India Joins 44th Codex Nutrition Committee Meeting

India participated in the 44th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) held in Dresden, Germany from October 2 to October 6, 2024. As a key contributor, India made pivotal interventions on significant agenda items.

Probiotic Guidelines

• India advocated for the revision of existing FAO/WHO documents on probiotics, highlighting their outdated nature due to advancements in scientific knowledge.
• Emphasized the need for international harmonization in probiotic regulation to facilitate global trade.
• The committee agreed to revisit probiotic guidelines and requested FAO and WHO to review the relevant documents from 2001 and 2002, incorporating recent scientific literature.
• India provided valuable insights regarding nutrient reference values (NRVs) for individuals aged 6 to 36 months.
• The committee agreed to determine the combined NRV-R value for this age group by calculating the mean of the two subgroups: 6–12 months and 12–36 months.
• India’s views received backing from countries like Canada, Chile, and New Zealand, showcasing a collaborative international effort.

Sweetness Assessment 

• In discussions regarding the assessment of carbohydrate sweetness in follow-up formulae, India opposed the EU’s proposal for sensory testing, citing insufficient scientific validation.
• Supported by the USA, Canada, and others, India’s position led to the committee’s decision to discontinue this topic temporarily, with alternatives like ISO 5495 still available for use.

Indian Delegation 

• The Indian delegation included representatives from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development, advocating for India’s positions on food safety and consumer health.
• Also, During the adoption of the final report, India’s suggestions were officially incorporated, marking a significant contribution to shaping global food safety and nutrition standards.

FAO/WHO Announcements

• FAO/WHO announced plans for a Joint Statement on Healthy Diet Principles and provided updates on the evaluation of Alternative Animal Source Foods (A-ASFs).
• FAO introduced a new “Food and Diet” domain on its FAOSTAT database.

Remarks

• Germany’s Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, welcomed delegates, emphasizing the importance of safe food in achieving global food security.
• The session was chaired by Ms. Martine Püster, with Dr. Carolin Bendadani as co-chair.

About CCNFSDU 

• CCNFSDU (Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses) is a unit of the Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC), responsible for developing global standards for special dietary foods such as infant formulas, dietary supplements, and medical foods. 
• The CAC, established in 1963 by the  Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) and World Health Organization(WHO), sets international food standards to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices, with input from its 189 Codex Members(including India).