[Updated] CAC to Amend Standards on Food Consumed by Infants and Young Children

The proposed amendments involve the Nutrient Reference Value (NRVs-R) established for young children aged 6 to 36 months, as well as the nutrient contents of infant formula and infant formula food for special medical purposes.

Updated on November 29, 2024

On the meeting held during November 25 to 30, 2024, Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted the proposed revisions to CXG 2-1985 and CXS 72-1981.

According to Circular Letter CL 2024/86-CAC issued by Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) on November 13, 2024, CAC consulted on the revisions to CXG 2-1985 Guidelines on Nutrition Labeling and CXS 72-1981 Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants until November 20, 2024. The proposed amendments mainly involve the Nutrient Reference Value (NRVs-R) established for young children aged 6 to 36 months, as well as the nutrient levels set for infant formula and infant formula food for special medical purposes.

Proposed revisions regarding setting NRVs-R

The draft of CXG 2-1985 stipulates three general principles for establishing NRVs-R for older infants and young children aged 6 to 36 months, which are:

Selection of suitable data sources to establish NRVs-R
Appropriate basis for establishing NRVs-R
Consideration of upper intake levels

In addition, corresponding NRVs-R are attached in the draft. Some of them are listed as below:

Nutrient	Older infants (6-12 months)	Young children (12-36 months)	6-36 months age groups
Thiamin (mg)	0.3	0.5	0.4
Riboflavin (mg)	0.4	0.6	0.5
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0.3	0.6	0.5
Protein (g)	11	13	12
Copper (µg)	220	300	260
Potassium (mg)	725	850	790

Proposed updates to nutrient levels in infant formula and infant formula food for special medical purposes

As per the document, the compositional requirements of several nutrients are amended. For example, the protein (from cow's milk) level is changed from 0.45-0.7 g/100 kJ to 0.43-0.72 g/100kJ; the Vitamin B6 content is modified from 8.5-45 ug/100kJ to 8-42 ug/100kJ.

It is noteworthy that these modifications to the draft of CXS 72-1981 are intended to align with the correction made in CXS 156-1987 Standard for Follow-Up Formula for Older Infants and Product for Young Children.