Protecting Infant Health at the Codex Alimentarius

Members of the IBFAN Working Group on the Codex Alimentarius participated in three key Codex meetings this year.

Codex Committee on Food Labelling April 27-30, held in Ottawa
Labelling of foods obtained through biotechnology.

IBFAN put forward the position (in support of the Consumer's International standpoint) of mandatory labelling of all foods containing genetically modified ingredients. Pregnant and lactating women, infants and young children who need special consideration should not be put at risk.

Nancy-Jo Peck from IBFAN-GIFA (Geneva Infant Feeding Association) representing IBFAN at the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome June 28 to July 3

The US initiated the discussion by stating that there was no scientific evidence to support mandatory labelling and that "method of production" was not a basis for labelling but only if "substantial differences" exist in the food produced through biotechnology and then only the differences need be labelled and not the fact that the product has been genetically engineered.

Several key countries (Japan, New Zealand, Brazil) have now modified their positions and are no longer in support of the US position, citing consumer pressure and rejection of GM foods as a reason for this. Mandatory labelling already exists in the EU and many countries are in strong support of this position - Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Chile. After considerable discussion, a working group was established to draft language on this issue.

 

Health Claims

• Although health claims relating to infant formulas and cereal based complementary foods are dealt with at the Committee for Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), the labelling committee proceeded with developing definitions for health claims. IBFAN and many country delegations, as well as the Consumer's International, are opposed to health claims as they can end up being marketing tools for nutritionally inferior foods and preferred to leave this to national jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the US, supported by Canada moved the issue forward by setting up a working group to draft a document for consideration at subsequent meetings.

Codex Committee for General Principles, June, held in Paris

• This committee is not a commodity committee but prepares and discusses the general rules by which Codex sets standards at the various committees.

Precautionary Principle

• IBFAN, consumer groups, the EC countries as well as many others supported using the precautionary approach as a working principle for risk analysis. The US and industry groups opposed this approach. IBFAN's Maryse Lehners, representing the concerns of the "most vulnerable consumers" strongly supported the inclusion of the precautionary principle, "the lack of scientific certainty should not delay taking protective measures," she stated. At this important rule setting meeting the role and participation of non-governmental organizations was also strengthened.

Codex Alimentarius Commission, June, held in Rome

• IBFAN was pleased that delegates sent the Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Processed Cereal Based Foods for infants and Young Children back to The Codex Committee NFSDU at Step 3 for further consideration rather than be moved forward to step 6 of the 8 step approval process.
• Of major concern was the unresolved age of introduction: four to six months versus "at about six months" as set by the World Health Assembly and as was concluded by the WHO review Complementary Feeding of Young Children in Developing Countries: A Review of The Scientific Knowledge. Due to industry pressure and lack of implementation by WHO of the WHA resolutions, the age of introduction has been a major lobby focus for IBFAN. The cereal-based complementary food standard also has major composition and labelling weaknesses and sending it back for major reworking will give opportunity to improve this standard.
• The delegate from India reiterated the importance of preventing malnutrition at this vulnerable age and thus the need for the age of introduction to be "at about six months". This view was shared by Ghana, Swaziland and other developing countries as indicated by show of hands. IBFAN has written to Dr. Brundtland, the Director General of the WHO to voice its concern that WHO is ignoring the need for a sound scientific basis for formulating its infant feeding recommendations.