Document R2X1LRNNneJknyVzyQLJqw4kk

FE3 15 1968 TELEPHONE HUDSON 3 6126 Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. (FOUNDED 1872) 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N. W. Washington, D. C. 20009 February 12, 1968 TO: Members of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Chemicals Committee and Others on the FDCCC Mailing List SUBJECT: Guidance for FDCCC Representative to Codex Committee on Food Labeling Gentlemen: I am enclosing a copy of the report of the third meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling at the request of Walt Meyer, who is representing the FDCC Committee as an industry advisor to , the U.S. delegate to this Codex Committee. The distribution is to one person only from each company. Mr. Meyer requests that you or someone else in your company review this report carefully, and send in your comments to me by March 15 for compilation. Your comments are needed so that Mr. Meyer will be in a position to speak for a cross-section of chemical companies at the next meeting of the Codex Committee. Sincerely yours, MMH:Sjg Enclosure Morgan M. Hoover ASI 00002005 ALINORM 67/22 JUNE, X%7. JOINT FAOAfHO CODEX ALIMENTARIU3 COMMISSION CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD LABELLING REPORT OF THIRD MEETING OTTAWA. CANADA 26-30 June, 1967. ASI 00002006 JOINT FAO/WHO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION CODEX COMMUTES ON FOOD LABELLING THIRD MEETING OTTAWA. CANADA 26-30 June. 1967 1. The Third Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, under the Chairmanship of the Government of Canada, was held in Ottawa, Canada, 26-30 June, 1967. The Session was opened by Mr, S.B. Williams, Deputy Minister of Agriculture. Mr. H.V. Dempsey, Director, Inspection Servlc , Department of Fisheries, was the Chairman of the Session. Representatives from 22 countries were present: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norwt^y, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom and United Stat a of America. Observers were present from the following organizations: International Federation of Margarine Associations, International Organization of Consumers' Unions, and The Food and Drug Law Institute (See Appendix I for the list of participants). 2. The Committee adopted the provisional agenda with a slight rearranges) nt of the items of business. General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (Step A of the Procedure) 3. The Committee had before it government comments at Step 3 of the Codex Alimentarius Commission's Procedure for the Elaboration of Standards on the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. After a full discussion of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods and government comments, it was agreed to make a number of changes to it before submission to the Commission at Step 5. The revised General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods is contained in Appendix II, ' Purpose of Food Labelling A. The Committeo recognized that paragraph 1 of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods entitled "Purpose1' should not be considered as part of the Standard. Definition of Terms 5. The Committee agreed that the section of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods dealing with definition of terms should be introduced by the statement "For the purposes of this Standard." ASI 00002007 -2 - f 7'' and "Labeliing" 6. After consi' <-rirg proposals of the Delegate of Tel and frr a revision of the definitions for ,nabel" and "labelling," the Committee decided to leave tbone dofinit'ens unchanged in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. 7. The Delegate of rv-nm-rk suggested that the definition of labelling might include adverti::* ng. The Committee recognized that advertising did not come within its present. Terms of Reference, but agreed to consider at its next meeting whether a recommendation should be made to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for its Terms of Reference to be amended in this respect. Ingredient , 8. The Delegates of Poland and Switzerland were of the opinion that there should be a definition of the.term "food additive" in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods in order to make a distinction betvoen food additives and ingredients. Other delegations considered that it was not necessary to have a specific definition of "food additives" as the definition of "ingredient" already includes food additives, and moreover, there were no specific references to food additives in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. The Committee agreed to leave unchanged the definition of "ingredient." Home of the Food 9. A number of delegations considered that this section of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods was insufficiently clear as to the circumstances under which "coined or fanciful names" might be used in place of a long or complicated appropriate descriptive name, and expressed concern that unqualified use of a "coined" or "fanciful" name might not be informative to the consumer. It was agreed by the Committee that when coined or fanciful names wore used they should he accompanied bv an appro priate descriptive term unless the nature of the food was obvious to the consumer. The Committee amended this section of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods accordingly. The Delegate of Poland objected to thi3 part of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods as being unduly complicated. List of Ingredients 'v v 10. With regard to the- question of the listing of ingredients on the label in descending order of" proportion, the Committee considered, at some