The 45th session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS45) successfully addressed all topics on its agenda, with one more topic about adequate method of “analysis” of the presence of ‘microplastics’ in food grade salt, as raised by Korea. CCMAS45 endorsed methods of analysis from several commodity standards (e.g., maamoul) and sent back clarification questions to the relevant commodities committees. CCMAS45 held intense discussions on the endorsement of sampling plans of several regional commodities as proposed by CCASIA under the leadership of Japan based on strong objections raised by New Zealand on possible inconsistencies with CXG 50. CCMAS45 recommended approvals for a series of methods on e.g., sugars and honeys; cereals and cereal based products; etc. CCMAS45 agreed to reconvene four intersessional working groups on methods covering fruit juices and nectars, chocolate and cocoa products, sugars and honey, and a new one on natural mineral waters. CCMAS45 also completed its full response to the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) on a list of identified (but not endorsed) methods of analysis for major food allergens and other epitopes, such as gluten. CCMAS agreed to continue its work on sampling plans for products in bulk and heterogenous contaminants. CCMAS agreed to give the green light for an online Codex database to cover provisions adopted in CXS 234, which should become the single point of reference for methods of analysis and sampling, also for commodity standards.1
See more information available about CCMAS45 working documents quoted in this article2, as well as in the official report of the CCMAS45 meeting3. Codex standards, guidelines, codes of practices, and related miscellaneous texts quoted in this article are readily and freely available.4
ENDORSEMENT OF METHODS OF ANALYSIS, NUMERIC PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, SAMPLING PLANS, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS IN CODEX STANDARDS AND IN CXS 234 (2025 version)
CCMAS45 considered the recommendations from working groups on methods of analysis, numeric performance criteria (NPC), and sampling plans proposed for endorsement by Codex subsidiary bodies, as well as related matters arising from CAC, as presented in CRD02 and CRD03. CCMAS45 agreed to establish a PWG on endorsement of the methods of analysis and sampling that would arise from the work of commodity committees, under the leadership of the USA and the support of Hungary and Japan to meet immediately prior to CCMAS46.
Sampling plans for total aft atoxins (AFT) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) in certain spices
CCMAS45 agreed to ask the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) to clarify, for lots above or equal to twenty-five tons (in tables 1, 3, and 5 of the proposed sampling plans), whether a test result that would exceed the ML in any sublot should result in the rejection of the entire lot, or only the affected sublot. Such clarification should include a clear decision-tree or at least clearer decision triggering point(s), such as a footnote to these tables, similar to the footnotes already added to tables 2, 4, and 6, which state that if the test result exceeds the ML, the lot should be rejected.
Numeric performance criteria (NPC) for total aft atoxins and ochratoxin A in certain spices and in certain food matrices
CCMAS45 agreed to remove the NPC for AFT, but keeping the ML, as suggested by CCCF, and endorsed the revised NPC for individual aflatoxins in certain spices (i.e., in nutmeg, dried chili and paprika) and in certain food matrices (such as peanuts intended for further processing; tree nuts destined for further processing (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and shelled Brazil nuts); ready-to-eat tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and shelled Brazil nuts); and dried figs). CCMAS45 also endorsed the NPC for OTA in certain spices (i.e., dried Chilli, paprika, and nutmeg). CMAS45 also included examples of methods for determining NPC for individual aflatoxins for certain spices and certain food matrices and for OTA in certain spices. CCMAS45 agreed to inform the CCCF about the amendment to the Information document on criteria approaches for methods that use a “sum of components” and recommended that the CCCF should review the NPC for “sum of compounds” in the sampling plans contained in the Codex General standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CXS 193, 2025 version), to ensure further consistency.5
