Fruits and Vegetables

Codex Committee on Processed Fruit and Vegetables
Related Links

Existing Codex Standards

Codex standards on fruit and vegetables and fruit and vegetable-related products are developed by the:

• Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables, and
• Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

There is also a separate Codex Taskforce on Fruit and Vegetable Juices. Standards relating to fruits and vegetables* that have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code include:

* 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.

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government - Mexico)

The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) is responsible for elaborating world-wide standards and codes of practice for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Outcomes of the 34^th Codex Alimentarius Commission
The 34^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission:

• Adopted at Step 8 the Standard for Tree Tomatoes
• Adopted at Step 5/8 the Standard for Chilli Peppers
• Adopted at Step 5 the Draft Standard for Pomegranate and
• Approved new work on a standard for Golden Passion Fruit

Last Meeting

The 16th Session of the CCFFV was held in Mexico City, Mexico from 2 – 6 May 2011.

At this Session the Committee agreed to forward the following matters to the 33^rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission:

• draft standard for tree tomatoes at Step 8
• proposed draft standard for chilli peppers at Step 5/8
• proposed draft standard for pomegranate at Step 5

The Committee also agreed to:

• agreed to the request the Commission to approve new work on Golden Passion Fruit 
• agreed that there was no need to develop specific decision-making and priority setting criteria for the development (including revision and amendments) of Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables
• agreed that the Codex Regional Standard for Chanterelles should be kept regional
• noted the timeframe for the finalization of the revision of the Standard for Avocado was 2011 and agreed to retain the draft revised standard at Step 7 waiting for the finalization of uniformity rules and other size-related provisions at its next session and to inform the Executive Committee accordingly
• agreed the Codex and UNECE Secretariats would work on a draft revised layout for Codex standards for fresh fruits and vegetables taking into account the 2010 revision of the UNECE layout and highlighting the main difference between Codex and UNECE layouts

The report from this meeting

Next Meeting

The 17th Session of the CCFFV will be held in Mexico City, Mexico from 3 – 7 September 2012. 

The agenda for this meeting

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government – United States)

The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV) is responsible for elaborating world-wide standards for all types of processed fruits and vegetables including dried products (except prunes), canned products (except juices), and jams and jellies.

Outcomes of the 34^th Codex Alimentarius Commission

The 34^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission agreed to:

• amend the Terms of Reference of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
• adopt at Step 5/8 the Standard for Desiccated Coconut (revision of CODEX STAN 177–1991)
• adopt at Step 5/8 the Annex on Certain Mushrooms (revision of CODEX STAN 55–1981)(For inclusion in the Codex Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables)
• adopt at Step 5/8 the Standard for Canned Bamboo Shoots (revision of CODEX STAN 241–2003)
• revoke the CODEX STAN 55–1981 – Codex Standard for Canned Mushrooms
• approve new work on a Standard for Certain Quick Frozen Vegetables and a Standard for Certain Canned Fruits

Last Meeting

The 25th Session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables was held in Bail, Indonesia from 25 – 29 October 2010.

At this session the Committee agreed to forward:

• the Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Grated Desiccated Coconut (revision of CODEX STAN 177-1991) to the 34^th Commission for adoption at Step 5/8

• the Proposed Draft Annex on Certain Mushrooms (revision of CODEX STAN 55-1981) (For inclusion in the Codex Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables) to the 34^th Commission for adoption at Step 5/8

• the Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Canned Bamboo Shoots (revision of CODEX STAN 241-2003) to the 34^th Commission for adoption at Step 5/8

The Committee also agreed to forward Approval for new work:

• the revision of the Codex Standard for Certain Quick Frozen Vegetables; and the Codex Standard for Certain Canned Fruits

The Committee also agreed to:

• forward the Proposed Amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables
• return the Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Table Olives (revision of CODEX STAN 66-1981) to Step 2 for redrafting, circulation for comments at Step 3 and further consideration at its next session
• return the Proposed Draft Codex Sampling Plans including Metrological Provisions for controlling Minimum Drained Weight of Canned Fruits and Vegetables in Packing Media to Step 2 for redrafting, circulation for comments at Step 3 and further consideration with the understanding that if no compromise can be reached on a revised text work on this item will be discontinued at its next session
• request comments on provisions for packing media for pickled vegetables for inclusion in the Codex Standard for Pickled Fruits and Vegetables in view of the discontinuation of work on the Guidelines for Packing for Canned Vegetables for consideration at its next session
• request comments on analytical methods for applesauce for inclusion in the Codex Standard for Canned Applesauce for consideration at its next session
• discontinue the Priority List for the Standardization of Processed Fruits and Vegetables

The report from this meeting

Next Meeting

The 26th Session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables will be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from 15 – 19 October 2012.

The agenda for this meeting

Related Links

Exporting fresh fruit and vegetables as ships' stores