CAC/RCP 49-2001 Code of Practice Concerning Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Foods with Chemicals
1. This document deals with the major sources of environmental chemicals which may contaminate foods and constitute a hazard to human health and therefore, have been considered for regulation by CCFAC/CAC. Apart from environmental contaminants, foods may contain chemicals used as pesticides, veterinary drugs, food additives or processing aids. However, since such substances are dealt with elsewhere in the Codex system, they are not included here, neither are mycotoxins or natural toxins.
2. The main objective of this document is to increase awareness of sources of chemical contamination of food and feed, and of source-directed measures to prevent such contamination. This means that measures recommended in the document may lie outside the direct responsibility of the food control authorities and Codex.
3. National food control authorities should inform relevant national authorities and international organizations of potential or actual food contamination problems and encourage them to take appropriate preventive action. This should result in decreased levels of chemical contamination and, in the long term, could result in a decreasing need to establish and maintain Codex Maximum Levels for chemicals in food.
