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DRAFT POSITION PAPERS FOR CAC

43rd CAC Agenda Item No. 7 (CX/CAC 20/43/6)

Proposed Philippine Country Position for the 43rd CAC (September 24-26, October 12, 19, 2020)
Adoption of Codex Texts At Step 5

Codex Codex Draft Philippine Position at Codex Committee/ Task Force Codex Committee/ SC/TF Proposed Philippine Position NCO Final
Committee Standards Task Force Decision for the 43rd CAC Position For TC
Indicate if the comments/
Philippine position approval
was adopted or not by
the Committee
(Based on CX/CAC 20/43/6) (Based on delegate and Codex Committee Reports) (SC/TF Chair to fill up this column) (43rd TC
Support / does not support Meeting)
(SC/TF Chair validate the two(2) columns below) Provide rationale/ justification with
available scientific data
Adoption of Codex Texts At Step 5
CCFH Proposed draft General Comments:
guidance for the The Philippines support the proposed draft guidance on the
management of management of Biological Foodborne Outbreaks. This provide
biological foodborne guidelines on the role of competent authorities in collaboration with
outbreaks the food business operators and other stakeholders.
(REP20/FH
Para. 103, Appendix III) Specific Comments:
1. Introduction, paragraph 9

Propose to amend this paragraph to include “"whether the

contaminant is known or unknown" because this is mentioned on
the FAO/WHO framework for Developing National Food Safety
Emergency Response Plans (2010)as a criterion in categorization of
food outbreaks.
CCNFSDU Review of the Standard SECTION B: DRINK/PRODUCT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH
for Follow-up Formula: ADDED NUTRIENTS OR DRINK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Section B: Proposed
draft scope, definition The Philippines supports the adoption of the text of the proposed draft
and labeling scope, description and labelling Section B “Drink/product for young
(REP20/NFSDU children with added nutrients/“drink for young children”, with
Para. 85) modification provided it is interpreted and implemented consistently
in line with Codex principles.

1. Scope
The Philippines agrees that this text has been discussed and agreed
upon and is ready for adoption.
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2. Definition
2.1.1 The Philippines agrees that, despite voices of many low and
middle-income countries (LMIC) delegates being overruled regarding
these products being explicitly defined as breast-milk substitutes, this
text has been discussed and agreed upon and the footnote was an
accepted compromise.

We are of the opinion that the text in square brackets [which may
contribute to the nutritional needs of young children] needs further
discussion. We believe that the text in square brackets may not be
necessary and may imply that they have a role to play. This is not the
case and so it should not be implied in the definition of these products.
We likewise believe that these products cannot solely replace the diet
and cannot be considered as an additional variety of food to achieve a
nutritionally adequate and diverse diet. Notably, drinks do not fall in
any of the FAO recommended nine (9) food group categories .
Furthermore, these products may contribute to added sugars to the
diet even if sugar content in this product is regulated.

2.1.2 We agree that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

2.2.1 We conform that this text has been discussed and agreed upon
and is ready for adoption.

9. Labelling

9.1 We believe that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

9.2 We agree that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

9.3 We believe that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

9.4 We agree that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

9.5 We agree that this text has been discussed and agreed upon and is
ready for adoption.

9.6 We are in agreement that this text, although compromise text from
what we were requesting, is ready for adoption. However, the
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Philippines also proposes that further clear guidance is provided for

proper implementation to avoid differences in interpretation
particularly on Section 9.6.1.

Proposed draft
guidelines for Ready-
to-Use Therapeutic
Foods (RUTF)
(REP20/NFSDU
Para. 122)
TFAMR Proposed draft revision
of the Code of Practice
to Minimize and
Contain Foodborne
Antimicrobial
Resistance (CXC 61-
2005)
(REP20/AMR
Para. 126)