Introduction
The The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) held its 9th Session in Auckland, New Zealand, from February 1 - February 5, 2010. Approximately 135 participants attended the meeting representing 34 member countries, one member organization and five observer organizations. The Delegate, the Alternate Delegate, two government advisors and five non-government representatives participated in the United States Delegation. Dr. Steve Hathaway, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand, chaired the meeting. The Committee discussed the following standards and issues:

• Reference to Voluntary Application of Provisions in Codex Commodity Standards
• Draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks Pertaining to Drinks Based on Fermented Milk
• Report on the Physical Working Group on the Proposed Draft Standard for Processed Cheese
• Maximum Levels of Annatto Extracts in Standards for Dairy Products
• Report on the IDF/ISO Working Group on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Milk and Milk Products
• Inconsistent Presentation of Food Additive Provisions in Codex Standards for Milk and Milk Products
• Consistency of the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products (CAC/GL 67-2008) with the Generic Model Official certificate (Annex to the Guidelines for Design, production, Issuance and Use of the Generic Official Certificates(CAC/GL 38-2001))
• Types and Maximum Levels of Lycopenes in Fermented Milk
• Review of Contaminants Section in Standards for Milk and Milk Products
• Revisions of the Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty (CAC/GL 50-2004)

Reference to Voluntary Application of Provisions in Codex Commodity Standards

After a lengthy discussion, the Committee agreed to retain the annexes/appendices and to amend their title and introductory paragraph in all 13 standards for milk and milk products to read as follows:

Appendix-Additional information
The additional information below does not affect the provisions in the preceding sections which are those that are essential to the product identity, the use of the name of the food and the safety of the food.

The U.S. disagreed with this approach and informed the committee that information included in the appendices did not reflect international agreement and recommended their deletion from the standards. The U.S. also informed the Committee that information that lacked international agreement should not be included in Codex standards and this information may result in unfair trade practices. There were several counties that expressed similar concerns and reservations to the decision of the committee were noted in the report.

Modified Standardized Common Names

The Committee considered that the Codex General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms-GSUDT, in combination with the standards for milk and milk products, the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods and the Codex Guidelines for the Use of Nutritional Claims provided adequate guidance on modified names for the purpose of nutrition claims for milk products and agreed that nutrition claims for milk and milk products would not benefit from horizontal guidance developed by the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL).

Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex Standard for Fermented Milk Pertaining to Composite Fermented Milk Drinks

The CCMMP agreed to adopt 40% (m/m) as the minimum fermented milk content requirement for drinks based on fermented milk and to add carbon dioxide as a carbonating agent to the list of permitted additives. It was also agreed to amend the labeling section requiring the declaration of water in the list of ingredients and the percentage of fermented milk to be clearly indicated on the label. The Committee agreed to forward the draft amendment to the 33rd Session of the Commission for adoption at Step 8 and inclusion in the Codex Standard for Fermented Milks.

Proposed Draft Standard for Processed Cheese

New Zealand and France speaking as co-chairs of the physical working group on the proposed draft standard for processed cheese introduced the report of the working group. They informed the Committee that after considerable discussion at the physical working group, it was not possible to develop a text that met the terms of reference given by the 8th Session of the CCMMP. The Committee therefore agreed to discontinue work on this matter. It was also agreed to recommend revocation of the three existing standards as they were outdated and not used by the industry. The U.S. advocated and supported these decisions.

Maximum Levels of Annatto Extracts in Standards for Dairy Products

The Committee recalled that at its last Session it had agreed to recommend adoption of maximum levels of annatto extracts norbixin-based in individual cheese standards in order to resolve the situation in which the lack of provisions for this additive could have precluded its use. The Committee also requested comments on the maximum levels as well as on their technological justification for consideration at the 9th Session. The Committee noted that replies to CL 2008/2-MMP Part B indicated agreement with the adopted maximum levels. Therefore, the Committee agreed to maintain the current provisions for annatto extracts norbixin-based in the adopted standards.

