Meeting to Consider U.S. Positions for Codex Session on Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods

In advance of the August 30-September 3, 2010, session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods, draft U.S. positions will be considered during a public meeting scheduled for August 16. Written comments may be presented during the meeting or forwarded to the U.S. delegate to the Codex session, Dr. Kevin Greenlees, who works in the Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Among other issues on the upcoming Codex agenda are (i) draft maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs (at step seven of an eight-step Codex process), (ii) a discussion paper on methods of analysis for these residues in foods, (iii) a draft priority list of veterinary drugs requiring evaluation by a joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) expert committee on food additives, (iv) a discussion paper on veterinary drugs in honey production, and (v) a discussion paper on a sampling plan for residue control for aquatic animal products.

Created by the FAO and WHO in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts international food standards, codes of practice and other guidelines and promotes their adoption and implementation by governments with the goal of protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations requires the FDA to review all food standards adopted by the commission and accept or reject them for application in the United States. U.S. positions on Codex proposals are open to input by interested parties and stakeholders. See Federal Register, August 12, 2010.