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Stephen Clapp
Although antibiotic resistance is not on the meeting agenda, the U.S.
delegation is preparing to deal with the issue and has asked for comments
on which Codex committees should handle issues involving
antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens.
"The issue could come forward in Geneva, and we wanted you to know about
it," Ed Scarbrough, U.S. Codex manager, told participants at a June 6
public meeting in preparation for the Geneva session.
Codex, an international standard-setting body for foods, has three bodies
that could deal with antibiotic resistance: the food hygiene committee, the
animal drug residues committee, and an ad-hoc intergovernmental task force
on animal feeding. The two committees are hosted by the United States.
Denmark, an EU leader in outlawing antibiotics, hosts the task force.
Although it is unlikely that a final decision designating a specific body
will be made in Geneva, a recommendation could be made if antibiotic
resistance is debated. Debate would give delegates the opportunity to air
their views on which body should handle the subject.
Rich Carnevale, representing the Animal Health Institute, said his trade
association favors giving prime responsibility to the Codex Committee on
Food Hygiene (CCFH). "Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a subset of
foodborne pathogens in general," Carnevale said. "CCFH should handle the
issue. Do they need to redo their terms of reference in order to do it? I’m
not sure. We would endorse that CCFH handle both antimicrobial-resistant
and antimicrobial-sensitive pathogens."
Precautionary principle
Scarbrough said the U.S. delegation wants to prepare its positions on other
issues early so it can do as much lobbying of other countries as possible
before the Geneva session starts.
The U.S. delegation will stand firm on positions it took in April on risk
analysis, including the precautionary principle, Scarbrough said. "Two
different work products are needed: one for Codex and another for national
governments," he said. "We expect controversy between the EU and the U.S."
(see FCN, April 30, Page 1).
Scarbrough said it is difficult to determine how much support the United
States will get from other countries. "We followed up on the CCGP meeting
with a State Department demarche to countries that supported us in Paris,"
he said. "We hope for a strong front in Geneva."
Scarbrough predicted that the United States would get support from
developing countries concerned about their World Trade Organization
obligations if the EU persists in seeking a single risk-analysis document
covering both Codex and member governments.
Equivalence guidelines opposed
U.S. officials acknowledge that proposed guidelines for judging the
equivalence of food safety systems might run into trouble in Geneva. The
guidelines were advanced by the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export
Certification and Inspection Systems.
The draft U.S. position favors final adoption of the guidelines at Step 8
in the eight-step Codex approval process, bypassing further comment and
consideration.
"We favor moving the document forward, but we’ll pay attention to how the
floor discussion goes," said Robert Lake of FDA. "If there’s strong
opposition, we might accept moving it to Step 5, which would be an
acceptable outcome for us at this stage."
Bruce Silverglade, legal affairs director at the Center for Science in the
Public Interest, reported that the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue had
sent a letter to Codex Chairperson Tom Billy opposing adoption of the
equivalence guidelines. The group said they have "significant flaws."
U.S. officials reviewed several other issues likely to provoke controversy
at the Geneva meeting:
• The U.S. supports a draft code of hygienic practice for the transport of
foods in bulk and semi-packed food, advanced by the Codex Committee on Food
Hygiene. "Should the issue be raised again, the United States does not
support inclusion of specific provisions related to dedicated transport,"
according to the draft position.
• The U.S. supports the draft maximum level of 50 µg/kg for patulin in
apple juice, advanced by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and
Contaminants. EU countries want a lower maximum level, although they do not
have a unified position. U.S. officials are concerned about apple juice
products from developing countries with patulin levels much higher than the
proposed standard. "Let’s get them off the market," said FDA’s Dennis Keefe.
• The U.S. favors an estimated maximum residue level for DDT in meat of 5
mg/kg as proposed by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues. The
commission will be asked to decide on an appropriate level.
• The U.S. supports including the species Culpea bentincki in the Codex
Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products as proposed by the
Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products. It is likely that
Mediterranean countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Spain will oppose the
amendment.
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