length, whether this should apply to the final product or to the product at the timo of manufacture; -/The Committee agreed in general that consumers would normally expect to fiftietho ingredients as declared on the label in descending order of proportion apply to the final product. ASI 00002008 -3- It was recognizod, however, that in some instances the or>.r of proportion dor land on tho label would have to apply to the amounts added at the time of manufacture because of changes during processing and storrge. In view of this, tho Committee decided to amend the statement contained in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods dealing with this matter by deleting tho expression "in which they are present in the final product." The Delegate of the Netherlands, however, expressed the view that this statement should remain in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods because it is tho final product which is used by the consumer and which is examined by the enforcement agoncy. The Delegate of the Netherlands also stated that, in his opinion, where a national or regional standard for a food existed*, such ft. food, should not_neccssarily be_requied to carry a list of ingredients. The Delegate of Switzerland drew the attention of the Committee to the possibility of misleading the consumer if some mention of the quantity for a given ingredient of particular value or importance was not required before permitting it3 mention in the list of ingredients. Consideration of Foods to be Exempt from Ingredient Listing 11, At the Second Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (ALINORM 66/22, paragraph 13), it was agreed that Governments should be invited to suggest foods for which a list of ingredients on the label might not be required. As a result, the Committee had before it a numb r of suggestions of foods, which might be exempted.from an ingredient listing. The Committee concluded, however, that it did not have sufficient information before it to come to a satisfactory decision, 12, The Committee recommended that Governments again be asked to suggest foods which, in their opinion, need not he required to carry a list of ingredients on the label. In addition to listing such foods, Governments should indicate the reasons for exempting these foods from ingredient listing. It was further agreed that the attention of Governments be drawn to the public health risks, such as allergies, involved in exempting foods from the listing of ingredients, and that Governments be asked to comment on this aspect as well, 13, In addition, the Committee was advised that the FAO Secretariat would prepare a paper, for the next meeting of this Committee, dealing with national legislation regarding the exemption of foods from ingredient listing. The WHO Secretariat wa3 asked to seek expert advice on the potential health hazards that might be involved in the omission of listing of ingredients on prepackaged foods, especially in relation to allergic reactions. Declaration of the Amount or Percentage of Ingredients 14, The Committee concluded that, as a general rule, it should not be ASI 00002009 -4- necessary to declare the ingredients in amounts or percentages* The Committee did feel, however, that in some instances, such a3 thoso involving ingredients or mixtures of ingredients of particular importance to the consumer for monetary or other reasons, it might be desirable to indicate the percentages of some or all of the ingredients, particularly if_the absence of such a declaration would load to fraud or deception. Declaration of Components of Ingredients 15. Tho Committee decided that it would bo desirable to obtain more information regarding the listing of components of ingredients on food labels. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that Governments should again bo invited to comment on the question of the listing of components of ingredients. At the same time. Governments should indicate the reasons behind their suggestions. Class Names 16. The Committee considered the relevant provisions of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods and had before it the Report of tho Second Session of tho Food Labelling Committee (ALIKORM 66/22) in which a number of examples of acceptable class names were listed. In addition, a number of Governments had submitted their views on thi3 matter. 17. Aftor considerable discussion, the Committee decided that the only class name3 which were acceptable to the Committee at this time wore starch, herbs, spices, vegetable gums, flavours and colours. Tho Committee agreed to request the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils to propose class names for fat3 and oils when used as ingredients in foods. The Committee also agreed to consider other class names when more information became available, and that when a class name was agreed upon for substances which were subject to endorsement by the Codex Committee on Food Additives or other general Codox Committees, only thoso ingredients listed within tho defined class could be declared in this way. IS. The Delegate of Japan asked that the class name3 being considered by the Codex Committee on Food Additives include the names "anti-crystallize agents" and "chemical seasonings." 