21st Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (CCLA21 October 21st–25th 2019 in Santiago, Chile
Delegate: Tandeka Barton – Principal Analytical Scientific Officer (GA-FDD)
The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean scheduled its 21st Session (CCLAC21) in Santiago, Chile, from 21 – 25 October 2019, at the kind invitation of the Government of Chile. The meeting opened one day later than scheduled to ensure the security and safety of all delegates following demonstrations and riots in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago that led to the declaration of a Constitutional State of Emergency.
After two half days of discussions (22 and 23 October 2019), the session had to be discontinued due to the persisting situation in Santiago and the increasing challenge to ensure the security and safety of all delegates.
The meeting sessions was chaired by Mr. Diego Varela, International Affairs Coordinator, Chilean Agency for Food Safety and Quality (ACHIPIA) which was attended by 14 Member Countries, three Member Countries and one Member Organization from outside the Region, and four Observer organizations.
At the opening, the Chairperson welcomed the delegates and opened the meeting, noting that in order to ensure security in the current situation, Chile, as the host country, had taken the decision that CCLAC21 would be a closed meeting and not opened to the public.
Ms. Nuri Gras, Executive Secretary of ACHIPIA, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, noting that the current situation prevented Ministerial participation and acknowledged and appreciated the efforts and solidarity of delegates to attend CCLAC21 despite the difficult circumstances. She noted that, as the food basket of the world, it was imperative that the region promote food safety and encouraged delegates to make maximum use of this meeting to discuss the important issues critical to achieving food safety, including: the opportunities presented by science and technology; the critical role of science and evidence in decision–making; and the challenges governments face in maintaining the balance between access to safe food and promoting a sustainable food production sector. She also noted that while Chile was coming to the end of its term as Regional Coordinator, it was committed to continuing to be very active in Codex and in addressing food safety in the region.
Ms. Marisa Caipo, Food Safety and Quality Officer, FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, speaking on behalf of Ms. Eve Crowley, Deputy Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean and FAO Representative in Chile, and Dr. Fernando Leanes, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO Representative in Chile, welcomed the attendees on behalf of FAO and WHO, respectively.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Guilherme Antonio daCosta Jr., Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) (through a pre-recorded video) and Mr. Steve Wearne, vice-Chairperson, CAC.
Agenda items 1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4, 5, 6, 7.1, and 8 were discussed and the conclusions recorded.
Agenda items 9 and 10 were not discussed due to the discontinuation of CCLAC21 for security reasons.
CCLAC21 adopted the agenda, noting that Agenda Item 2 -Keynote Address: The role of science in food safety risk management – could not be considered due to unavailability of the keynote speaker, the Chilean Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, and agreed to consider the following topics under Agenda Item 10 (Other Business) subject to the availability of time: (i) Physical working groups (ii) Adulterated honey
CCLAC21 further agreed to establish an in-session Working Group (WG), open to all Members and Observers, chaired by Ecuador and working in English and Spanish, to consider Agenda Item 7.2, taking into account written comments received as Conference Room Documents (CRDs) and any other relevant information (e.g. Agenda Items 6 and 8); and to prepare a report with recommendations for consideration by the plenary.
Topics of the agenda items discussed at the meeting were as follows:
A major highlight under the above agenda item (Agenda Item 9)was that CCLAC21 unanimously agreed to recommend to CAC43 that Ecuador be appointed as the next Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ecuador thanked all delegations for their support, expressed their strong commitment to fulfill the duties of the Coordinator, and agreed to work closely with Chile to ensure an orderly handover of the role.
Delegates also expressed their appreciation to Chile for their excellent work as Regional Coordinator.
Details of the discussions as well as the conclusion for the agenda items adopted can be viewed on the Codex website or click on the following link:
http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/detail/en/?meeting=CCLAC&session=21
Although the CCLAC21 meeting was conducted under extraordinary circumstances and was discontinued after two half day sessions, the meeting concluded before the adoption of the report. However, an innovative mechanism was taken to adopt the report and make available to the other Codex members and observers, the content of the discussions.
The report was then adopted under exceptional basis via correspondence. This was done through a three step process; the first round accommodated comments, the second round was to confirm the adoption but there were still some outstanding/new comments so there was a third round for the complete adoption of the report.
The next steps for the completion of the unaddressed agenda items of the plenary are to be decided by the CCLAC Secretariat.