Chapter 7
Regulatory Perspective in Translating Science
into Policy: Challenges in Utilizing Risk
Assessment for the Elaboration of Codex
Standards of Shellfish Safety
Hajime Toyofuku
Introduction
The Codex Alimentarius Commission or Codex is an intergovernmental food
standard setting organization. Its importance increased after the formal recognition
of the Codex as the reference international organization for food safety standards in
the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement). The SPS agreement includes provisions
that require the use of science, including risk assessment, in standard setting. The
specific provisions are as follow:
Article 2.2 Members shall ensure that any sanitary and phytosanitary measure is
based on scientific principles.
Article 5 Members shall ensure that their sanitary or phytosanitary measures are
based on an assessment, as appropriate to the circumstances, of the risks to
human, animal or plant life or health, taking into account risk assessment
techniques developed by the relevant international organizations.
In the assessment of risks, Members shall take into account available scientific
evidence; relevant processes and production methods; relevant inspection, sampling
and testing methods; prevalence of specific diseases or pests; existence of pest- or
disease-free areas; relevant ecological and environmental conditions; and quarantine
or other treatment (World Trade Organization 1995).
Codex strengthens its policies and operational practices with respect to the
use of science in setting standards. In 1995, the Codex established a set of four
H. Toyofuku ()
Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health,
2-3-6-Minami, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan
e-mail: toyofuku@niph.go.jp
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 7,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
73
Regulatory Perspective in Translating Science
into Policy: Challenges in Utilizing Risk
Assessment for the Elaboration of Codex
Standards of Shellfish Safety
Hajime Toyofuku
Introduction
The Codex Alimentarius Commission or Codex is an intergovernmental food
standard setting organization. Its importance increased after the formal recognition
of the Codex as the reference international organization for food safety standards in
the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement). The SPS agreement includes provisions
that require the use of science, including risk assessment, in standard setting. The
specific provisions are as follow:
Article 2.2 Members shall ensure that any sanitary and phytosanitary measure is
based on scientific principles.
Article 5 Members shall ensure that their sanitary or phytosanitary measures are
based on an assessment, as appropriate to the circumstances, of the risks to
human, animal or plant life or health, taking into account risk assessment
techniques developed by the relevant international organizations.
In the assessment of risks, Members shall take into account available scientific
evidence; relevant processes and production methods; relevant inspection, sampling
and testing methods; prevalence of specific diseases or pests; existence of pest- or
disease-free areas; relevant ecological and environmental conditions; and quarantine
or other treatment (World Trade Organization 1995).
Codex strengthens its policies and operational practices with respect to the
use of science in setting standards. In 1995, the Codex established a set of four
H. Toyofuku ()
Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health,
2-3-6-Minami, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan
e-mail: toyofuku@niph.go.jp
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 7,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
73