19. Following a discussion of tho use of the terms "natural" and "artificial," the Committee decided to invite tho Codex Committee on Food Additives to express its views as to the possibility of making a scientific distinction between "natural" and "artificial" colours and flavours. Declaration of Added Water 20. The Committee agreed to tho wording of the statement contained in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods regarding the declaration of added water. ASI 00002010 -5- Not Contents 21. The Committee had before it a statement dealing with net c ntents as found in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods prepared at tho Second Meeting cf this Committee. Some Ciscunnion took place regarding the net content declaration on foods where unavoidable moisture change occur. The Committee concluded that, in genera], tho declared net content be present at_the time of retail sale. Tho Committee recognised, however, that there were a number of products for which exceptions may be required. The Committer:, therefore, recommended that tho Codex Commodity Committees be invited to suggest those foods which might vary in weight from that declared on the label at their time of retail sale because of the nature of the product. 22. The Delegate of Japan expressed the view that the net content to be declared on the label of frozen foods covered with a glaze, should be th net weight of the frozen food exclusive of the glaze. The Committee agreed with thi3 point of view. The Committee further agreed to draw this matter to tho attention of tho appropriate Codex Commodity Committees. 23. The Committee also considered the question of a "drained weight" declaration on certain food items. The Committee noted that Codex Commodity Committees are already giving consideration to the question of minimum drained weight requirements in the preparation of certain commodity standards. The Delegates of Denmark and Poland expressed the view'that drained weight should be declared on all food products packed in liquid media. 24. In reply to the question raised by the Delegate of Denmark regarding the method to be used in determining the net content, it was pointed out that thin matter v:ar, being considered by tho Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling. 25. The Committee noted the recommendation of the Executive Committe of the Commission that, in all Codex Standards, where the metric system is used the measurements should be in S.I. Units. ? Kamc and Adclronr. 26. Some delegations questioned the extent to which the address of th party responsible for the product should be declared on the label. The Committee considered that this section of the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods did not require amendment and it would be necessary to have an address on the label which would be sufficiently complete to enable anyone to contact the party named. Country of Origin 27. The Committee agreed that all prepackaged food3 should bear a state- ASI 00002011 I -6- ment of the count,tv of origin except when manufactured and sold within the country of origin. When processing sufficient to chango the nature of a food is performed in a second country, then the name of the country in which the processing i3 performed would bo considered tho country of origin. The Committee amended the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods accordingly. 28. Tho Delegate of the Netherlands was of the view that the original wording of the General standard for Label 1 i.ng of Prepackaged F'odn did not require amendmont. Foods for Special Dietary Purposes 29. The Committee agreed to retain the present text contained in the Guidelines dealing with special dietary foods. The Committee noted that the Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods would be submitting labelling proposals for endorsement by the Labelling Committee. Among many state ments of detail made by delegations, tho Delegate of Poland was of the opinion that quantities of added or eliminated substances which result in a special value of tho food should also bo declared. The Labelling Committee recommcndod that the Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods should pay particular attention in it3 proposals to the labelling of those special dietary foods where the addition or removal of substancos resulted in the food having special properties. Such properties should be declared in order to inform the consumer of the true nature of the food. Presentation of Mandatory Information 30. Considerable discussion took place regarding tho statement contained in the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods dealing with the presentation of mandatory information. The Committee agreed that a sentence should be added to tld3 statement to the effect that when a container is covered with a wrapper, tho wrapper should carry the necessary information, or the label on tho container should be readily legible through the outer wrapper or not obscured by it. Optional T.ab^l 1 lug 31. The Committee also agreed that any information or pictorial device may be used on a label provided that it ia not in conflict with the mandatory requirements nor would mislead or deceive the consumer in any way. The Cor.mattco further agreed that no food should be described on a label by words, pictorial or other devices which are suggestive of another product with which the food might be confused. Si?.o of 'Pypo 32. Some delegations suggested that a minimum size of type should be ASI 00002012 - 7- required for the presentation of the mandatory information. Other delega tions, however, were of the opinion that if the information on a label were presented in a clear, prominent and readily legible manner, it should not be necessary to specify a minimum size of type. 33. Since some countries have laws dealing with this subject, the Committee asked that the FAO Secretariat prepare a paper on "size of type for mandatory information" after consulting the legislation of a number of countries on thi3 matter. Label Statements for Foods having Special Requirements for Storage and Preparation 34. While some delegations considered that the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods should contain a statement dealing with the labelling aspects of foods nooding special handling, storage and preparation requirements, the Committee decided that such a statomont should not be written into the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods at this time because individual products need special consideration. 