Sampling plans for regional standards developed by CCASIA
After very intense discussions, CCMAS45 finally agreed to endorse the sampling plans proposed by CCASIA, as included in Appendix II of the CCMAS45 report, while it noted the comments and concerns raised during the consideration of these sampling plans and agreed to inform CCASIA about these comments and concerns expressed. CCMAS45 advised CCASIA to consider the review of sampling plans included in all its commodity standards, in the light of the most recent guidance provided in the current version of CXG 50, as already recommended by CCMAS42. The main point discussed was well summarized by New Zealand that expressed concerns on the weakness of the proposed sampling plans in terms of protection of human health. It was indeed noted that the sampling plans were designed around producers’ risk (PR) rather than consumers’ risk (CR), making them potentially unsuitable for their intended purpose. It was also highlighted that the sampling plans were based on the ISO text published in ISO 2859-1, even though a revised version of that method was now available. The complete exchange of points of views between New Zealand and Japan is worth reading in CCMAS45 report.6
Endorsement of methods of analysis proposed by commodity committee and regional coordination committees
With some revisions, CCMAS45 endorsed the methods of analysis for adopted or draft standards on (a) maamoul (regional Near East); (b) small cardamon (in the Standard for spices derived from dried or dehydrated fruits and berries (CXS 357)); (c) turmeric (in the Standard for dried and dehydrated roots, rhizomes, and bulbs (CXS 359)); dried or dehydrated chili pepper and paprika (in the Standard for dried or dehydrated chili pepper and paprika (CXS 353)); and cloves (in the Standard for dried floral parts (CXS 344)); (d) the methods of analysis for vanilla (in the Standard for spices in the form of dried fruits and berries); large cardamom (in the Standard for spices in the form of dried fruits and berries); dried and/or dehydrated coriander (in the Standard for spices in the form of dried seeds); (e) the determination of gamma oryzanol in crude rice bran oil (as type IV method); (f) provisions in the draft standard for microbial omega-3 oils (except for moisture and volatile matter), noting that all the methods would not be included in CXS 234 until final adoption of that draft standard which is still in the making by CCFO; (g) retaining the method of analysis and preparation of fish samples for salted fish and dried salted fish of the Gadidae family of fishes in CXS 234, with a few changes.
CCMAS also agreed to inform the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) that qualifiers such as “whole”, “powdered/pieces” were product styles and as such should be attached to the commodity name rather than in the principle; and requested CCSCH to clarify whether the following methods were still ‘fit-for-purpose’, i.e., AOAC 993.27, as a Type III method for determining “mammalian and/or other excreta” in large cardamom and in dried dehydrated coriander; and ISO 927, with principle “Visual examination (gravimetry)” for the determination of “mammalian and/or other excreta” in dried and dehydrated coriander.
CCMAS also agreed to ask CCFO for its preference for two options to determine moisture and volatile matter in microbial omega-3 oils, specifically (a) option 1 – to split the provision in the standard into two separate provisions that include the temperature. In this case, two numeric values in accordance with each method should be elaborated (Moisture and volatile matter at 103°C, Moisture and volatile matter at 130°C), or (b) option 2 — choose one method for this provision, which CCMAS would then consider for endorsement; while noting that the methods for moisture in microbial omega-3 oils actually measured water, and whether a provision name “water” might be more accurate and clearer than the current provision name “moisture.”
Numerical Performance Criteria
CCMAS45 agreed to endorse the revised NPC for chloride and for salt as determined as chloride expressed as sodium chloride, for salted fish and dried salted fish of the Gadidae family of fishes.
Conclusions on endorsement
CCMAS45 forwarded the methods of analysis, numeric performance criteria, and relevant sampling plans to CAC49 for adoption and inclusion in CXS 234 and a few of them for revocation from CXS 234. The relevant Codex committees (CCSCH, CCFO, CCCF, CCFFP) would be kept informed of CCMAS45 decisions (for information or in some instances for action).
