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IBFAN working to protect infant health at the Codex meeting in Thailand

Betty Sterken (INFACT Canada) Patti Rundall (Baby Milk Action / IACFO) and Maryse Lehners (Iniative Liewensufank/ILCA) will be attending the next Codex Nutrition Committee (CCFSNDU) meeting in Thaliand which begins this Saturday 28th October – 3rd November.

Many of the papers for this meeting can be found on the Codex website (http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp?lang=en)

Below are the commentaries by IBFAN, IACFO, ILCA, Member States and the industry on the key issues that we will be covering:

  1. Draft Revised Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Children (ALINORM 06/29/26) Sections A and B The key aim is to preserve the ban on health and nutrition claims, limit the number of optional ingredients, strengthen the warnings on labels to address intrinsic contamination issues, address the risks of soya. We are hoping that the EU Commission will not try to weaken the standard now that it has finalised the EC Directive and allowed several new claims.

  2. Proposals of the Working Group on Section 3: Essential composition and quality factors CX/NFSDU 06/28/4- Add.3 We will be addressing composition issues and calling for declarations of interest of the members of the working group.

  3. Discussion Paper on the Revision of Section 3.4 “Carbohydrates” of the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young Children CX/NFSDU 06/28/10 This standard has already been passed at Step 8 and we have managed to get several good provisions into it. However we will also be supporting India and Thailand’s lobby to reduce the sugar and protein levels.

  4. Proposed Draft Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of Health Claims at Step 4 CX/NFSDU 06/28/7- Comments at Step 3 CX/NFSDU 06/28/7 Add.1

  5. Global Strategy on Draft Action Plan for the Implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. We will be urging Codex to take specific steps to focus its attention on the cross cutting issue of the prevention of diet-related disease.

IBFAN comments on proposed Infant Formula standard A and standard B
IACFO comments on proposed Infant Formula standard A and standard B
Member states and industry comments on standard A and standard B
IACFO comment on the Global Strategy on Diet
European Commission comments

Please contact your government representatives and urge them to support IBFAN and IACFO´s position to protect infant health.

Lastly an Announcement about the FAO/WHO Framework for the Provision of Scientific Advice on Food Safety and Nutrition

The FAO/WHO Framework for the provision of scientific advice on food safety and nutrition is now available and open for public comments (October to end of December 2006) at http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/proscad/index_en.stm. Comments should be sent to: proscad@fao.org.

The framework is a compilation of written procedures currently followed by FAO and WHO in relation to the provision of scientific advice on food safety and nutrition to Codex and member countries. It is available in English and Spanish. The French version will be available soon. For further information on the framework and the overall consultative process on the provision of scientific advice please see: http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/proscad/index_en.stm or contact: proscad@fao.org.

You can find FAO publications on risks of Enterobacter Sakazakii in powdered infant formula at http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jemra/enterobacter_en.stm

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