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The Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses of the Codex Alimentarius Commission meets in Berlin

21/1998, 18.09.1998

About 200 government representatives, observers of international organisations and experts discussed global norms and standards for foods.

From 21 to 25 September 1998 under the chairmanship of Dr. Rolf Grossklaus the 21st Session of the Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is being held in the Martin Lerche Lecture Hall of the Federal Institute for the Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine (BgVV), Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was set up in 1962 as a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Its goal is to protect the health of consumers by drawing up international food standards and by guaranteeing fair practice in the international food trade. Codex Alimentarius elaborates and lays down definitions and requirements for foods; it is involved in the harmonisation and promotion of international trade. Codex standards are rated highly in dispute settlement proceedings within the framework of the World Trade Order and this is reflected in the Treaty establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

At present, 162 countries are members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The expert work is undertaken in 30 Codex Committees, expert groups and regional committees in which numerous international organisations are involved.

The Federal Republic of Germany is the host country for the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses which was set up in 1966. Hence it is responsible for staging the meetings which take place every two years. The forthcoming 21st Session of this Committee is being held for the first time in Berlin. The agenda includes draft guidelines on nutrition claims, draft standard for gluten-free foods, proposed draft guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplements and the proposed draft revised standards for processed cereal-based foods for infants and small children. Furthermore, the provisions on vitamins and minerals in balanced diets and as nutrient reference values for labelling purposes are also being discussed. Given the new Terms of Reference this Committee is increasingly examining the horizontal aspects of nutrition which are of relevance for the work of other committees of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

A press conference will be held on

Friday, 25 September 1998
at 14h00
in conference room A,
Diedersdorfer Weg 1
12277 Berlin.

On 21 September 1998 at 18h30 the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, extends an invitation to a reception in the foyer of the Martin Lerche Lecture Hall. The representatives of the press are also cordially invited.

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