CFSAN Releases Codex Q&A Document

CFSAN Releases Codex Q&A Document

WASHINGTONThe Food and DrugAdministrations (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) inMarch released a question and answer document: Responses to Questions aboutCodex and Dietary Supplements. According to the agency, it has received manyinquiries from consumers concerned about the possible impact of the CodexAlimentarius guidelines for dietary supplements onU.S. consumers access to such products.

The adoption of [the guidelines] by Codex will not restrictU.S. consumers access to vitamin and mineral supplements orimpose any restrictions that go beyond those established by U.S. law, theresponse document noted. We also hope the responses help explain why the U.S.participates in the Codex process and how you can keep abreast of Codexactivities.

Among the issues addressed are a basic understanding of Codex,the position of the U.S. government on the Codex guidelines relating to vitaminand mineral supplements, what harmonization would be required if the guidelinesare implemented, and the benefits to the United States of participating in theCodex process. In its response, CFSAN also noted, The U.S. supports consumerchoice and access to dietary supplements that are safe and labeled in a truthfuland nonmisleading manner. The complete Codex document is available online(www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscodex.html).