35. The Committee agreed to bring to the attention of the Codex Commodity Committees the need to consider the special labelling for those foods which require special handling, storage, transport or preparation. Date Marking * 36. The Committee had before it a document prepared by the International Organization of Consumers' Unions recommending that the expiry date and date of manufacture be marked on certain categories of food. Some delega tions supported this recommendation. The Delegate of Japan informed the Committee that in his country certain foods were required to bear the date of manufacture and expressed the view that this requirement should bo adopted in Codex Standards. Other delegations, however, expressed the view that for many foods, date marking, whether expiry date or date of manufacture, might prove to be a disadvantage to the consumer as it might lead to a false sense of security or to higher prices. These delegations also considered that there were factors, other than perishability and storage life, which needed to be taken into consideration in connection with date marking. 37. The Committee recommended that Codex Commodity Committees, when elaborating standards for perishable foods, should consider, in the interests of protection of the consumer, the need for such food3 to bear an expiry date after which time the food should not be consumed. The Committee stressed the need for sound scientific justifications for the use of expiry dates. ASI 00002013 -5- Disposition of General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods 35. The Committee agreed that the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods should go to the Commission at Step 5. Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products 39. The Committee considered the labelling matters referred to it by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (ALINORM 66/15). With regard to the Marking and Labelling statements to be found in the Provisional Standard on Frozen Fillets of Cod and Haddock, the Committee decided that these statements were generally acceptable. The Committee did wi3h, however, to draw the attention of the Codox Committee on Fish and Fishery Products to the facts (i) that if glaze were present on the product, then the net weight declaration should he exclusive of the weight of the glaze, and (ii) that coding which would include the lot and day, as well nr. the month and year, should he encouraged. 40. The Committee noted that in the Propooed Draft Provisional Standards for fish products and in similar standards for other foods, no distinction was made between prepackaged foods and bulk products which may never appear in the rotail trade. The Committee agreed that the Codex Commodity Committees should be invited to comment on need for such a distinction. The problem of labelling bulk products might require consideration by the Labelling Committee at a future mooting. The Committee further noted' that the present title of the labelling requirement reads "General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods," which automatically excludod bulk foods from its provision. 41. With regard to the Marking and Labelling matters contained in the Proposed Standard for Frozen Gutted Pacific Salmon, the Committee decided to suggest to the Fish and Fishery Products Committee that it might wish to qualify the expression "net weight of contents" by the words "exclusive of glaze" if the product contains glaze. 42. The Committee also wished to draw the attention of the Fish and Fishery Products Committee to the fact that there was no reference to date marking or coding in the Frozen Salmon Standard. The Committee felt that such a reference should appear, taking into account the provisions of paragraph 39, item (ii), above. 43. With regard to the Provisional Standard for Canned Pacific Salmon, the Committee decided that the substance of the Harking and labelling requirements was satisfactory, but that the layout of this information should be in conformity with the Codex format. Joint GCG/Codex Allmentarjus Group of Fxports on the Standardization of Quick (Deopy Frozen Foods 44. The Committee examined the labelling matters of the General ASI 00002014 -9- Standard for Frozen Foods, and agreed that tho substance of this Standard was satisfactory, noting tho provision that special labelling requirements for .the 3tornge handling and preparation of frozen products should bo inserted in frozen food standards. 45. The Committee considered the labelling requirements for straw berries and quick (deep) frozen peas and made the following comments: Strawberries. There should be a clearer definition of "freeflowing" and a clearer indication of what was involved in the labelling provision on "size-grading." Quick (Peep) Frozen Peas. There should bo a clearer definition of "seasoning" and tho nomenclature which is to be employed on the label in respect. of Quick (Deep) Frozen Foao should bo 3tated clearly in tho English text in accordance with the common practice in English-speaking countries, 46. The Committee further agreed that the labelling provisions of these standards should bo redrafted in accordance with the Codex format. Codex Committee on Fats and Oils 47. In considering tho labelling requirements appearing in tho General Standards for Edible Oils and Fats Hot Covered by Individual Codex Standards, Appendix II, Codox/Fats and Oils/Report IV, the Committee agreed that paragraph 5.2 should be reworded to make it clear that names such as "edible oil" and "salad oil" should not mislead the consumer. 