Determination of the protein content in quinoa products (conforming to CXS 333, 2020 version) CCMAS45 agreed to retain the method for determining protein in quinoa already in CXS 234 as a Type IV method (method ISO 1871), while noting the reservation of Peru to this decision, given several Latin American countries believed that the method would be robust enough to be a Type I method (for use in official controls). CCMAS 45 noted that ISO recently agreed to expand the scope of another method (ISO 20483) for use in cereals, to include quinoa (a pseudo-cereal), subject to a sponsorship by a member country of ISO. It was noted that Hungary offered to organize studies to support the extension of the scope of ISO 20483 and such validation trials would include quinoa, tehena, buckwheat and possibly other food matrices that would be evaluated with the assistance of ISO, AOAC and AACC. Consequently, retyping ISO 1871 as a Type I method could create difficulties in replacing the method once the validation study on ISO 20483 would be completed. On this basis, CCMAS45 agreed with the recommendation from the PWG to retain the current Type IV classification for the protein content in quinoa.
Consequential to that decision, CCMAS45 also agreed to retrograde the ISO 1871 guidance method as a Codex Type IV method for the determination of the protein content in Tehena; and, accordingly agreed to inform the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near and Middle East (CCNE) of that change. These decisions were sent to CAC49 for final approval. CCMAS45 also requested CCCPL to consider whether the provision “insect bored kernels” should be renamed “grains attacked by pest” in relation to the method for insect bored kernels in wheat and durum wheat and whether the limits in the Standard for wheat and durum wheat (CXS 199) would still be applicable.
REVIEW OF METHODS OF ANALYSIS FOR SPECIFIC PRODUCTS IN CXS 234 (FRUIT JUICES AND NECTARS, COCOA AND CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS, HONEY AND SUGARS)
CCMAS45 noted the progress made by the interses-sional working groups and the physical working group to review the lists of methods for (a) fruit juices and nectars; (b) cocoa and chocolate products; (c) sugars and honey. CCMAS45 agreed to establish four different electronic working groups, to address pending technical discussions on pending “work packages” of methods of analysis in advance to CCMAS46 covering the following commodities:
– Fruit juices and nectars – under the leadership of Germany to review the methods included in Appendix IV part 5 of the CCMAS45 report and review the remaining enzymatic and ISO methods taking into account the initial review by IFU.
– Chocolate and cocoa products – under the leadership of the USA with the support of Serbia, to continue the review of methods and use the recommendations included in Appendix IV Part 2 of the CCMAS report and use the online Codex Forum Platform for discussions within the EWG and publish the various documents subject to consultation. A circular letter would seek comments on some aspects.
– Sugars and Honey – under the leadership of Uruguay with the support of Brazil and China, to continue reviewing the relevant methods in the sugars and honey workable package as included in Appendix IV, Part 6 of CCMAS45 report, including the establishment of NPCs for some provisions; and, consider, as appropriate, the other issues identified (e.g., on raw sugar).
– Natural mineral waters – this is a new work package, under the leadership of the USA to review existing methods included in CXS 234.
CCMAS45 was informed that ISDI was willing to support the review the methods of analysis in foods for special dietary uses (FSDU), whenever CCMAS would decide to initiate that work on these commodities in the future.
CCMAS45 revoked a couple of methods, as consequential changes, or because of considering the methods redundant with more reliable methods or simply obsolete. CCMAS also sent important progress made on the methods for sugars and honey for final approval by CAC49. See endnote7 for the list methods for adoption and revocation (contact the author for his compilation of methods still under consideration).
SAMPLING PLANS
Sampling plans consistency with CXG 50
CCMAS45 agreed to establish an EWG, under the leadership of New Zealand with the support of Germany to (a) review sampling plans and sampling procedures in commodity standards and in CXS 234 for alignment with the General guidelines on sampling (CXG 50) and against statistical principles in general; (b) consider how sampling plans and sampling procedures could be included in CXS 234, noting the current use of CXS 234 in a paper format and future use of CXS 234 in the form of a database; and (c) prepare a report for consideration by CCMAS46. CCMAS45 agreed that all the relevant Codex committees be informed of the decision that CXS 234 should be the single reference for any method of analysis and sampling plan, and about the ongoing CCMAS workplan in this regard. CCMAS reiterated its previous recommendation to all Codex committees that sampling plans should be developed as necessary, and if a given committee were to consider it appropriate to develop sampling plans, they should do so in strict compliance with CXG 50 and not simply by cross-referring to CXG 50.
