Food Recall and Traceability

(February 2013, Thailand)

Codex Principles and Guidelines for

the Exchange of Information in Food

Control Emergency Situations

• CCFICS guideline

• Revised in 2004

• Further revision currently under consideration

– Further guidance requested on roles and

responsibilities, processes and communications

– CCFICs will consider whether to revise at its 2013

meeting in Chaing Mai

• Guidance for national governments and

regional organizations on the exchange of

information in food safety emergency

situations

• Imported, exported or potentially exported food

implicated in a food safety emergency

• Food safety hazard has been identified

– and potentially where a specific hazard has not been

identified but there is evidence of a link between a

food and serious adverse health effects

• May also apply when feed and food producing

animals are implicated

• Does not apply to routine import rejections

• When a food safety emergency has been

identified

– Nature and extent should be clearly and completely

described by competent authorities

– Exchange of information between official contact

points

– Detecting country should inform all known affected

and potentially affected countries without delay

– All relevant information should be shared by

competent authorities detecting an emergency

– Competent authorities should provide clear,

relevant factual and timely information to

relevant stakeholders

– Information flow should be transparent and

continuous

• Clear concise and accurate information on the

nature of the emergency, the scientific basis

and as much detail as possible on the

implicated food(s)

• Each country should designate an official food

safety emergency contact point – point of

information exchange during emergencies

– Countries are responsible for updating

information on contact points with WHO as

required

• Globalised food trade, potentially widespread

food safety emergencies

– important to determine all potential recipient

countries and all potential exporting countries and

to provide them with the relevant information

• Communication should be by most efficient

means

• Initial information may be incomplete and may

need to be supplemented

• National legislation may affect the nature and

extent of information disclosure

• The nature of the food safety emergency,

hazards and risks, methodology and any

assumptions

• Detailed identification including product

markings, certificate information

• Affected and potentially affected populations

groups

• Shipping and related information, e.g. the

name and contact information for the exporter,

importer, consignee and shippers

• Action taken to reduce or eliminate the hazard

• Full details of the designated official contact

point and the relevant competent authority

• Scientific substantiation and risk assessments

• Guideline Annex

– Nature of emergency

– Identification of foods

– Affected groups

– Shipping and related information

– Action taken

– Details of official contact point and competent

authority

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