48. Tho Delegate of France stated that, in his view, tho term "salad oil" should be rejected as it is applied to certain mixtures of oils# Even whore tho best oils aro used, the term "salad oil" seems to indicat that there is a superior quality to a mixture of oils that are of varied composition and not subject to any individual standard. The Delegate of France considered that the appropriate term to bo used for such oils would be "edible oils" or "frying oils." 49. In view of the comments by the Delegate of Franco, tho Delegate of the United States expressed the opinion that an oLl or mixture of oils suitable for aniintended for use in the preparation of salads may properly bo designated as "Salad Oil" with an appropriate label declaration of th name(s) of the oil(3) present In the product, 50. The Committee was in general agreement with the principle of paragraph 5-3 (Codex/Fats and Oils/Report IV, Appondix Ir, page 23), but requested that the Fats and Oils Committee consider whether it was necessary to reword this paragraph to indicate clearly what procossos wero envisaged. The Committee also agreed to ask the Fats and Oils Committee to consider whether it was necessary to reword paragraph 5.4 so that the designations "virgin fat" or "virgin oil" would not apply to mixtures. ASI 00002015 - 10 - 51. The Committee endorsed the labelling requirements appearing in the Standards, Appendices III to XIV, for soya bean, arachis, cottonseed, sunflower, rapeseed, maize, sesame seed and safflower seed oils and for lard, rendered pork fat, premier ju3 and edible tallow. Margarine 52. The Committee considered the labelling requirements contained In the Proponed Provisional Standard for Margarine at Step $ as contained in Appendix XXX to the Report of the Fourth Session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Qil3. Following a decision to delete paragraph 7.3, the Committee endorsed the remaining, labelling provisions of the Standard. The deleted section read a3 follows: "So reference shall be made to the presence of milk fat or butter in margarino other than a statement of the proportion of milk fat or butter present when this proportion is substantial [10$ of total fat content or more]." 53. Some delegations opposed the deletion of this paragraph and took the view that, since the Standard permitted the addition of butter to margarine and as there va3 a possibility that the consumer could be misled about the naturo of the product by certain references to the presence of butter in margarine, a specific provision controlling such references was essential. Codex Committee on Sugars 54. The Committee endorsed the labelling provisions in the Standards for Glucose Syrup, Dried Glucose Syrup, Dextrose Monohydrate, Dextrose inhydrous. Lactose and Soft Sugars (Appendices to Codex/Sugars/Roport 17). The Committee had no objection to the format by which the types of white sugar wero differentiated in the labelling provisions in the Standard for Miito Sugar. The first two sections of the Standard for Powdered Sugar wore endorsed by the Committee but it considered that paragraph 3 be deleted in view of the fact that anticaking agents would appear on the label in the list of ingredients. The Committee suggested that the Codex Committee on Sugars consider whether it was necessary to require a special declaration of an anticaking agent in addition to listing it among the ingredients. Codex Committee on Cocoa Prodiict3 and Chocolate 55. The Committee considered the labelling matters contained in the / ).Report of the Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (ALINORM 68 10 56. The Committee supported the suggestion of a number of delegations at the Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate th-t the presence of alkalizing arrant3 be declared in appropriate manner on the label. The Delegate of Switzerland, however, expressed (he view that, in his opinion, such a declaration war. not required. ASI 00002016 - 1] - 57. The Committee noted the proponed labelling requlrome-.' >j ' r cocoa butter but decide 1 to make no comment pnn/iing receipt of If . -, i' requirements for the other products. 5g. With regard t,o the .'.t-'ndnrd for Sweetened Cocoa Powder, ` Committee recommended that the Cod-x Comm^ tto" on Cocoa Pr: Ii.ot r Chocolate bo asked t o Indicate moro clearly the names to bo use ' labels of this product. e and on tho 59. With regard to the other Standards,! the labelling Committ te understood that the Committee on Cocoa Product^ 1 Oaocolate would rewriting those standard a in the light of '.he General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods. Codex Committee on Processed Fruit.e and Vegetables 60. Tho Committee examined tho labelling provisions in the Standards for Canned Tomatoes, Canned Green Roans nrjri '.'axed Deans, Canned Apple sauce, Canned Peaches, Canned Grapefruit and Canned Com, and endorsed the labelling requirement in all the Standards which wore ready for consideration by the Commission at Step Ci In endorsing those labelling provisions, the Committee commented as follows: Canned Tomatoes. Tn connection with canned tomatoes, t-ha delegation of the United States wart of tho opinion that ( a) diced tomatoes would probably not rteet-tho drained weight requirement of 50/: (b) the statement on typo of pack, sw ih as solid pack, should bo mandatory, and (c) when residual material has been used i\3 the packing medium, this should be a mandatory declaration. Canned Applesauce. In tho cane of canned applcnauce, the Committow was of the opinion that paragraph 7.2, relative to colouring matter, wan not precise enough. The delegat ion of the United G'.ston agreed to consider thin point anU fcf recommend a now wording when this GLand.