Comments on Food Standards Programme, 18th Session
23 June 2025, Bangkok, Thailand - The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) today submitted a Conference Room Document (CRD) to Codex at the start of its Meeting on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF). This document reflecting IUFoST expert opinion* addresses key Agenda Items under discussion in CCCF this week.
Agenda Item 5: Maximum Levels of Lead in Certain Food Categories.
Agenda Item 7: Sampling Plans and Numeric Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for Total Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Certain Spices.
Agenda Item 8: Maximum Level and Associated Sampling Plan for Total Aflatoxin - Ready-to-Eat Peanuts (Step 4).
Agenda Item 9: Revision of the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Peanuts.
Agenda Item 11: Review of the Code of Practice for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Foods.
Agenda Item 12: Review of the Code of Practice for the Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 in Raw Materials and Supplemental Feeding Stuffs for Milk-Producing Animals.
Agenda Item 13: Development of a Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Tropane Alkaloids in Food and Feed.
Agenda Item 15: Review of Numeric Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for Total Aflatoxins Utilizing the Sum of Components Concept in Relevant Sampling Plans.
Agenda Item 16: Application of Maximum Levels to Multi-Ingredient Products.
Agenda Item 17: Analysis of the Occurrence Data of Lead in Spice Mixtures.
Agenda Item 18: Analysis of the Occurrence Data of Aflatoxins in Cereals.
IUFoST encourages all countries to:
- Engage actively in Codex discussions.
- Strengthen national monitoring and reporting systems.
- Invest in laboratory capacity and regional cooperation to support implementation.
- Promote phased enforcement strategies that balance health protection with practical feasibility.
IUFoST would like to thank the Electronic Working Groups (EWGs), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and all those associated with CCCF for their continued leadership in providing scientific guidance that underpins international food safety standards and supports public health worldwide.
*This Conference Room Document for was prepared by IUFoST through its expert disciplinary group, GForSS, the Global Food Regulatory Science Society.
ABOUT IUFoST - The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is the global non-aligned scientific organization representing more than 300,000 scientists, engineers and technologists from its work in more than 100 countries. IUFoST is a full scientific member of ISC (International Science Council), elected by its ISC peers as the union globally representing Food Science and Technology. IUFoST represents food science and technology to many international organizations, including UNIDO, the World Bank, International Academies of Science, regulatory agencies, industry and national science bodies. IUFoST organizes world food congresses, among many other activities, to stimulate the ongoing exchange of knowledge and to develop strategies in those scientific disciplines and technologies relating to the expansion, improvement, distribution and conservation of the world's food supply. It aims to harness and strengthen scientific understanding and expertise for the global good. IUFoST has regional and disciplinary groupings to fulfil its mission.
Contact: IUFoST General Secretariat at secretariat@iufost.org, www.iufost.org.
