THE USER'S MANUAL ON CODEX - Department of Biotechnology

1.1 Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference of this Committee are as follows:
k To establish or endorse permitted maximum or guideline levels for individual food additives, for
contaminants (including environmental contaminants) and for naturally occurring toxicants in foodstuff
and animal feeds.
k To prepare priority lists of food additives and contaminants for toxicological evaluation by the Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.
k To recommend specifications of identity and purity for food additives for adoption by the Commission.
k To consider methods of analysis for their determination in food.
k To consider and elaborate standards or codes for related subjects such as the labeling of food
additives when sold as such, and food irradiation.
1.2 Adopted Codex Texts
Codex General Standard for Food Additives, which has the following components:
1. Preamble
2. Annex A: Guideline for the Development of Maximum Levels of Use for Food Additives with Numerical
Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADIs)
3. Annex B: The GSFA Food Categorization System
4. Annex C: Cross-reference to Codex Commodity Standards and the GSFA Index of Food Additives
List A: JECFA ‘Approved’ Food Additives, with ADIs and International Numbering System (INS) Numbers
List B: INS Numbers for JECFA ‘Approved’ Food Additives with ADIs
5. Table 1: Additives Permitted for Use Under Specific Conditions in Certain Food Categories or Individual
Food Items (see Reference No. 1).
6. Table 2: Food Categories or Individual Food Items in Which the Use of Food Additives are Permitted
Under Specified Conditions
7. Table 3: Additives with Non-numerical ADIs Permitted for Use in Food in General in Accordance
with Good Manufacturing Practice Unless Otherwise Specified (ALINORM 97/12A, Appendix IV)
Annex to Table 3: Food Categories and Individual Food Items Where the Use of Food Additives with
Good Manufacturing Practice Limitations on Use are Not Allowed or Restricted
k International Numbering System for Food Additives
k The Principle Relating to the Carry-over of Food Additives into Food
k Codex General Standard for the Labeling of Food Additives When Sold as Such
k List of Codex Advisory Specifications for Food Additives
k General Requirements for Natural Flavorings
k Inventory of Processing Aids
k Guidelines For Simple Evaluation of Food Additive Intake
2. CODEX GENERAL STANDARD FOR CONTAMINANTS AND TOXINS (GSCTF)
The GSCTF in Food was adopted by the CAC in 1997 to reflect a horizontal approach in developing
maximum limits for all contaminants of importance for food safety and for trade in all relevant food.
The GSCTF is still in the development phase. The present format of the standard is given below:
k Preamble
k Annex 1: Criteria for the Establishment of Maximum Limits in Food
k Annex 2: Procedure for Risk Management Decision
k Annex 3: Format of the Standard
k Annex 4: Annotated List of Contaminants and Toxins
k Annex 5: Food Categorization System to be used in the GSCTF
The GSCTF does not yet contain figures pertaining to Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants and
toxins in the various food groups. The MLs are presently under development by the CCFAC for the
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