In a bid to strengthen food security worldwide and ensure fair practices in the food trade, China is hosting the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA).

The annual event, which started yesterday, and will last a week, is being attended by about 260 international delegates.

It is being held in Beijing for the first time, following China's appointment last year to host the event by the CCFA's Codex Alimentarious (food code) Commission.

Created in 1963 by the FAO and WHO, the commission is committed to developing food standards, guidelines and related codes of practice to be accepted and applied by its 169-member countries, including China.

"It's the first time a developing country has been appointed by the commission to host the CCFA," academician Chen Junshi with the China Academy of Engineering, who chairs the event, told China Daily.

The appointment means China, a top international food products trader, will strengthen its knowledge and information support in international trade disputes arising from different food standards, Chen said.

Due to different lifestyles and food structures, every country has its own set of standards on food additives, said Yu Jun, deputy director with the Bureau of Health Supervision, which is affiliated to the Health Ministry. He heads the Chinese 19-member delegation.

A set of rules formulated by the CCFA, through members' consensus, serve as the reference table for the international food traders, processors and producers, and national food control agencies, Yu said.

Furthermore, the event provides a platform for all member countries and organizations to enhance mutual understanding, reduce food trade disputes, and promote public health.

Food safety and safeguarding consumers' health always top the agenda, Chen said.

Building on knowledge gained from the event, China will speed up the formulation of national regulations and laws to upgrade its food additive standards, Chen said.

China has more than 1,500 food additive producers turning out 1,600 types of products. The annual output last year was 3.25 million tons worth about 3.5 billion yuan (US$453.3 million).

Food additives including sweetening agents, sorbic acid, and emulsifiers are widely used in food making and processing.

(China Daily April 25, 2007)