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Milk and Milk Products
- Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
- Existing Codex Standards
- Last Meeting
- Next Meeting
- Related links
Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Host Government - New Zealand)
The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) is responsible for establishing international codes and standards for milk and milk products.
Existing Codex Standards
Codex Standards on Milk and Milk Products* already adopted into the international food code include:
| Milk Standards | Cheese Standards |
|---|---|
|
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* 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 Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products at Step 8.
The Proposed draft Amendment to the List of Additives of the Codex Standard for Creams and Prepared Creams (CODEX STAN A-9-1976) (NO8-2006) was adopted at Step 5/8.
The Commission also adopted the proposed draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks pertaining to Drinks based on Fermented Milk at Step 5.
Last Meeting
The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products held its 8th Session in Queenstown, New Zealand, on 4–8 February 2008. At this meeting, the Committee recommended the following:
Matters for Adoption / Approval by the 31st Session of the Commission and for Critical Review by the 61st Session of the Executive Committee
Draft and Proposed Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 8 and 5/8 of the Procedure
The Committee agreed to forward to the Commission, through the Executive Committee, for final adoption:
- the draft Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products, and
- the proposed draft Amendment to the List of Additives of the Codex Standard for Creams
and Prepared Creams (CODEX STAN A-9-1976) (N08-2006).
Proposed Draft Standards and Related Texts at Step 5 of the Procedure
The Committee agreed to forward to the Commission, through the Executive Committee, for preliminary adoption:
- the proposed Amendment to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CODEX STAN 243-2003) pertaining to Drinks based on Fermented Drinks, as renamed by the Committee.
Others
The Committee agreed to forward to the Commission, through the Executive Committee, for adoption:
- the Maximum Levels for Annatto Extracts in Codex Standards for Milk and Milk Products, including consequential changes to the provision for beta-carotene (vegetable)
- the Food Additive listings of the Standard for Fermented Milks (CODEX STAN 243-2003), and
- the Updated List of Methods of Analysis and Sampling in Codex Standards for Milk and Milk Products.
Matters of Interest to the 31st Session of the Commission and Executive Committee
Interval and duration of meetings
The Committee was of the view that the current interval and duration of the sessions of the Committee were appropriate.
Critical review
The Committee agreed to return the proposed draft Standard for Processed Cheese to Step 2. The Committee indicated that the work on:
i) Amendment to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CODEX STAN 243-2003) pertaining to Drinks based on Fermented Drinks, and
ii) Standard for Processed Cheese, would be completed by its Ninth session.
Section on Food Additives of the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks
The Committee agreed to simplify the presentation of the list of food additives section by including the following introductory paragraph to the list of food additives “Acidity regulators, colours, emulsifiers, packaging gases and preservatives listed in Table 3 of the General Standard for Food Additives (CODEX STAN 192-1995) are acceptable for use in fermented milk product categories as specified in the table above.”
Matters for Action by other Committees
Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA)
The Committee agreed to forward for endorsement by the CCFA:
- the Maximum Levels for Annatto Extracts in Codex Standards for Milk and Milk products, including consequential changes to the provisions for beta-carotene (INS 160 a ii) in the three standards for processed cheese (CODEX STAN A-8-a, A-8-b and A-8-c)
- the Food Additives Section of the Amendment to Codex Standard for Fermented Milks pertaining to Drinks based on Fermented Milk, including the food additives listing
- the Amendment to the List of Food Additives of the Codex Standard for Creams and Prepared Creams(CODEX STAN A-9-1976), and
- the food additives listings of the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks.
The Committee agreed to request the CCFA to associate new functional classes with certain food additives in the Class Names and the International Numbering System for Food Additives) as follows:
- “Stabilizer” to calcium orthophosphates (INS 341i, 341ii and 341iii), calcium polyphosphate (INS 452iv) and magnesium chloride (INS 511) and calcium sulphate (INS 516)
- “Stabilizer” and “Thickener” to microcrystalline cellulose (460i) and powdered cellulose (460ii)
- “Thickener” to potassium chloride (INS 508) and calcium chloride (INS 509)
Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)
The Committee agreed to forward for endorsement by the CCMAS the updated list of methods of analysis and sampling in Codex Standards for milk and milk products.
The Committee noted that problems agreed to request the advice of the CCMAS the issue of sampling plans in the presence of significant measurement errors could be dealt within a horizontal manner by CCMAS, while recognising that there was an acute problem for milk and milk products due to the number of analyses and the high level of analysis error.
Physical Working Groups
The Committee agreed to establish the following physical Working Groups, open to all delegations and observers, on:
- draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Fermented Milk, pertaining to Drinks based on Fermented Milk (under the leadership of Indonesia). Mandate: to consider the draft Standard along with comments submitted at Step 6. Time: immediately prior to the next session of the Committee. Language: English only.
- draft Standard for Processed Cheese (under the co-leadership of France and New Zealand and hosted by the European Community). Mandate: to revise the proposed draft standard the Working Group giving full attention to its simplification; taking into account the discussion of the 8th CCMMP and written comments submitted at the session. The revised proposed draft standard should at least include provisions for addressing the following issues:
i) Cheese content of processed cheese
ii) The acceptability of use of gelatine, starches and stabilizers in the manufacture of processed cheese, for instance by reference to national legislation, and
iii) The clear distinction between processed cheese and processed cheese preparations, for instance by labelling provisions. Time: early 2009. Language: English, French and Spanish. The Working Group, working in English, French and Spanish, hosted by the European Community, would meet early in 2009.
- draft Standard for Processed Cheese (under the co-leadership of France and New Zealand. Mandate: to consider the proposed draft Standard along with comments submitted at Step 3. Time: immediately prior to the next session of the Committee. Language: English only.
Other Matters
The Committee agreed to:
- request comments on maximum levels of annatto extracts (bixin-based INS 160b i and norbixin-based INS 160b ii), as well as technological justification thereof, for consideration by the Ninth Session of the Committee
- to invite Codex members and observers to electronically submit information to facilitate the work of the Working Group on Processed Cheese. These information would include: name of product (other than brand name) / product designation; quantity produced (total quantity; per international trade; per cheese content; per true nature: spreadable, sliceable, stringy); labelling cheese content; gelatine and starches; stabilizers; fat and dry matter content; national legislation in relation to the above
- to circulate AOAC methods for comment by members on their suitability and further consideration by the next session of the Committee
- to request information on methods of analysis and sampling required in standards for milk and milk products through a circular letter. It also agreed to request the IDF/ISO Working Group on Methods of Analysis and Sampling to consider the replies to this Circular Letter and
i) to prepare a list of methods required in the standards currently being elaborated by the Committee, and
ii) to review the current methods of analysis and sampling for milk and milk products and provide recommendations on updates to the list.
Next Meeting
The 9th Session of the CCMMP will be held in New Zealand, 2010. The dates and location will be confirmed at a later date.