codex alimentarius commission FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

WORLD HEALTH ORGAN1ZATION

JOINT OFFICE: \'

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CJUTERIA FOR ELAßORA TION OR REVOCA TION OF CODEX INDIVIDUAL CHEESE STANDARDS (C-STANDARDS)

(Preparcd by !DF)

1. BACKGROUND

APPENDIX

At the 2nd Session of the CCMMP several clelcgates expresscd a wish for the establishment of criteria for maintaining and establishing stanclards for individual cheeses. Written Government commcnts relating to the lisl of C-stanclards were also submitted by Denmark, Finland, Germany, thc Netherlands, New Zealancl, Nonvay, the Slovak Republic, Swilzerland and lhe Unitcd Kingclom.

The Commiucc clicl nol considcr this further, but agreecl to refer lhe withclrawal of the following individual chcese stanclarcls lo thc Commission for approval (AL!NORM 97111 , paragraph 84):

Danablu (C-2) Gruyere (C-10) Guclbrandsdalsost (C-19) Norvcgia (C-23) Esrom (C-26) Crcam Cheese (C-31) (pcncling the inclusion in thc Standard for Unripcnecl Chccsc Including Frcsh Checsc) Certain Bluc Vcined Chccscs (C-32) (clelction of Danablu. Aclclosl ancl Bluc Checse)

Thc New Zealand Sccrctariat has requestcd lhc !DF lo reporl to the 3rd Session of thc CCl\1MP and to rccommencl critcria f'or the retention of the remaining C-standards currcntly bcing rcvicwed by Lhe Committcc and ror the establishment or new Standards for individual chceses.

Recommcndccl Elaboration or Rcvocation of Codex Individual Chccse Standards(C-Standards) appcar in Annex.

In orclcr 10 make thc critcria operational, a "decision tree approach" bascd on the recommcnded crilcria is proviclcd in Atlnchment 1.

As requestecl by Unitecl Kingclom. the IDF has iniliatecl Lhc process of furnishing actual information inclucling procluction and Irade statistics for thc individual checscs currcntly unclcr consicleration to help guiclc thc Cornmittec to make a full asscssment of cach variety using the rccommended critcria. This information will bc providccl prior to thc 3rd Session of the CCl'v11v!P togcthcr wilh a prcliminary asscssrnent of thc individual chceses currently under consideration by thc Committce .

2. GENER:\I, CODEX GlilDELINES FOR U:-mERTAKINC. NEW WORK.

The Proceclural l'vbnual scts up 8 general critcria to be consiclcrccl when the work prioritics arc establishccl by Codex. Thc critcria, in aclclition to thc ivleclium-Tcrm Plan of Work cslablishccl by thc Commission, shoulcl bc considered by a Codex Committcc proposing new work (Proc:edum/ 1vfa1111a/. IOth. Ed .. pagcs n-74) . They proviclc guiclance to Codex Committces with regarcl to objectives that may justify the establishmcnt or a commoclity standarcl.

The applicability of these general critcrin to individual checses is providcd below.

2.1 Application of thc General Critcria to individual cheeses.

The gencral critcria listed below in (i) to (viii) are consiclerecl inclividually for application to incliviclual cheeses.

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( i): Consu me r 1iro1 ec f ion .fim11 t he poi 111 of 1·iew of hea II h m1d .frmu/11 I ent prac:ti ces.

Heallh protcctinn of the consumer alonc cloes not justify thc establishment of a commodity standard as such protcclion will be adcquatcly covcrcd by other horizontal and commodity specific Codex texts conccrning hygicne. additives and contaminants.

Protection of the consumcrs from fraudulcnt practices may justify the establishmcnt of a Codex Standard for an individual chcesc.

Whclher a risk of fraudulcnl practicc cxists depcnds on thc following :

The degrcc of consumcr's recognition of the product (or dcsignalion). exprcssed as thc number of countries in which thc product is manufactured and consumed:

Thc ncccls of importing countries to rcquire spccil'ic labelling to cnsure that adequate consumcr information is proviclcd with regard to the nature of the product: and

Existing differenccs in national dcrinitions of the product.

