The latest consultation period on Codex’s draft food fraud guidelines closed at the end of August, and it now seems likely that they will be published without substantive change.
At its core is a definition of food fraud. Wordsmithing a definition via an International Committee deliberating for 8 years may seem like overkill, particularly when most jurisdictions have well defined laws against fraud which will cover any fraud that happens to involve food. But an internationally-agreed food fraud definition helps to standardise, and strengthen, both enforcement and sanctions around the world, and facilitates international trade in food.
The proposed Codex definition is
- ““Any deliberate practice intended to deceive others in regard to the characteristics of food to gain an unfair economic advantage.”.
( For other accepted definitions see FAN’s “definitions” page.).
Codex have clarified that their definition includes feed for food-producing animals. It is unclear if it includes other inputs such as fertilisers or pesticides.
Once these “Guidelines on the Prevention and Control of Food Fraud” are published, Codex intends to move on to more detail such as test method recommendations
For an assessment of the Codex consultation process, key responses, and the utility of the draft guidelines see the Food Fraud Prevention Blog from FAN member, and Advisory Board member, Professor John Spink (the Codex text is available on their “Online Commenting System” which requires an approved registration to view)
Comments