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Antimicrobial Resistance
Codex Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (Host Government - Republic of Korea)
The Codex Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance is responsible for developing guidance on methodology and processes for risk assessment and its application to the antimicrobials used in human and veterinary medicine as provided by FAO/WHO through JEMRA.
The task force will develop science based guidance, taking full account of its risk analysis principles and the work and standards of other relevant international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
This guidance will assess the human health risks associated with the presence and transmission of antimicrobial resistant micro-organisms and antimicrobial resistance genes in food and animal feed, including aquaculture. Appropriate risk management advice will also be developed.
Existing Codex Standards
Standards relating to antimicrobial resistance * that have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code:
- Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Antimicrobial Resistance
- Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assesment
*This is an indicative list only. For a full list of standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please consult its Official List of Standards.
Outcomes from the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The 31st Session of the Codex Alimentaruis Commission approved new work on the:
- proposed draft Risk Assessment Guidance Regarding Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms,
- proposed draft Risk Management Guidance to Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms, and
- the proposed draft Guidance on Creating Risk Profiles for Antimicrobial Resistant Foodborne Microorganisms for Setting Risk Assessment and Management Priorities.
Last Meeting
The 1st Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance reached the following conclusions:
Matters for consideration by the Commission
Amendment to the Terms of Reference
The Task Force agreed to forward proposed Amendment to the Terms of Reference to the Commission for consideration and approval.
Proposals for new work
The Task Force agreed to submit to the Commission, through the Executive Committee, the proposals for new work on the development of guidance documents on:
- Science-based risk assessment of foodborne antimicrobial resistant microorganisms
- Risk management to contain antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, and
- Creating risk profiles for antimicrobial resistant foodborne microorganisms for setting risk assessment and management priorities.
Matters of Interest to the Commission
Physical Working Groups
The Committee agreed to establish three physical working groups to prepare three proposed draft guidance documents for circulation at Step 3 and consideration at Step 4 at the next session of the Task Force, pending the formal approval of new work by the Commission (paras 33, 45 and 53).
Download the agenda for this meeting
Next Meeting
The 2nd Session of the Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance has been scheduled to be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 20 October – 24 October 2008.