Source:  USDA, 1/26/11
 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Food Safety (OFS) today announced a Feb. 24, 2011 public meeting of the Pesticide Residues Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Potomac Yard offices located at 2777 South Crystal Drive in Arlington, Va.

The objective of the Feb. 24 public meeting is to provide information, receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 43rd Session of the Codex in Beijing, China, April 4-9, 2011. Documents related to the 43rd Session of CCPR will be accessible online at: www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp.

The Codex Pesticide Residues Committee's responsibilities include: establishing maximum limits for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food; establishing maximum limits for pesticide residues in certain animal feed stuffs moving in international trade where justified for protecting human health; considering sampling and analysis methods for determining pesticide residues in food and feed; and considering other matters in relation to the safety of food and feed containing pesticide residues.

Codex was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 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 are used in international food trade. Codex Committee public meetings are intended to ensure a consistent approach to U.S. and international food safety systems on policies and procedures through input from subject matter experts.

Members of the public may access the meeting agenda or request copies of documents by contacting Doreen Chen-Moulec, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Ave, Room 4861, Washington, D.C. 20250, calling (202) 205-7760 or email at: Doreen.Chen-Moulec@fsis.usda.gov. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent via e-mail.