Sampling plans for lots consisting of bulk material/ heterogenous lots, including for mycotoxins CCMAS45 agreed to establish an EWG, under the leadership of New Zealand with the support of Germany to continue the work on this draft guidance on sampling plans for bulk materials/heterogeneous lots, including practical examples applicable to mycotox-ins, taking into account the discussions in CCMAS45, and any feedback from CCCF; and prepare a discussion paper, and if appropriate a project document, for consideration by CCMAS46. CCCF will be made aware of the ongoing discussions held by CCMAS45 and CCMAS would welcome CCCF feedback on the need for such a guidance, as well as on the scope of that work.
OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED (Precautionary Allergen Labelling, Microplastics)
Methods of analysis for precautionary allergen labelling (PAL)
CCMAS45 agreed to forward the reply to the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) meeting in May 2026, together with the two tables, as presented in the Appendix V of CCMAS45 report. CCMAS45 noted that existing methods were capable of detecting and quantifying unintended allergen presence for priority allergens within this intake range and that was captured in the draft response to CCFL, as per possible gaps in identifying methods suitable for quantifying unintended allergen presence across food intakes of 10–1000 g for CCFL use. Noting also that no single analytical method performed optimally across all food matrices and processing conditions, and that PCR methods for gluten, while potentially supporting a risk-based approach, were indirect methods, CCMAS45 agreed to remove PCR for gluten from Table 2. On casein and total milk protein, CCMAS45 noted some ELISA kits report results in units different from those in the FAO/WHO report on Risk Assessment of Food Allergens Part 2: Review and Establish Threshold Levels in Foods for the Priority Allergens, and in these cases a conversion factor is provided by the manufacturer to convert to ‘mg total protein from the allergenic food / kg food.’ For example, some kits were able to detect both casein and whey proteins and report total milk protein, while others quantify only one protein fraction and the result is then converted to total milk protein. Accordingly, result reporting units in table 1 and 2 were corrected where possible.8
Discussion on microplastics
The Republic of Korea informed CCMAS that micro-plastics was an emerging contaminant issue of global concern, particularly in sea salt, which was produced directly from marine environments. Korea referred to several studies reporting on the presence of mi-croplastics in commercial food-grade salts; however, analytical approaches varied considerably, limiting the comparability of these results. Key analytical challenges were highlighted, including differences in sample preparation procedures, particle size thresholds, and analytical techniques. It was also noted that analytical methods for microplastics in drinking water were currently under discussion within ISO. Korea pointed out that reliable and comparable analytical data are important for any future consideration of microplastics in foods and harmonization of analytical approaches might be beneficial.
CCMAS45 noted this emerging analytical issue and recognized the potential value of collaborative work on analytical method development in this area. CCMAS45 noted that no specific provision for micro-plastics in Codex standards currently existed and that CCMAS was therefore not able to consider methods of analysis at this time. CCMAS further noted the ongoing work of Standard Development Organisations (SDOs) and other bodies and agreed that such developments could be followed through the Inter-Agency Meeting (IAM). CCMAS45 agreed that once relevant Codex standards are developed, CCMAS would be ready to assist in the identification of appropriate methods of analysis.
CCMAS45 agreed that this topic and these discussions could also be brought to the attention of the CAC and the CCCF.
