CODEX TASK FORCE ADOPTS FINAL BIOTECH STANDARD

The Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Food Derived from Biotechnology at its 11-14 March meeting adopted the Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Produced Using Recombinant-DNA Microorganisms. This is the last of three draft standards on biotech food adopted by the Task Force, which will be submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July. The Commission is expected to approve the standards given the consensus expressed in the Task Force.

Codex approves two-fold safety assessment

One of the key outstanding issues resolved at the meeting related to safety assessment requirements, i.e. whether only the genetically modified (GM) micro-organism should be assessed for safety or also the food produced with the aid of the organism. In the end, the US dropped its opposition and agreed to the inclusion of both types of assessment in the standard. The Guideline furthermore reiterates a footnote already included in the Guidelines for GM plants, stating that "in the foreseeable future, foods derived from modern biotechnology will not be used as conventional counterparts". This statement had been included despite US efforts to define conventional counterparts as including genetically modified foods based on the assumption that the process of genetic modification per se does not make the resulting food product different from conventional foods.

Consumer groups were generally satisfied with the Guideline and in particular with the inclusion of safety assessment requirements for foods produced with GM micro-organisms, which they said was necessary to check for possible unintended effects. Looking at the work of the Task Force overall, they noted that the annex setting out standards for the assessment of possible allergic reactions was the weakest outcome, describing it as a "barely passable" compromise. Specifically, they criticised that the annex did not adequately ensure consumer interests and food safety as it was not based on the recommendations of the joint FAO/WHO expert consultation due to opposition from the US and Canada.

'Product tracing' versus 'traceability'

The Guideline for micro-organisms was largely based on the previously adopted Guideline for safety assessment of foods produced with GM plants. As a result, there was no significant debate in the context of the standard on the traditionally contentious issues, such as precaution and traceability. These issues had deeply divided the Task Force during discussions on Principles for risk analysis of biotech foods at its previous meetings (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 21 March 2002). The divisions were resolved when the Task Force agreed to include the 'tracing of products' (rather than traceability) as a risk management tool in the standards.

Many observers believe that the agreement reached at the Codex meeting might mark a breakthrough in international negotiations on the use of traceability systems and at least partially vindicates the EU's insistence on introducing a labelling and traceability system for genetically modified foods. This view assumes that 'tracing of products' and traceability was the same. The US, however, has reportedly made attempts to distinguish between the two terms, arguing that 'product tracing' was limited to 'one step forward and one step back'. This view is also supported by the food industry, including the International Council of Grocery Manufacturers Associations and the US National Food Processors Association. The latter also advocates that the term traceability should no longer be used within Codex documents. To date, there is no agreed Codex definition for traceability and/or product tracing. The issue will be taken up by the Codex Committee on General Principles that is scheduled to meet from 28 April to 2 May.

This was the last scheduled meeting of the Task Force, even though its mandate could be extended if necessary. The meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission will be held from 30 June to 7 July.

Additional Resources

Reports of the Joint FAO/WHO Consultation on Foods Derived from Biotechnology.

"Discussion Paper On Traceability/Product Tracing In The Context Of Food Import And Export Inspection And Certification Systems", Codex Alimentarius Commission, September 2002.

ICTSD reporting; "Comments on CX/FH 02/7," ICGMA, 20 December 2002; "Re: Draft Discussion Paper - CCFICS Working Group on Traceability," NFPA, 5 August 2002.