Document MoMpMado5X5ZJ7bR1NdZ40wmk

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES <989 PuDiic Health Service for-fDistr.bunon bv CMA- WH'aVSISifigDJS/iSlSllNt 11 on November 24, 1989 To: USA Contacts for the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants Re: (1) CL 1989/38-FAC -- Guideline Levels for Aflatoxin in Various Animal Feeds (2) CL 1989/41-FAC Guideline Levels for Methyl Mercury in Fish, ancfS/inyl Chloride Monomer^and Acrylonitrile in Foods and Packaging Materials Dear Sir/Madam: This is a continuation of the series of letters being sent to you concerning activities of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC). Copies of the above-referenced Circular Letters (CL's) are enclosed for your review. (1) CL 1989/38-FAC -- The CCFAC at its 20th Session in 1988 proposed guideline levels for aflatoxins in feed. These levels were listed in APPENDIX VIII of ALINORM 89/12 (copy enclosed). The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) agreed at its July 1989 meeting that the guideline levels should be submitted to governments and interested international organizations for comment at Step 3 of the Codex procedure. The purpose of CL 1989/38-FAC is to elicit such comments, and the US plans to respond in due course. If you wiafr'your views to be given consideration as part of the U8 consents, please send yeur comments directly to me, preferably no later than December 15 (recognizing that the November 30 deadline indicated in the CL is unreasonably short). (2) CL 1989/41-FAC (a) Methvl Mercury in Fish -- The CCFAC at its 21st Session in March 1989 reaffirmed the same guideline levels for methyl mercury that had been proposed at the 19th Session, i.e., 5 mg/kg for fish in general, and 1.0 mg/kg for predatory fish (shark, swordfish, tuna, pike, etc.). These levels, which were listed in APPENDIX X of ALINORM 89/12A (copy enclosed), were advanced to Step 5 of the Codex procedure. Subsequently, at the CAC meeting in July 1989, the guideline levels were adopted as "drafts" and advanced to Step 6. Accordingly, CL 1989/4I7FAC requests govern ments and interested international organizations to comment on the draft guideline levels. Please let me have your comments by CMA 015602 Page 2 - USA Contacts for CCFAC December 15 if you wish your views to be given consideration as part of the US response. (b) Vinvl Chloride and Acrylonitrile -- As was the case with the methyl mercury in fish guideline levels discussed above, the proposed guideline levels for vinyl chloride monomer and acrylo nitrile in food and food packaging material (see also the enclosed copy of APPENDIX X of ALINORM 89/12A) were advanced to step 5 by the CCFAC and to Step 6 by the CAC, and comments are being requested via CL 1989/41-FAC. Again, please let us have your comments by December 15, ** If you have questions on any of these matters, please feel free to contact me or Durward F. Dodgen (202-472-5680) of my staff. Sincerely yours, Patricia S. Schwartz, Ph.D. Alternate US Delegate Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants Acting Director Division of Food Chemistry and Technology Center for Food safety and Applied Nutrition Enclosures CHA 015603 codex aljmentarius commission FOODANDAGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION JOINTOFFICE; Vi* deileTermedl CineiU* 00100 ROME: Tel.57971 Telex: 610181 FAQ I. Ctblet Foodigrl Feejimlle: 6799563 CX 4/30.2 a 1989/38-FAC October 1989 TO: : - Codex Contact Points - Participants at the Twenty First Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants - Interested International Organizations FROM : - Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy SUBJECT : - Guideline Levels for Aflatoxin in Various Animal Feeds Governments and international organizations are again invited to comment on the proposed Guideline Levels at Step 3 of Aflatoxin for Various Animal Feeds, as contained in Appendix VIII of ALIN0RM 89/12. 'Comments should be sent to Mr. V.J. de Roe, Chairman of the Working Group on Methods of Analysis and Sampling of Mycotoxlns, State Supervisory Agency for Public Health, Chief Inspectorate for Cosmodlties, P.0. Box 5406, 2280 H.K. Ryswijk, The Netherlands, with a copy to the Chief, FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, 00100 Rome Italy, to arrive not later than 30 November 1989. CMA 015604 Nuts, oilseeds, cereals and their products ) I 5 /vgAg Total aflatoxins Bl, b2, Gl, G2 J ALINORB 89/12 APTOCIX VIII 1 Straight feedingstuffs 50 /jg/Kg () Complete feedingstuffs for cattle, sheep 50 //g/Kg (B,) and goats (except dairy cattle, calves and 1 lambs) Various animal feedstuffs as established by the EEC Complete feedingstuffs for pigs and poultry (except young animals) Other complete feedingstuffs 20 /vg/Kg (B-) 1 10 </g/Kg (B^) Supplementary feedingstuffs for cattle, sheep and goats (except dairy animals, calves and lambs) 50 ^g/Kg (B,) 1 Supplementary feedingstuffs for pigs and poultry (except young animals) 30 /jg/Kg (B,) 1 Other supplementary feedingstuffs 10 uq/Kq () - Following Feedstuff Ingredients: J Groundnut, Copra, Palm kernel, Cotton seed, Babassu, Maize and products derived froo the processing there of 200 