Report of the IDF/ISO Working Group on Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Milk and Milk Products

The Committee agreed to forward the updated list of methods and sampling for milk and milk products, including AOAC methods to the Codex Committee of Analysis and Sampling for their endorsement and subsequent adoption by the 33rd Session of the Commission.

Inconsistent Presentation of Food Additive Provisions in Codex Standards for Milk and Milk Products

The Committee agreed on a list of corrections in the food additive sections of the Codex dairy standards and forwarded it to the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) for endorsement and subsequent adoption by the CAC in July 2010. These corrections related to inconsistencies between the Codex dairy standard's food additive listings and the International Numbering System (INS) document (CAC/GL 36-1989) and included updating INS numbers and functional classes.

Types and Maximum Levels of Lycopenes in Fermented Milk

The Committee agreed to reply to the CCFA that the types of lycopenes included: lycopene (synthetic) (INS 160d (i)); lycopene (tomato) (INS 160d (ii); and lycopene (Blakeslea trispora) (INS 160 d (iii); and the technical justification for the levels was to provide a consistent color definition to flavored fermented milks and flavored drinks based on fermented milks.

Consistency of the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products (CAC/GL 67-2008) with the Generic Model Official certificate (Annex to the Guidelines for Design, production, Issuance and Use of the Generic Official Certificates(CAC/GL 38-2001))

After some discussion, the Committee agreed to retain the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products and to align it with the Generic Model Official Certificate. The Committee recommended that the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection Certification (CCFICS) take into account the specificities of the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products in any future revision of the Generic Model Official certificate (Annex to the Guidelines for Design, production, Issuance and Use of the Generic Official Certificates(CAC/GL 38-2001)). When such revision has been completed and the specificities for milk and milk products have been adequately addressed, consideration could be given to the revocation of the Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products.

The Committee agreed to forward the revised Model Export Certificate for Milk and Milk Products (CAC/GL 67-2008) to the 33rd Session of the Commission for final adoption.

Review of Contaminants Section in Standards for Milk and Milk Products

After some discussion, the Committee agreed to forward the following wording to the Commission for adoption and inclusion in standards for milk and milk products, subject to endorsement by the relevant Codex Committee.

For inclusion in section 5 of the milk product standards:

The products covered by this Standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants that are specified for the product in the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (CODEX STAN 193-1995).

The milk used in the manufacture of the products covered by this Standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants and toxins specified for milk by the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (CODEX STAN 193-1995) and with the maximum residue limits for veterinary drug residues and pesticides established for milk by the CAC.

For inclusion in Section 5 of CODEX STANs 250-2006, 251-2006 and 252-2006

The products covered by this Standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants that are specified for the product in the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (CODEX STAN 193-1995).

The milk used in the manufacture of the products covered by this Standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants and toxins specified for milk by the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (CODEX STAN 193-1995) and with the maximum residue limits for veterinary drug residues and pesticides established for milk by the CAC.

The vegetable oils/fat used in the manufacture of the products covered by this Standard shall comply with the Maximum Levels for contaminants and toxins specified for the oils/fats by the Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (CODEX STAN 193-1995) and with the maximum residue limits for pesticides established for the oils/fats by the CAC.

Revision of the Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty (CAC/GL 50-2004)

The Committee agreed to recommend to CCMAS that sampling plans should be based on valid statistical principles that would meet the requirement for fair international trade in milk and milk products; and the Measurement Uncertainty product assessment procedure approach should fully take into account the specificities of milk and milk products.

Next Meeting of CCMMP

The Committee noted that it had completed the work assigned to it by the Commission and agreed to propose to the 33rd Session of the Commission to adjourn the Committee sine die until such time as the Commission would require it to undertake new work.

Full Report of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products

The full report for the 9th Session of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Alinorm 10/33/11) is available at the following web site:

http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?lang=en