(ii): Vo/w11e of' prod11ctio11 (III(/ co11.1·11111ptio11 in i11dil'id11al co1111tries and l'0/11111e all(/ palfem of' trade hetll'een cn1111trics.

An estimate of thc global production will bc needed. Such slatistics are available in many but not all Codex !Vlembcr countries. Howevcr, depending on thc availability of data, production statistics will be an important tool for evaluating whethcr an international standard will bc justifiecl.

Export statistics arc only availablc in somc countrics globally and to a limitcd cxtent. This is gcncrally also the case for consumption statistics. Therel'orc. ancl instcad of an cstimate of thc global consumption. inrormation 011 the numbcr ol' countries in which the product is consumed would be appropriate. This inl'ormation will also provide an cstimate 011 thc number of countrics involvcd in international tradc (exporting aml importing).

Further. in nrdcr to avoid the justification of a Codex standarcls solely based 011 local Irade betwcen a smaller group of countrie~, it would be appropriate to considcr that the international trade shoulcl not only takc placc within a single trading block

In thc cvaluation or thc patlerns of tracle bctween countries. it would also bc relevant to clistinguish bct.wccn products which are tracled only occasionally and producls traded in a consistenl now.

(iii): Divers([ic:lltion of' llllfio11ul legis/ations Oll(/ appllrenl re.rnltwlT i111pedi111ems to i111ematio11al I rnde.

In considcring this critcrion. it is apparent thal the number of countrics having established a national standard is impnrtanl owing to thc potential for Irade problcms.

Funher. information on the provisions of cach national stanclarcl will enablc the estimation of thc nccd to harmonize 011 international levcl.

In adclition, thc application of inclustry stanclards intendecl for voluntary

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• An increase in dorncstic consurnption (or trcnd) to which domcstic production may not be ablc to adapl in time. In such cases the potential for imports is apparcnt. Mo7J„arella is a typical examplc of this type of clcvelop111e11t.

(Pj: i\menahility of rhe co111111oditr to sta11dardi:ari011.

Any individual chccse is ;111H.:nablc to standardization.

(vi): Nwn/Jer rif' co11111wdiries which mJ11id necd .reparate stwzdards i11dic:ati11g whether raH'. .1·e111i-processed or 1iroce.1·sc:d.

Not relevant for individual checses.

(vii): Wurk already 1111derrake11 hy orher i11tem(//io11al orga11iz.ario11.1· in thisfield

Thc formcr Joint FAO/WHO Cornmittee of Govcrnmcnt Experts on thc Code of Principles Conccrning Milk am! Milk Products unclenook the work to establish thc cxisting C-standards.

!11 accordance with the claboration procedurc, IDF has drnftcd Propmecl Draft Rcvisecl Standards l'or Individual Chccscs. These drafts arc currently undcr rcvicw and subjcct for co11sidcration at Stcp 4.

This critc1·ion is therci'orc not relevant whcn considering retention or cxisting stanclards ror individual chceses.

When consiclering thc establishmcnt of a new standard ror anothcr individual cheese. the st;111dard claboration proccdurc will include work unclertakcn by !DF1•

(1·iii): The !_V/Je of'.rn/Jsidiarr /)()dy envi.rnged ro 1111der1oke the 11•ork.

Thc CCMMP is the relevant Codex botly to claboratc clrafl stamlarcls for incliviclual checscs".

2.2 Summary

In summary. thc rollowing int'ormation will bc relevant when cvaluating the justification for thc establishment (or retention) of a Codex stanclard for an individual cheese:

• The numbcr of countries in which thc varicty is manuf'acturccl ; • Thc global volumc of production:

Thc number or countrics in which the product is consumed (marketecl) ancl/or involvccl in international tracle (exports and imports): The volumc moving into international tradc: Number and contents of existing national stanclards; ancl Any othcr relevant inl'onnation which rnay justify the establishmcnt of a stamlarcl.

In orcler to procced. the above information should bc furnishccl for cach individual chcese varicty under considcration. Further. a structurccl approach l'm the hanclling of the information is nccded in order Lo cvaluate systernatically the justification of a Codex Standard.

