WILL CODEX OPEN THE DOOR TO EXPLOITATION OF FOOD AID IN EMERGENCIES AND MORE GREENWASHING?

October 26, 2024 / Codex Alimentarius, CCFL48, Events, News

WILL CODEX OPEN THE DOOR TO EXPLOITATION OF FOOD AID IN EMERGENCIES AND MORE GREENWASHING?

CCFL48 – The Codex Committee on Food Labelling takes place in Quebec, Canada, on 27th Oct – 1st Nov 2024

The 48th Session of the Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL48) will be held in Québec City, Canada from Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 November 2024. The Session will also be broadcasted in listening mode in English, French and Spanish.

Among the issues to be discussed at CCFL is a proposal for new work from the USA calling for flexibility and exemptions for the labelling of food aid. We will be opposing this. Governments have the sovereign right to adopt any legislation they consider necessary to protect health as long as it does not violate international trade principles, but another weak industry friendly Codex decision could undermine attempts to label products safely, especially when it comes to foods for infants and young children.

We will also be following proposals for new work on labelling on Sustainability, E Commerce and added Sugars and the Prioritising mechanism.

IBFAN combined comments are here: CR128

GENERAL INFORMATION
Important links

Live Streaming
Background papers
Tentative Programme
Agenda

For more information, visit the official website at FAO – CCFL48

Agenda Item 10. EMERGENCIES

Principles and Criteria for Food Labelling Exemptions in Emergencies

10 IBFAN comment on Emergencies

IBFAN is opposed to this proposal by the United States that suggests labelling safeguards should be relaxed during emergencies. This is dangerous and contradicts and undermines Codex principles and decades of work deliberating on labelling safeguards. Such flexibilities will leave the door wide open for commercial and political exploitation and the creation of markets for inappropriate and unnecessary products.

The decision to declare an emergency is invariably sensitive and political and must be safeguarded from commercial influence. Governments must be free to insist that manufacturers and distributors include all essential labelling safeguards, in a language understood by persons affected by the emergency, especially in relation to products for infants and young children.

Weak Codex texts have regularly been used by exporting nations in attempts to stop governments bringing in strong marketing controls.

See 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding and this paper: Interventions at WTO and Codex

Agenda Item 12. SUSTAINABILITY

It is critically important that sustainability labelling is not permitted for unhealthy Ultra-processed foods, commercial milk formulas or foods for infants and young children to the age of 5 years

IBFAN comment on Sustainability

This proposal by New Zealand, European Union, the USA and Costa Rica is being developed on the understanding that “Sustainability-related labelling can fuel consumer demand for sustainable foods and be a powerful tool in driving practices to improve the sustainability of food systems.” IBFAN is not convinced that this is true and is worried that the products most likely to carry claims will be the packaged ultra-processed products that are causing most environmental harm.

If sustainability labelling is permitted it must be government regulated and monitored and that private/commercial/industry self-regulated and certified claims should not be permitted. In countries where effective regulation and monitoring is not a viable option, sustainability labelling should not be permitted. Rather than claims, governments should require warnings. Codex Guidelines should encourage governments to follow several key principles to encourage fair, comparable and truthful labelling:

Agenda Item 13. ADDED SUGARS

IBFAN comment on Definition of Added Sugars.

IBFAN welcomes this proposal and believes that there should be mandatory declarations on added sugar.

A wide range of mono and disaccharides and other sweeteners are added to foods and all need to be identified as ‘added sugars’ to distinguish them from intrinsic sugars that are naturally found in foods and are otherwise nutritious.
Consumers have a right to full and frank information about the quantity of ‘added sugars’ – expressed as a percentage of added sugar by weight in the ingredient list and as a sub-total of total sugars in the nutrient declaration panel.
WHO Euro has called for a ban on added sugars and sweeteners in food products for babies and children under the age of three, and has urged industry to “be proactive” and “support public health goals” by reformulating its baby food products.
The impact and limitation of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) should also be considered. The 2023 WHO Guidelines on the use of non-sugar sweeteners⁸ recommends that NSS not be used to manage weight or to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. This warning should be prominently communicated on labels of products containing NSS.

Agenda Item 6. E-COMMERCE and Agenda Item 7. TECHNOLOGY

IBFAN E-commerce Technology

IBFAN is calling for all pre-packaged foods for foods for infants and young children to be in conformity with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA resolutions and that the Guidelines should make Reference to the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food (CXC 20-1979). This could help safeguard the marketing of foods for infants and young children. Information relating to products for infants and young children should also be presented separately from commercial information and should not lead consumers to commercial websites and other promotional information. No user data should be collected or tracked through electronic means. Since not everyone has access to technology, all mandatory food information should appear in full on the label.