i/g/kg (B^ CMA 015405 codex alimentarius commission FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ' WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION JOINT OFFICE. \ ia delle Terme di Caracalla OG100 ROME: Tel. 5 7971 Telex 610181 F A 0 I Cables Foodagri Facsimile 6 7 99^6 3 CX 4/30.2 CL 1989/41-FAC October 1989 TO: : - Codex Contact Points - Participants at the Twenty First Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants - Interested International Organizations FROM: : - Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy SUBJECT : - Guideline Levels for Methyl Mercury in Fish and for Vinylchlorlde Monomer and Acrylonitrile in Foods and Packaging Materials The Codex Alimentarius Commission advanced the Guideline Levels for Methyl Mercury in Fish and for Vinylchlorlde Monomer and Acrylonitrile in Foods and Packaging Materials as contained in ALINORM 89/12A-Appendix X to Step 6 at its 18th Session. Governments and interested international organizations are invited to comment on the proposed Guideline Levels at Step 6 and provide any information they have on sampling plans and methods of analysis for the estimation of the contaminants. ^ Comments sloulc be sent to Mr. A. Febervee, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, ?.0. Box 20401. 2500 EK The Hague, The Netherlands with a copy to this office not later than 15 December 1989. CMA 015604 ALIN0W1 89/12A APPENDIX X Proposed Draft GUIDELINE LEVELS FOR CERTAIN CONTAMINANTS (Advanced to Step 5 of the Procedure) Methylmercury Proposed guideline level All fish except predatory fish Predatory fish (such as shark, swordfish, tuna, pike and others) 0.5 mgAg 1 mgA9 Note: The proposed Guideline levels are intended for methyl mercury in fresh or processed fish and fish products moving in international trade. Lots should be considered as being in compliance with the proposed guideline levels if the level of methyl mercury in the analytical sample, derived from the composite bulk sample, does not exceed the above proposed levels. Where these proposed Guideline levels are exceeded, governments should decide whether and under what circumstances, the food should be distributed within their territory of jurisdiction and what recommendations, if any, should be given as regards restrictions on consumption, especially by vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. Vinyl chloride monomer Proposed Guideline level in food Proposed Guideline level in food packaging material Acrylonitrile Proposed Guideline level in food 0.01 mgAg 1.0 mgAg 0.02 mgAg CMA 015607 CMA 0 1 5 6 0 8 procedure for the elaboration of unpT.TjtfTOE CODEX STAMDARCS STEPS 1. 2 and 3 (l) The Commission decides, taking into account the "Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities and for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies", to elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard and also decides which subsidiary body or other body should undertake the work. A decision to elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard may also be taken by subsidiary bodies of the Commission in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria, subject to subsequent approval by the Commission or its Executive Committee at the earliest possible opportunity. {2} The Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a proposed draft standard. {3} The proposed draft standard is sent to Members of the Commission and interested international organizations for comment on all aspects including possible implications of the proposed draft standard for their economic interests. STEP 4 The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or other body concerned which has the power to consider such comments and to amend the proposed draft standard. STEP 5 a/ The proposed draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission with a view to its adoption as a draft standard. In taking any decision at this step, the Commission wil! give due consideration to any comments that may be submitted by any of its Members regarding the implications which the proposed draft standard or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests. STEP 6 The draft standard is sent by the Secretariat to all Members and interested international organizations for comment on all aspects, including possible implications of the draft standard for their economic interests. STEP 7 The comments received are 3ent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such comments and amend the draft standard. STEP 8 The draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the Commission together with any written proposals received from Members for amendments at Step 8 with a view to its adoption as a Codex standard. af Without prejudice to any decision that may be taken by the Commission at Step 5i the proposed draft standard may be sent by the Secretariat for government comment prior to it3 consideration at Step 5i when, in the opinion of the subsidiary body or other body concerned, the time between the relevant eession of the Commission and the subsequent session of the subsidiary or other bodyconcerned requires such action in order to advance the work.