Codex Agrees on Further Talks on 'Precautionary Principle'

April 17, 2000

The Codex Alimentarius Committee on General Principles (CCGP) has agreed to follow a three-step process on the use of precaution as part of risk analysis that should permit further discussions within Codex. The United States supports the continuing discussion conclusion but does not endorse the "precautionary principle."

Catherine Woteki, under secretary for food safety and head of the U.S. Codex delegation, said the United States has not endorsed the precautionary principle "in any way, but I am pleased that we were able to have a thoughtful and substantive discussion in the committee and that these discussions will continue to take place in what we believe is the appropriate forum: the international food safety standard setting body of Codex Alimentarius."

She continued, "There are countries that use what they call the precautionary principle domestically, and it is in the interest of the United States to ensure that it is only used in clearly defined, limited instances."

During deliberations of the CCGP, the United States and other delegates objected to the original text presented. The CCGP considered two alternatives, one that was constructed using separate texts developed by the European Commission and other delegations, including the United States. That text was amended further by the Codex secretariat and presented to the CCGP as the "chairman’s proposal." This text was considered conducive to a full discussion of many issues before the CCGP, Woteki said.

The other text was prepared by Malaysia, and the United States also supported that text. The United States, however, objected to moving to the next step – adoption of language.

Instead, said Woteki, the CCGP endorsed a process that calls for Codex to discuss the use of precaution in risk analysis. The three-step process includes establishing a drafting group that will work throughout the next year through electronic mail to develop new proposals on the definition and criteria for application of precaution when scientific evidence is insufficient to objectively and fully assess risk from a hazard in food.

Woteki said there also may be one or more educational workshops on precaution for all Codex members that will be held prior to the next meeting of the CCGP.

More information is available on the Internet at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/pariscodex.htm