CODEX Workshop in Tonga

Report on the 10th session of the coordinating committee for North and South West Pacific (CCNASWP) 27-31/10/2008, Nuku’alofa, TONGA.

The physical Working group on the draft new Strategic Plan for CCNASWP had the meeting on Monday 27/10/2008 where matters relating to Codex were aired by the representatives of CCNASWP (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands) prior to the actual discussion of the agenda item papers with the Codex Secretariat on the matters that arose/referred from the Codex Alimentarius Committee 30th and 31st session. There were also presentations by FAO and WHO representatives on the activities of FAO and WHO that compliments the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Presentation by WHO stressed the need to improve nutrition and health in the Pacific through improved food standards. There was also a brief by WTO on Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) whose strategic aims are to enhance developing countries’ expertise/ capacity to analyze/ implement SPS standards and vehicle for coordinating SPS-related technical cooperation. The roles of WTO was once again stressed on negotiating trade rules, implementing trade agreements, resolving trade disputes and the reviewing of national trade policies.
On Tuesday, 28/10/2008, the official opening of the 10th session of the coordinating committee for North and South West Pacific, in the presence of the Codex Secretariat was done by the Tongan Acting Minister for MAFFF. There were discussions on Agenda Items 1 to 10 as per Provisional Agenda on matters arising/referred from the Codex Alimentarius Commission (30th and 31st session). Discussed at length was Agenda Item 2 on Matters Arising from the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other Codex Committees where the Codex Representative from USA (USFDA), highlighted the need to enhance developing countries participation in Codex. One component of achieving this objective is to enhance the dialogue amongst countries on key issues coming before Codex Committees to allow countries and individuals the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the issues and gain greater ability to effectively engage in the Codex work on the issue, both with respect to providing country comments and with respect to participating in committee sessions and/or working groups.
Agenda Item 4 on Strategic Plan for CCNASWP, provided a platform of discussion on the revisions to the Strategic Plan for CCNASWP 2008-2013 and how members of CCNASWP can address the issues raised on Agenda Item 2 above, noted as part the Codex Commission’s strategic plan 2008-2013. The CCNASWP Strategic Plan 2008-2013 identifies six strategic objectives of the region:
1. To improve the coordination and communication of the region’s activities in Codex
2. To promote maximum participation of all member countries of the region in the activities of the regional coordinating committees
3. To promote the development and enhancement of the capacities of national Codex Contact Points
4. To strengthen the exchange of scientific and technical expertise amongst the developed and developing member countries in the region
5. To promote procedures to review Codex codes, standards, guidelines and recommendations to facilitate their use as the basis for national standards
6. To promote the development of standards for food products produced in the Pacific Island Countries.
Responsible parties, time frame, outputs and status were all identified and addressed on the different activities that were highlighted by the members of CCNASWP on how to best address the 6 objectives above. The onus lies with the members to commit and implement the CCNASWP Regional Strategic Plan 2008-2013.
Agenda Item 5 was a discussion paper on the development of a standard for Kava. At its 9th session, held in Samoa from 10-13 October 2006, the CCNASWP was presented proposals by the delegations of Vanuatu and Fiji regarding the development of an international standard for kava beverages and of a regional standard for dried kava products respectively and the Coordinating Committee noted that some additional work was still needed in order to allow them to take a decision with regard to new work in this area. WHO was asked to release a report on scientific evidence on the safety of kava products. WHO concluded in this CCNASWP 10th session that further research into kava products is necessary, in particular to identify and gain information about the toxicology of the non-kava lactones constituents.
Agenda Item 6 was a discussion paper on the development of a standard for Nonu (Noni) Products and it was recommended that new work should be initiated to develop a Codex standard for Nonu (noni). USA and Canada suggested that there needs to be a wider consultation between Pacific Island Countries especially those that are heavily involved in Nonu (noni) on the scope of the standard. Technical assistance by WHO and/or FAO will also be required on the scientific advice on the mapping/identification of nonu varieties suitable for human consumption.
Agenda Item 7 was a general representation of the breakdown of the existing National Food Control Systems in the CCNASWP member countries and how they can get consumer participation in Codex related activities at national and international level.
Discussion of Agenda Item 8 allowed members of CCNASWP to present on the use of Codex Standards at National and Regional Level. Australia for example, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) complies with WTO obligations to harmonize its national standards with Codex standards where possible. Australia domestic food standards are based on scientific risk assessment, are consistently applied and are not more trade restrictive than necessary.
Agenda Item 9 was a general discussion on Nutritional Issues within the region. It was highlighted that during the last 100 years in the Pacific, demographic, lifestyle and food supply changes influenced by European contact and influence on trade and development, have taken place with exceptional speed. The consequence has been a nutrition transition, an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCD) that has resulted in an apparent decline in population health. Added to this, large population groups of women and children are still suffering from a range of vitamin and mineral deficiencies (VMD) that have all but disappeared in more developed countries.
The concluding Agenda Item 10 was the nomination of the CCNASWP Coordinator and the members agreed that Tonga should run again as the coordinator for the one year. This means that Tonga will host the 11th session of the CCNASWP around the same time in 2009.

(Report by Manasa-FACT)