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Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) is chaired and hosted by Australia. This committee develops principles and guidelines related to food import and export inspection and certification systems with a view to harmonising methods and procedures which protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trading practices and contribute to facilitating international trade in food stuffs.
Existing Codex Standards
Standards relating to food import and export inspection and certification systems* that have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code include standards on:
- Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
- Guidelines For The Exchange of Information between Countries on Rejections of Imported Foods
- Guidelines For The Design, Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
- Guidelines For The Development of Equivalence Agreements Regarding Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
- Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems
- Guidelines for the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certifications Systems
- Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety Emergency Situations
- Principles for Electronic Certification as an Appendix to the Codex Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and the Production and Issuance of Certificates (CAC/GL 38-2001), and
- Principles for Traceability/Product Tracing as a Tool within a Food Inspection and Certification System.
*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 Alimentarius Commission adopted the Draft Appendix to the Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification at Step 5/8.
The Commission also approved new work on the proposed draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Foreign On-Site Audits and Inspections and the proposed draft Annex to the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Certificates – draft Generic Model Health Certificate.
Last Meeting
The Committee met for its 16th Session in Surfers Paradise, Australia, from 26 – 30 November 2007. At this meeting the Committee agreed to forward to the Commission for final adoption:
- the proposed draft Appendix to the Guidelines on the Judgment of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems.
New Work
The Committee agreed to forward to the Commission, through the Executive Committee, for approval as new work:
- a project document on the development of Guidelines for the Conduct of Foreign Audit Team Inspections.
- a project document on the development of a Generic Model Health Certificate, as an Annex to the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CAC/GL 38-2001).
Work will commence on these two documents at physical working group meetings to be held in Belgium from 8–11 July 2008. Further information on this work can be obtained from Codex Australia.
Matters of Interest to the 31st Session of the Commission
In response to a request by the Commission to consider the interval between meetings, the Committee decided to maintain annual meetings for the time being.
Matters of Interest to other Committees
Codex Committee on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (CCFFV)
The Committee commented on the Draft Guidelines for the Inspection and Certification of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Conformity to Quality Standards at Step 5 and agreed to refer the discussion and written comments to CCFFV and invited all delegations wishing to provide any further comments to the draft Guidelines to do so in reply to Circular Letter CL 2007/20-FFV.
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP)
The Committee agreed to forward its recommendations on the consistency of the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products to the 8th Session of CCMMP for its consideration and to refer individual comments, including written comments submitted at its current and previous sessions, to CCMMP for its consideration.
Other Matters
The Committee also agreed:
- to defer consideration on the revision of the Codex Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification (CAC/GL 20-1995) and the Codex Guidelines for the Design, Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CAC/GL 26-1997) until further notice
- to establish an electronic working group to revise the discussion paper on the Need for Guidance for National Food Inspection Systems for consideration at its next session
- to establish an electronic working group to prepare a revised discussion paper on the Need for further Guidance on Traceability/ Product Tracing for consideration at its next session, and
- the Delegation of the United States to prepare a discussion paper on issues related to the intentional contamination of foods.
Download the report from this meeting
Next Meeting
The 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems has been scheduled to be held in Cebu, Philippines from 24 - 28 November 2008.
Download the agenda for this meeting
Information for delegates 
PDF [260kb]
Information for first time delegates to CCFICS PDF [28kb]
Hotel reservation list PDF [29kb]
Shangri-La Mactan Resort Cebu - info and web link 
Word [26kb]
Related Links
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