This can bc achievecl by cstablishing the thrcc critcria prnviclcd below.

Sccrc1al'iat's Nntc: Thi s critcrion rcll:rs to thc work of othcr i111crnalional bodics in cstablishing thcir i111crnatio11al standarus. cocles or practicc ur 01h.:r rcco111111cmlations. In the casc ur Codex standards for milk protlucts, 1he Codex i\li111cn1ari11s Cornmission Proccdural Ma1111al stipulatcs 1111dcr thc Unifor111 Proccdurc for thc Elaboration ofCodcx Stand:mls and Rda1cd Texts as follows: "Steps 1,2 a11d :l „„ (2) „„ In thc cascs of milk anti mi 1 k products or individual s1a11clarcls for chcc.:scs. thc Sccrctariat distribmcs the recom1rcndatiort~ of thc I111crnatio11al Dairy Fcdcra1io11

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3 RECOi\'li\fäNDA TION

Consiclering thc abovc. ancl in orcler lo providc quanlitalive criteria for Lhe work prion11cs rnnccrning individual chcesc standarcls. it is recommended that thc thrcc criteria below bc applied by thc CCMMP to asscss thc justification or relention and/or csrablishment of a Codex Standard for an individual eheese. Th..: critcria are primarily based on quantitative data. Other additional information may al so justi fy a standard .

Thc cstimated resull or an assessmcnt of thc cxisling slandarcls, using thesc quantitative data only, would bc that thc following standards will no langer bejustified:

C-8 (Chcshirc) , C-14 (Svceia) , C-17 (Butterkäse), C-:20 (Harzer Kiise), C-21 (1-!errgürdsost). C-22 (Huslü'tllsost) . C-24 (Maribo), C-25 (Fynbo), C-27 (Romadur), C-28 (Amsterdam) , C-29 (Leidse), C-30 (Friese) and C-3::!. (Edelpilzkäse).

Critcrion 1 .

Critcrion 2.

Criterion 3.

PnoPoSED CnrrEnIA Fon ELABORATION OR REVOCATION OF

.-\ CODEX STANDARD Fon AN INDIVIDUAL CHEESE

ANl\TEX

A minimum of 6 mcmbcr countries shoulcl manufacturc thc individual cheese. lf this is not thc casc. thc numbcr of member countries in which thc cheesc is consumcd should bc a minimum of 8, unless other relevanr in[ormaLion which dcmonstratcs potential problems in international trnde can justify a Standard.

The annual global procluction volume should be aL least l 0,000 tonncs .

Thc volumc moving into international trade shoulcl annually be al least 7.000 ionnes. IT 1his is nol rhe case. mher relevant information which clemonslrates potential problcms in international trade may jusiify a standard .

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Attachment 1

USE OF A "DECISION TREE" IN APl'LYI:"IG RECOMi\o!ENDED CRITERIA FOR ELAßORATION OR

REVOC..\TION OF A STANDARD FOR :\N INDIVIDUAL CHEESE

Thc three critcria containccl i11 thc rcport have been restated as a scrics of questions for use in a clecision-making !Ool known as a ' 'clecision tree··. Thc questions have been statecl so that a "yes" or "no" answer lcads sequcntially to thc ncxl step (qucstion) in thc process. Using this approach, only onc of two rcsults arc possible: the rctcntion and/or establishment of a Codex Standard for an inclividuai checsc is cither justificcl or not justificcl .

Rcstatcmcnt of Rccommcndccl Critcria for Usc in a "Dccision Trcc"

Critcrion (1) - Minimum Ci counlrics should manufacture thc individual chcese. lf this is not thc case. lhe number of countrics in which thc chccse is consumecl should be minimum 8, unless other relevant information which clcmonslrales potential proble1m in international trade can justify a standard.

Restolcdfor the decision lrec

QI

Ql (a)

Ql (b)

Js the numbcr of mernbcr countries in which the prnduct is rnanufacturecl at least 6? lf thc answcr is "no". proccccl to QI (a). lf thc answer is "yes'', procccd to Q2.

ls thc number of member countrics in which the product is consumed at least 8? rr the answcr is "no". procccd tn Ql (b).If thc answer is "ycs", proceed to Q2.