There was a general agreement that microplastics (and nanoplastics) in foods, including drinking water, represented an emerging issue of concern and posed significant analytical challenges. Attention was further drawn up by the UK to the recent guidance published by the UK National Measurement Laboratory. ISO pointed out that it had developed ISO standards for microplastics in drinking water and the environment and that possible ISO standards for microplas-tics in food were under discussion within a working group under ISO / TC 34. AOAC offered to assist with standardization efforts in this area. CCMAS45 further thanked the Republic of Korea for bringing such emerging issue to the attention of CCMAS and noted the ongoing work by SDOs in this area. It was suggested in that regard that SDOs may discuss this within their IAM, held once a year on the Saturday preceding each CCMAS plenary.
Under the same agenda item, the head of the Food Safety Laboratory of the Joint FAO/IAEA division at the IAEA in Vienna reported that, as part of the ongoing biennial working priorities, they were working on the “Analysis of microplastics in different food commodities with FTIR Microscopy.” The joint division reported on work using nuclear resonance and other atomic and isotopic technologies for advanced review in food safety, food quality, and food authenticity aspects.
Harmonization of names and format for principles identified in CXS 234, 2025 version
CCMAS45 agreed to publish, as an information document, the document entitled “Harmonization of names and format for principles in CXS 234-1999” as included in the amended Appendix VI of the CCMAS45 report. CCMAS45 agreed that the two tables included in appendix B and C of the document on “Acronyms and abbreviations of Principles of methods of analysis” and on the “List of acronyms for standard method references” be added to the CXS 234, so that they are readily available as part of the core standard. The remainder of the information document will be published on the Codex website with hyperlinks to the tables added to CXS 234. Commodity committees and Regional Coordinating Committees (RCCs) were to be informed about the availability of that information document (once published), so that it could be used adequately by these committees when submitting methods of analysis to CCMAS for their endorsement.
CCMAS45 further agreed to establish an EWG under the leadership of Chile with the support of Brazil to (a) propose a harmonization of the provisions along CXS 234, (b) revise CXS 234 using the harmonized names and formats of the principles; and (c) submit its report for CCMAS46 consideration. In doing so, the EWG is tasked to (i) identify the provisions where amendments are not necessary, or just editorial modification; (ii) identify information that is placed in the name of the provision, but is not necessary or is related with the name of the commodity or additional information related to the method, and suggest where to place the information, if necessary; (iii) compare the name of the provision in CXS 234 with the name in the commodities standards and in case of inconsistency, suggest how to address it, considering whether it is an active or an inactive committee; (iv) group the provisions according to their characteristics and assess if it is possible harmonize them; and (v) identify the Committees that should be consulted and inform them of the inconsistency and request for their opinions, if necessary.
With regards to the Annex D: Proposed approach for harmonizing provisions in CXS 234-1999, CCMAS45 discussed the harmonization of provisions in the context of the development of a database of methods of analysis and sampling. It was noted that many existing provisions had been developed by subject matter experts in the Committees for valid technical reasons, and that renaming or revising provisions could constitute a CCMAS overreach and create implementation difficulties. The establishment of a database was supported (and a draft of it was presented during a side event), and it was noted that it would be necessary to facilitate the identification and management of similar or related provisions. It was further noted that the development of such a database could be complex, given the substantial number of existing and new provisions, including provisions expressed using different terminology. The Codex Secretariat clarified that issues related to consistency and harmonization of provisions could be addressed at various levels, noting that some matters were of a straightforward editorial nature and could be addressed without amending commodity standards, while other issues would require consultation and, where appropriate, amendments to relevant texts. In that regard, the Chairperson noted that the draft text prepared by the EWG addressed harmonization of pH-related provisions, and that related provisions were considered to refer to the same analytical concept, unless expert advice indicated otherwise. It was further noted that, given the substantial number of provisions in CXS 234, additional harmonization work would be required, supported by illustrative examples.9
The publication is posted in the March 2026 World Food Regulation Review. Find the full WFRR library here.
ENDNOTES