Updated: Krill, Menhaden, and Salmon Oils Now Up for Inclusion in Codex Draft Standard

* Updated 2/11/15 3:00 PM PST

Krill, menhaden, and salmon oils are finally being given a chance to be included in the draft of what would become the first-ever fish oil standard of the FAO/WHO’s Codex Alimentarius. The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO) is holding a meeting in Malaysia this week to discuss whether to proceed with work on the fish oil draft standard. It’s been reported that CCFO has not only decided to continue working on the draft and advance it to the next stage, but that krill, menhaden, and salmon oils (both farmed and wild)-which previously were excluded-will now be included in the draft standard.

Concentrated fish oils will also remain in the draft standard, despite a scare earlier this week to remove it from the standard.

Of krill oil's inclusion, Todd Norton, vice president, business development, Aker BioMarine Antarctic (Oslo, Norway), stated: "With the growing global awareness and consumption of krill oil the past few years, Aker BioMarine is pleased to have this international body officially recognize this valuable source of long chain omega-3s and include it in their draft standard process. The product is here to stay and adding scientific merit through Codex will bring further harmonization benefiting both consumers and industry alike.” (*Updated)

News on the CCFO Malaysia meeting came courtesy of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED; Salt Lake City) and the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA).

The associations reported the next steps for the draft fish oil standard. “Between the time the report is issued and prior to the 25^th Session of the CCFO (2017), the Codex Secretariat will request information/comments on the revised Proposed Draft Standard with specific emphasis on the fatty acid data for both anchovy and krill oils, as well as labeling requirements,” GOED reported via a news alert. “A physical working group will convene prior to the 2017 meeting to discuss the received information/comments. If all goes well, adoption of a standard could occur during the summer of 2017.”

Codex Alimentarius standards are not regulation, but some countries do adopt Codex standards as their own.

Also read:

Omega-3 DHA and EPA: 2015 Ingredients to Watch for Food, Beverage, Supplements

Updated: Groups Submit Comments on Codex’s Proposed Draft Standard for Fish Oil

Jennifer Grebow
Editor-in-Chief
Nutritional Outlook magazine jennifer.grebow@ubm.com

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