Docs a potential cxist for problems in international trade?

lf the answer is "110''. lhe process is terminatcd - an individual Standard is not justificd . ff thc answer is ' 'yes" . rctcntion and/or cstablishmcnt of an individual stanclarcl is justificd.

Critcrion (2) - The annual global procluction volumc should be at least 10.000 tonncs.

Rcs1atedJi1r th e dec:ision trtl.'.'

Critcrion (3) - The volumc 1rnl\·ing into international trade should annually bc at least 7.000 tonncs. Ir thi_s is not the casc , othcr rekvant information which demonstratcs potential problems in international trade may _j ustify a standard .

Res/atcd for the decision tn:e

Q3 Is thc volume exporled at least 7,000 tonnes'?

Q3 (a)

Examplcs:

Chccsc A

II' the answcr is "no·' . procccd to Q3 (a). lf the answcr is ·'ycs". rctention and/or eslahlishmcnt or an individual stanclard is justified

Docs a potential ex ist for problems in internat ional trade?

1 r the ans wer is '·no„. thc process is tcrminatecl. an individual stunclard is not justified. If thc answer is "ycs", retcntion ;111cl/or cstablishment or an individual standarcl is justified

Ql: The number of manuracturing mcmbcr countries is 10 (abovc the minimum of 6 counlrics) .

Q2 Thc global prnduction volume is estimated tobe at least 45,000 t (cxceeds 10.000 l).

Q3: Total global volumc exportccl is cstimntecl tobe at least 12.000 t (cxceeds 7,000 t).

Procccd. An individual stanclard is justilicd

Q 1 ls thc nurnbcr or countrics in which thc

product is rnanufacturcd at least (i'!

YES

Q2 ls thc annua l global productio11 volurnc at leas t 10,000 l ?

i Y!CS Q 3 ls thc volu rnc

cxponcd at least 7,000 t ?

NO

NO

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DEClSlON TREE TOBE USED IN .JUSTlFYlNG CODEX STANDARDS

FOR INDIVIDUAL CHEESES

Ql(a) ls thc numbcr or countric., in which thc producl is consumcd

at least 8'!

NO

Q3(a) Docs a porcnrial cxist for probiL:ms in international tradc''

NO QI(h) Docs a poten tial cxisl lor problcrns in international tradl!?

NO

(l11tlii·idual St(ll1d11rrl

!.1.!..!.lj11.\·1ijfr dJ

PROCEED f /111/idtf1111/S1a11dard

justifiedl

YES

1.

2.

ASSESSMENTS OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RETENTION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CODEX STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL CHEESE V ARIETIES

Report by the International Dairy Federation

Background

At the request of the Secretariat of the Codex Committee for Milk and Milk Products, the IDF prepared Recomrnended Criteria for the Retention and/or the Establishment of Codex Standards for Individual Cheeses (C-Standards).

[The proposal was circulated by CL (ref. no.) with an invitation to governments and interested organizations to submit comments by (date).]

The proposed criteria subject to consideration at the third Session of the CCMMP are as follows:

Criterion 1 A minimum of 6 member countries should manufacture the individual cheese. If this is not the case, the number of member countries in which the cheese is consumed should be a minimum of 8, unless other relevant information which demonstrates potential problems in international trade can justify a standard.

Criterion 2 The annual global production volume should be at least 10,000 tonnes.

Criterion 3 The volume moving into international trade should be at least 7,000 tonnes annually. If this is not the case, other relevant information which demonstrates potential problerns in international trade rnay justify a standard.

These criteria were restated as a series of questions constituting the "decision tree" attached the above document as Attachment 1.

Furnished data for assessment

As a follow-up on the proposal, the IDF has furnished statistical information to assist the Cornmittee in proceeding with the recommended criteria. The furnished date are presented in the annexes to this document for each individual cheese variety currently under consideration, i.e. the existing standards currently under review (except the standards revoked by the 22nd Session of the CAC), and the proposed new standard for Mozzarella.

