CCFO29 / First Steps On Trans-fatty Acids, And Progress On Ongoing And New Work Mark A Successful Session
16 February 2026, Malaysia : The 29th session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) has concluded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, having discussed a raft of topics and forwarded for preliminary adoption a draft standard for microbial omega-3 oils, amendments to the List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes (Appendix II to CXC 36-1987) and three proposals for new work for approval.
“As chairperson of this Committee, I’m very honoured to be given this role,” said Chairperson, Zailina Abdul Majid, who chaired CCFO for the first time in this session. “The trust you have placed in me is something I deeply value,” she continued. She thanked delegates for “your cooperation and your willingness to tolerate our differences as we worked towards common ground … your support, openness, good will and constructive spirit have truly enabled us to navigate this challenging session with unity and purpose.”
Discussions started on work to review three Codex standards to support the implementation of the World Health Organization’s initiative to reduce the intake of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs). The Committee discussed proposed revisions to the Standard for edible fats and oils not covered by individual standards (CXS 19-1981), the Standard for named animal fats (CXS 211-1999), and the Standard for fat spreads and blended spreads (CXS 256-1999). Discussions revolved around definitions and the essential composition provisions of the relevant commodities, as well as methods of analysis for iTFAs. While agreement was not reached on the language of the provisions to be included, progress was made on the conceptional aspects that need to be captured on the revisions. The draft provisions will undergo further discussion to address the approach to limiting iTFAs and/or prohibiting partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs).
On this topic, Abdul Majid said, as the Session closed, “it may seem that we have not made significant progress. However, I see differently. At the very least we have taken the first step. As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The first step taken together matters.”
However, following detailed discussion, the Committee did agree to forward to CAC49 at Step 5 the proposed draft standard for microbial omega-3 oils, 5. As part of the discussions, delegates were reminded of the food safety concerns regarding infant formula that have recently emerged, and the relevance of omega-3 oils to these commodities. In submitting the food additive provisions for these oils for endorsement to the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) CCFO highlighted the challenge of assigning a food category to microbial oils and requested CCFA to considered creating a new food category for microbial oils.
Five items on the list of previous cargoes were discussed as part of the Review of the List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes (LOAPCs) (Appendix II to CXC 36-1987).In considering these, CCFO29; clarified that mineral oil, high viscosity (CAS number 8012-95-10) and mineral oil, medium viscosity in the LOAPC should be highly refined food grade ; retained nitric acid (CAS number 7697-37-2) on the List of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes, as there were no data to support moving this to the LOAPCs;retained the original ethanol entry in the LOAPC without introducing any new explanatory text; and provided inputs to support the further development of a standard template for submission of the information required for proposals to amend the LOAPCs.
Discussions on the revision to the Standard for olive oil and olive pomace oil (CXS 33 -1981) focused the progress on the collection of scientific data and information in relation to the evolution of pyropheophytin “a” (PPP) and 1,2-diglycerides (1,2-DAGs) in extra virgin olive oil and CCFO request FAO to undertake an analysis of the information and data collected. On another aspect relating to the quality parameters for olive oil, specifically the decision tree associated with 4α-desmethylsterols levels, CCFO followed up on the recommendations of CAC47 and established an electronic working group to develop a framework for data collection on all relevant parameters and promote collation of such data for further consideration at CCFO30.
New work proposals forwarded to the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission include revisions to the Standard for named vegetable oils (CXS 210-1999) to include Shea butte, sea buckthorn oil and to adjust stearic acid content for high oleic acid sunflower seed oil.
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