Codex Committee on Food Import/Export Inspection and Certification Systems - Outcome of Meeting Sept 24

The UK attended the Australian hosted Codex Committee on Food Import/Export Inspection and Certification Systems in Cairns during the week commencing 16 September 2024. The key outcomes from the week long discussions included:

Current work

Food fraud – There was a key breakthrough on Geographical Indications (GI) with some compromise text added to the scope of the document to explain that the issue of Intellectual Property (IP) was not included in the document. As a result the Chair was able to recommend advancing the text to Step 5.

Equivalence – This work is complex and challenging, it was returned to step 2 in order to allow more time to address the complexity of the issues and build understanding and consensus amongst delegates. The USA decided to step down as Co-Chair of the EWG which leaves New Zealand as Chair and Kenya as Co-Chair.

Traceability – The USA Chair and Co-Chairs (UK included) had aimed for the text to advance to Step 5, but an extensive discussion on this topic meant there was not sufficient time to review the whole text, therefore the Chair returned the text to Step 2.

New work

The following two new work proposals were endorsed by CCFICS:

• Guidelines for a border rejections appeal mechanism to be led by India

• Guidelines on standardisation of representation of sanitary requirements to be led by Brazil

Other highlights

The UK’s excellent custodianship of the emerging issues agenda item was recognised, and the draft appendix (listing issues for agreement) presented to the Committee was adopted as drafted. The EU agreed to take over the custodianship from the UK.

The UK chaired side event on practical use of AI and digitalisation was well received. The side event was used as a tool to orientate members on digitalisation ahead of the plenary discussion on emerging issues, including a discussion paper on digitalisation of national food control systems drafted by Australia, The Netherlands, and the UK. This successful approach led to CCFICS endorsing two more new work proposals under this agenda item:

• Guidelines and principles on establishment listing to be led by Norway

• High-level principles on digitalisation and use of AI in national food control systems, or parts thereof to be led by Australia

The UK’s presentation on AI and digitalisation can be found here. The full report of the meeting can be found here.