The furnished data relate to 1995 and have been derived from various sources. lt is emphasized that the data provided may not give the complete information concerning production, trade and regulations in all Codex member countries. Data also varies from year to year. lt should also be noted that, due to the deregulation of import quota systems and tariffbarriers, the potential access to imports has increased since 1995. The data may be further improved through the assistance from delegates to the CCMMP.

3.

2

Assessments of each individual cheese variety have been carried out by applying the data available to the "decision tree" associated with the Recommended Criteria for the Retention and/or the Establishment of Codex Standards for Individual Cheeses (C-Standards) prepared by the IDF.

Recommendations

Based on the assessments provided in Annexes 1 and 2 to this document the following is recommended:

1) The revision of the existing standard for the following 15 cheese varieties should continue:

Cheddar (C-1); Danbo (C-3); Edam (C-4); Gouda (C-5); Havarii (C-6); Sams0 (C-7); Emmental (C-9); Tilsiter (C-11 ); Saint Paul in (C-13); Provolone (C-15); Cottage Cheese (C-16); Coulommiers (C-18); Cream Cheese (C-31); Camembert (C-33); Brie (C-34).

" ) Incorporated into the Draft Standard for Unripened Cheese, Including Fresh Cheeses (A-19).

2) The revision ofthe standards for the 14 cheese varieties should not be continued and the existing standards should be revoked:

Cheshire (C-8); Limburger (C-12); Svecia (C- 14); Butterkäse (C-17); Harzer Käse (C-20); HerTgärdsost (C-21); Hushällsost (C-22); Maribo (C-24); Fynbo (C-25); Romadur (C-27); Amsterdam (C-28); Leidse (C-29); Friese (C-30); Edelpilzkäse (C-32).

3) The standard for Mozzarella Cheeses should be finalized.

4) With regard to Extra Hard Grated Cheese (C-35), IDF has not been able to conclude due to the Jack of reliable data. The Committee should consider the future of this standard in light of the decision on Parmesan. 1 f retained as a standard for Extra Hard Grating Cheeses, the Committee should consider converting the standard into a group Standard (A-series).

STANDARD C-9 - EMMENT AL

a) Furnished Data (1995) Tracle Rci?ions Names of Countrics In total

Manufacturing NAFTA: Canada, USA countries Mercosur:

Other Latin America: EU: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland Non-EU Europe: Switzerland I 1 Africa: Middle East: South East Asia: East Asia: Japan Pacifics: Australia, New Zealand

Countries in which NAFTA: Canada, Mexico, USA cheese is consumed Mercosur: Argentina, Brazil

Other Latin America: Bermuda, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, West lndies EU: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,

Germany, Greece, Ireland, ltaly, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom 48

Non-EU Europe: Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey

Africa: Namibia, Senegal, South Africa Middle East: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi

Arabia, UAE South East Asia: Philippines, South Korea, Thailand East Asia: Japan Pacifics: Australia, New Zealand

Countries regulating Australia, Canada (composition only), Denmark, France, Germany, New the cheese by a legal Zealand (composition only), Switzerland, USA 8 standard Production volume at least 548,054 tonnes Export volurne at least 219,413 tonnes

b) A ssessmen t r · ffi r o .JUS 1 1ca 10n Criteria: Comments: Conclusion:

QI Minimum 6 countries Emmental is manufacturcd in at least 11 Proceed to Q 2 manufacturc the cheese. countries

Q2 The global production volumc is Thc volume ofproduction ofthe 11 countries Procecd to Q 3 at least l 0,000 t rnanufacturing the cheese is estirnated to total at

least 548,000 tonnes Q3 The volume moving into The exports of the 11 countries manufacturi ng The rctcntion of a Codex

international Irade is at least the cheese are estirnated to total at least 219,000 standarcl for Emmental 7,000 tonnes tonnes. is i ustificcl

c) Final conclusion and recommendations Based on the information above, the retention of a Codex Standard for Emmental is justified according to the recommended criteria. The revision ofthe existing Standard C-9 should continue.

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