-.rd is considered at the next session of the Codex Commission. Canned Com. Concerning the Rtnndird . >r Canned Corn, t.lije delegation of the United Ct.atos oxjirossod the opinion t.ha tho colour designation "yellow" or, "goXd',n" should appeal as a mandat.-ay port of the labelling requirements when ar pro-- priatc. 6v1.. In connection with all tho size requirements desc.ibed ir the labelling provisions of these Standards, the Committee agreed tl it the declaration of the measurement in inches jfhouM ho permitted as an alternative to the declaration of nice mrir.uremont in millimetrc 3 when tho measurement in inches is used in:the importing country ASI OOC 02017 12 - 62. The Committee endorsed the labelling provisions of the Gtaidard for Canned Asparagus. The Committee van also of the opinion that the provision on labelling in the Standard for Canned Mushrooms was satisfactory. Joint KC-C/Oodex Aljnontarjna Croup of /Imports on the Standardization of Fruit -Tuices 63. The Committee decided to refer the labelling sections of the Standards on Fruit Juices bad: to the Joint Group for redrafting accord ing to the Codex format, With regard to the specific question of the appropriate manner in which to declare ascorbic acid when U3od as An antioxidant, the Committee agreed that under these circumstances it should be referred to as "ascorbic acid" and not as "vitamin C." Codex Committee on Dietetic Foods 64. In view of the fact that the definition of dietetic food3 upon which the labelling requirements depend had been questioned by the Joint FAO/Wb'O export Committee on Nutrition, and that the Guidelines were still at an early stage of development, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item. Date and Place of Next Meeting 65. Tho Committee considered a possible date for the next meeting in the light of tho prospective meeting of the Commission in February, I960, and noted that if the General Standard for Label ling of Prepackaged Foods wore to be considered at the meeting next year after having been sent out to Governments for comments, the meeting might be held in July. One delegation pointed out that it might be possible to hold a meeting in April, 196s, in conjunction with Codex meetings in Washington, if the General Standard for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods were not to be considered, but that other matters might be taken up at that time. These proposals were only tentative and would need to bo considered in the light of the schedule of mootings of all Codex Committees during 1968. ) ' fitSI 00002018 ) APrfli ?1X1 jorrr faqAtiq code* at.ihi|:;?tariu3 commission Third Hoetlnr Committee on Food Libelling Ottav/a. Canada 26-30 June. 1067 list of Participants; ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA BKIjGIUM CANADA Chief Delegate Dr. C. Bastanehu^i, Ministar, Embassy of Argentina, 211 Stewart Street, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Mr. I.H. Smith, Assistant Secret*,ry Department of Priimary Industry, Canberra. Alternate Dr. J.B. Mathiesei Firot Assistant Ipi rector Gen ral, Department of He* 1th, Canberra. Chief Delegate Mr. M. Fondu, Federation des Industries Alimontaire Beiges, 122 Herum Hovarujflaan, Merksem. Chairman Mr. H.V. Dempsey, Director, Inspect ion Service, Department of Fini1heries, Ottawa. ASI C 0002019 CANADA ASX 00002020 Chief Delegate Mr, G.G. Andersen, Assistant Director, Inspection Service, Department of Fishortea, Ottawa. Delegates Mr. A. Holiett, Director, Bureau of Operations, Food and Drug Directorate, Department of National Health and Welfare, Ottawa. Dr. W.A. Koyniban, Program Co-ordinator, Health of Animals Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. Mr. R.M, McKay, Agriculture and Fisheries Branch, Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa. Dr. C.K. Hetherington, Director, Meat Inspection Division, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. Advisers Mr. F.H. Robinson, Executive Assistant, National Dairy Council of Canada, Journal Building, Ottawa. Mr. C.G. O'Brien, Manager, Fisheries Ccimo`1 of Canada, 77 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa. Mr. Elmer Banting, President, Canadian Food Processors Association 85 Sp: rka Street, Ottawa * Advisers Mr. J.W. Barlow, Canadian Food Processors Association, c/o Catelli Food Products, 6B90 Notre Dame Street E., Montreal. Mr. C.A.L. Sullivan, General Manager, Confectionery Association of Canada, Toronto, Ontario. Miss Frances Janzen, Executive Secretary, Consumers' Association of Canada, 100 Gloucester Street, Ottawa. Mr3. Gail Stewart, Economic Council of Canada, 116 Albert Street, Ottawa. Observers Mr, C, Merkley, Agriculture and Fisheries Branch, Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa. Mr. D.H. Bums, Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa. Miss E.M. Ordway, Chief, Consumer Division, Food and Drug Directorate, Department of National Health and Welfare, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Mr. R. K-'rquez, First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy, 330 Chapel Street, Ottawa. ASI 00002021 DENMARK DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ECUADOR FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY FRANCE Chief Delegate Mr. L.I. Madsen, Agricultural Counsellor, Danish Embassy, 85 Range Road, Ottawa. Adviser Mr. M. Kondrup, Chief of