Background
At the request of Codex, FAO and WHO held a series of expert meetings on the risk assessment of food allergens since 2020 and published the meeting reports, including Part 1: Review and validation of Codex Alimentarius priority allergen list through risk assessment; Part 2: Review and establish threshold levels in foods for the priority allergens; Part 3: Review and establish precautionary labelling in foods of the priority allergens; Part 4: Review and establish exemptions for the food allergens; Part 5: Review and establish threshold levels for specific tree nuts (Brazil nut, macadamia nut or Queensland nut, pine nut), soy, celery, lupin, mustard, buckwheat and oats.
In response to the recent request from Codex for scientific advice on guidance for qualitative risk assessment and to address the concerns on the burden to small food business operators to conduct risk assessment, FAO and WHO are convening an expert consultation to provide recommendations on qualitative risk assessment.
Scope and objective of the meeting
- To review publicly available literature and guidelines from competent authorities and industry associations (e.g. compliance guidelines, code of practices, etc.) to assess the current state of the knowledge in guiding qualitative and/or quantitative risk assessment of food allergens.
- To develop qualitative risk assessment strategies and frameworks that include when and how qualitative risk assessment can be used, with the goal of facilitating and harmonizing the international trade of foods affected by with food allergen issues.