Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils

AGENCY:

U.S. Codex Office, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on September 20, 2021. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions to be discussed at the 27th Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will convene virtually, October 18-26, 2021. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 27th Session of the CCFO and to address items on the agenda.

DATES:

The public meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2021, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES:

The public meeting will take place via Video Teleconference only. Documents related to the 27th Session of the CCFO will be accessible via the internet at the following address: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCFO&session=27. Dr. Paul South, U.S. Delegate to the 27th Session of the CCFO, invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address: paul.south@fda.hhs.gov.

Registration:

Attendees must register to attend the public meeting here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdeCspjoiE_dPA0lHBseYMWHn9UDDhdY. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information about the 27th Session of the CCFO, contact U.S. Delegate, Dr. Paul South, paul.south@fda.hhs.gov, +1 (240) 402-1640.

For further information about the public meeting contact: U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 20250. Phone (202) 720-7760, Fax: (202) 720-3157, Email: uscodex@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

The Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) are:

(a) To elaborate worldwide standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable and marine origin including margarine and olive oil.

The CCFO is hosted by Malaysia. The United States attends the CCFO as a member country of Codex.

Issues To Be Discussed at the Public Meeting

The following items on the Agenda for the 27th Session of the CCFO will be discussed during the public meeting:

• Adoption of the Agenda.
• Matters referred to the Committee by the CAC and other Codex Subsidiary Bodies.
• Matters of Interest arising from FAO/WHO and from the 90th and 91st Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
• Proposed draft revision to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999):

○ Sunflower seed oil—Revision of composition: Section 3.1—GLC ranges of fatty acid composition—ranges of oleic and linoleic acid.

○ Sunflower seed oil—Revision to composition—Physical and chemical parameters (refractive index, saponification value, iodine values and relative density).

○ Inclusion of avocado oil in the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CXS 210-1999).

• Proposed draft revision to the Standard for Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils (CXS 33-1981): Revision of Sections 3, 8 and Appendix.
• Review of the List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes (Appendix II to CXC 36-1987).
• Consideration of the proposals for new work and or amendments to existing Codex Standards—Replies to CL 2019/54-FO, including a proposal from the United States to revise the Codex Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (CSX 210-1999) to include high oleic acid soya bean oil.

Public Meeting

At the September 20, 2021, public meeting, draft U.S. positions on the agenda items will be described and discussed, and attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions and offer comments. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent to Dr. Paul South, U.S. Delegate for the 27th Session of the CCFO (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should state that they relate to activities of the 27th Session of the CCFO.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, the U.S. Codex Office will announce this Federal Register publication on-line through the USDA web page located at: http://www.usda.gov/ codex, a link that also offers an email subscription service providing access to information related to Codex. Customers can add or delete their subscription themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

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How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

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Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Fax: (202) 690-7442, Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

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