Secretariat, I3ALESTA, H.C. Andersens Blvd. 18, Copenhagen V. Chief Delegate Mr. E. Casado Saladin, Charge d'affaires. Embassy of the Dominican Republic, 200 Rideau Terrace, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Mr, L. Almeida, Charge d'affaires, Embassy of Ecuador, P.0. Box 1202, Ottawa. Observer Dr. H.3. Tolkmitt, League for Food Law and Food Science 16 Hofgarten, Bonn. Chief Delegate Mr. J. Roller, Directeur de la Repression des Fraudes, Ministero de 1'Agriculture, 42 rue de Bourgogne, P-ris. ASX 00002022 ISRAEL JAPAN MEXICO NETHERLANDS -5- Chief Delegate Mr. H.3. Bor-Shai, Consul of Israel (Economic Affairs), 159 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario. Delegates Mr. H. Iyori, Chief, Premium and Representation Section, Fair Trado Commission, 2nd Okura Building, 2 Uchisaiwaicho 2 chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Mr. H. k'ashino. Assistant Chief, Marketing and Standards Section, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Mr. T. Suzuki, Member, Agriculture and Forestry Commodities Standards Commission, 2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Chief Delegate Mr. A. Estrada Berg, Attache, Embassy of Mexico, 88 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Dr. P.H. Berben, Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Health, Dr. Reijersstraat 10, Leidscherdara. Adviser Mr. G.P. ter Ilaseborg, Secretary, Federation of Netherlands Industries, Kneuterdijk 3, 's Cravenhage. ASI 00002023 NETHERLANDS NORWAY POUND SWEDEN SWITZERLAND -6- Delegate Mr. M.H. Brodhang, Royal Netherlands Embassy, 12 Marlborough Avenue, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Dr. O.R. Brackkan, Government Vitamin Laboratory, Norwegian Fisheries Research Institute, P.0. Box 137, Bergen. Chief Delegate Dr. T. Ruesma, Managing Director, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Quality Inspection Office, 9 Stepinska, Warsaw. Adviser Dr. F. Morawski, Chief of Section, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Quality Inspection Office, 9 Stepinska, V.'ar3aw. Chief Delegate Mr. Erik Brandt, Managing Director, Association of Swedish Chemical Process Industries, Artillsrig. 34, Stockholm. Chief Delerate Dr. P. Borgoaud, V'i nn n-n ** Tour de Peilz. ASI 00002024 SWITZERLAND TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TURKEY UNITED KINGDOM Delegate Dr. E. Katthey, Chimiste cantonal, 19 rue Cesar Roux, Lausanne. Observer Dr. W, Hausheer, Swiss Chemical Society, Basle. Chief .Delegate Mr. Uinthrop V/. Wiltshire, Chemist, Food and Drug Division, 115 Frederick Street, Port of Spain. Chief Delegate Mr. I. Unal, Commercial Counsellor, Turkish Embassy, 197 Wurtemburg Street, Ottawa. Chief Delegate Mr. J.H.V. Davies, Assistant Secretary* Food Standards Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road, London, S.W.l. Adviser3 Mr. F.J. Lawton, Food Manufacturers' Federation Inc 4 Lygon Place, London, S.W.l. Mr. L.C.J, Brett, Food Manufacturers' Federation Inc 4 Lygon Place, London, S.W.l. ASI 00002025 TOUTED STATES -8- FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION Chief Delegate Mr. J.K. Kirk, Associate Commissioner for Compliance, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Hfealth, Education and Welfare, Washington, D.C. 20204. Alternate Dr. W.J. Minor, Chief, Labels, Standards and Packaging Branch, Technical Services Division Consumers and Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture* Washington, D.C. Advisers Mr. L.K. Lobred, Director, International Trade Division, National Canners Association, 1133 - 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Mr. W.H. Meyer, Manager, Professional and Regulatory Relations, Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. Chief Delegate Mr, G.0, Kermode, Chief, FAO/'.niO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rone, Italy. Adviser Dr, D.M. Smith, Technical Adviser, Food Science and Technology Branch, Nutrition Division, FAO, Pome, Italy, ASI 00002026 VORI.D HEALTH ORGAH-RATION -9- INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF MARGARINE A3,'30CIRL'T'3 INT1CRNATIOWAL ORGANIZATION OF CQNRJMERO1 UNIONS THE FOOD AND PUGG IAW INSTITUTE Ch jeC jf>1'"-rate 0", F.O. O', t : *7 f * F >Ol A1H Rives, Grtnfv,--.. Observer Mr. L.d.J. Hro! t, I.P.M.A., 44 Raemueg, T'ip Hnu, Netherlands. Observer Mrs. C. Mendside, 3 Kitomnn Orescent, M.motic/:, Hniario. Observer Mr. F.M. Dopoir, President, The Feed and Pruij Lav Institute, 20*3 "-ist 42nd direst, , New York, N.Y, loot?. ASI 00002027 V V PM 67/22 'M-TY XI JOINT FV" 'WHO^M.TMKMTAHIIO ilPMHlH.SIOM i GEK5RAL STANDARD FC'R U^KIXItiG OF I RnfY.CKAf.EO -sTt.; Definition of Terms 1. For the purpose of this Standard*. (*) "label" includes any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter, written, printed, sier-oill^d, marked, embossed or lmpreasgd_j?n.or at_tachrd to, a container of food; (b) "labelling" includes the label! and any written, printed or graphic matter relating to and accompany 3 ns the foodi (e) "container" means any form of packaging of food for sale as a single item, whether by c ompletely or partially enclosing the food, and includes wrappers and confining bands; (d) "prepackaged"' means packaged or made up in advance, ready for retail sale in a container; () "Ingredient" means any substance used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and present in the final jpodnct. Labelling of Prepackaged Foods .2 The labels of all prepackaged food shall bear the information required by sections 2.1 to 2,7 below, as applicable to the being labelled, except to the extent otherwise Expressly provided in a specific Codex standard, 2.1 The name of the food; The name should indicate the true nature of the