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Vocabulary Confusion

• Novel Foods
• Functional Foods
• Nutraceuticals
• Special Dietary Use

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Novel or Functional Foods What are they?

• Traditional foods
• Novel foods
• Special Dietary Foods
• Medical Foods
• Dietary Supplements
• Drugs?

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Novel or Functional?

• Health Effects beyond Nutrition
• Macronutrients
• Essential Micronutrients
• Others

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Novel or Functional Food Claims

• Function Claims
• Structure Claims
• Health claims

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Some Current Products

• Cholesterol Lowering Margarine
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Tea
• Mushrooms
• Others (Lite, reduces, enhanced...)

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Future Products

• Claims justification
• Relatively easy, improves bowel function, reduces
  cholesterol, prevents neural tube defects
• Relatively difficult, most CVD claims, cancer
  protection, immune function, Alzheimers and
  others

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Supporting Data for Functional Food Claims

• Basic Research and Experimentation
• Developing Models and Methodologies
• Designing and Conducting Human Nutrition Studies
• Contacts with Regulatory Authorities

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Future Perspectives

• Consumer Attitudes and Expectations
• International Developments
• Satisfying Regulatory Demands

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GATT
WTO
World Trade Organization
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Bodies recognised by WTO

• Codex Alimentarius Commission
• International Office of Epizootics
• International Plant Protection Convention

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WTO and Codex

• Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
  Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement)
• Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT
  Agreement)
• A point of reference in international law

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FAO and WTO on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary measures

• Measures in trade to protect human, animal, and
  plant life or health
• SPS references the standards, guidelines and
  recommendations established by Codex

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SPS covers all food hygiene measures and food
safety issues

• Control of veterinary drugs
• Pesticides
• Food Additives
• Food Contaminants

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FAO and WTO on the Application of Technical
Barriers to Trade

• Prevent the use of unjustified technical barriers
  to trade
• Covers all types of standards, including all
  aspects of food standards
• Includes measures designed to protect the
  consumer against deception and fraud

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Decisions / Actions
Must be science based
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Risk Analysis

• Risk Assessment
• Risk Management
• Risk Communication

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BENCHMARK
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Using Codex
To meet WTO objectives
To meet national objectives
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(No Transcript)
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FOOD QUALITY
Safety and Quality
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Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
Include Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
(HACCP) Principles Applications
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Industry Quality Control
Official Monitoring
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Scientific Cooperation

• Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
  (JECFA)
• Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues
  (JMPR)
• Technical and Expert Consultations
• International, Regional and National
  Organizations (IUFoST, IUPAC, ICMSF, ISO)

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Farm / Fishery
Food quality and safety
Transportation / Storage
Processing
Packaging / Labelling
Transportation / Storage
Retail Sale and Food Service
Consumer
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FAO Technical Assistance

• National / regional project support / execution
• Strengthening Food Control
• Food Contaminant monitoring
• Import / Export Certification
• Laboratory Methods and Procedures

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Current information and publications

• Food and Nutrition Homepage
• http//www.fao.org