food and normally be specific and not generic. Where a nHme or names have been established for a food in a Corlox Standard, at lea3t one of these names shall be uied. In other cares. a common or usual name shall be used, if one cists, Where no common name exists, an appropriate descriptive nartte should be used. A "coined" or "fend f'71Tr~nnrnn..howWi-er, may be used provided it is notjmisleading and 13 accompanied by. nn appropriately descriptive term, unless the nali.re of~ the food Is obvious without suph 'descriptive term. ASI 00002028 -2 - 2.2 List of Ingredients; (i) A complete list of Ingredients shall be declared on the label in descending order of proportion, except (a) a3 otherwise provided in a Codex Standard; (b) in the case of other foods listed by the Commission where an exemption from a declaration of ingredients would not be prejudicial to the interests of the consumer, or (c) in the case of dehydrated foods which are intended to be reconstituted by the addition of water, the ingredients may be listed is order of proportion in the reconstituted product. provided the list of ingredients is headed by a statement such as "ingredients when reconstituted." (ii) Where an ingredient of a food has more than one component, the names of the components shall be specified, ^except (a) where the ingredient is a product for which a Codex Standard has been established, or (b) in the case of other ingredients, where such ingredients are listed fay the Commission. (ill) A specific name shall be used for the declaration of ingredients except that the class titles listed by the Commission may be used to describe a particular group of ingredients in a compound food. The following is a partial list of such class names: Btarch, herbs, spices, vegetable gums, colours and flavours. (iv) Added water shall be declared in the list of ingredients if such a declaration would result In a better understanding by the consumer of the product's composition, except when the water forms part of an ingredient such as brine, syrup or broth used in a compound food. 2.3 Net contents: A correct declaration of the net contents in either ASI 00002029 c 1 the metric (S.I. Units) or avoirdupois, or loth, systems of measurements as required by the country in whi ch tho food is sold must be made by volume for liquid foods, by weight for solids, by either weight or volume for semi solid or viscous foods, and by count for those foods usually soJd by number, doods packed in a liquid medium norma]ly discarded before consumption should carry a declaration of the dmirr-d weight, of the food. 2.4 Same and address; The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter or vendor of the food shall be declared. 2.5 Country of origin: The country of origin of a food shall be declared except that foods sold within the country of origin need not declare the country of origin, When a food undergoes processing in a second country which charges its nature, the country in which the processing is performed shall be considered to be the country of origin for the purposes of labelling. 2.6 Irradiated foods; Foods which have been t.ented_with ionizing radiation shall be so designated. ~ "" 2.7 Foods for special dietary purposes; In the case of a food offered for a special dietary purpose, including foods for which claims for vitamin or mineral content are made, the facts required to demonstrate the suitability of the food for the purpose shall be included on the label. 2.8 Presentation of mandatory Inform.-,t. m: Statements required to appear on the label by virtue of this Standard or any other Codex Standard shall be clear; prominent and readily legible by the consumer under normal conditions of purchase and use. Such information shall not be obscured bydesigns .or by other written. ) luted or graphic matter and shall be ..in contrast! nT; colour to that of the background. Where Lh:; container .is covered by a wrapper, the wrapper should carry the necessary information, _OX-_the label on the container should be read!lv TogTBTe ~ ASI 00002030 through the outer wrapper.or not obscured by it. In general, the name and net eon-tents of t,be food shall appear on that portion of the label norma - iy intended to be presented to the consumer at the time of eale. 2.9 Language: The language used fo*- tho ice la rat.! on of the state ments referred to in paragraph 2d should bo a language '3 acceptable to the country in which the food is intended for sale. If the language m the original label 13 not acceptable, a supplementary label containing the mandatory information in an acceptaMe language may be used instead of relabelling. 2.10 Grade designations; If grade designations aro used. t,hey should be readily understandable, of uniform nomenclature and net be mis leading or deceptive in any way. 2.11 Labelling Including optional labelling: Any information or pictorial device may be displayed in labelling provided that >t is not in conflict with the mandatory requirement nor would mislead or deceive the consumer in any way whatsoever in respect of the food. No food shall be described or presented on any label or in any labelling by words, pictorial or other devices which refer to or are suggestive of, either directly or indirectly, of any other product with which such food might be confused, or in such a manner as to lead the purchaser or consumer to suppose that the food is or is connected with such other product. 2.12 Additional requirements for specific 'yod Nothing in this Standard shall p- vune the adoption of additional provisions in a Codex Stai.' J, in respect of labelling, where the circumstances of a particular food would justify their incorporation in that standard. ASI 00002031