eu maximum level of cadmium in foodstuffs in november 2017 peru raised a concern over the maximum levels of cadmium in chocolates and other cocoa products proposed by the european union commission regulation eu no. 488 2014 which would come into force in january 2019. peru highlighted that it was the second largest exporter of cocoa after ecuador and emphasized the importance of cocoa and chocolate exports to its economy. peru queried whether the measure was based on as low as reasonably achievable alara principles. the risk analysis for substances of this kind should be conducted using the margin of exposure moe approach. peru reported that the codex committee on contaminants in food was developing a codex standard on maximum levels of cadmium in chocolate and other cocoa products and was expected to publish it in 2019. peru submitted further details in document g sps gen 1587. colombia costa rica cote divoire the dominican republic ghana guatemala madagascar and nigeria shared perus concerns and requested that the european union consider delaying the implementation of this measure until codex had developed relevant international standards or to exclude chocolates from the scope of application of the measure. colombia also requested assistance to mitigate the trade impact of this measure along with a longer transition period taking into account the needs of developing country members. costa rica added that intrinsic difficulties in controlling the level of cadmium in cocoa production be taken into account when setting these levels. the ecowas representative indicated that ecowas members also shared the concern. the european union highlighted its efforts to alleviate the difficulties of trading partners in complying with this measure such as agreeing to a transitional period of five years in october 2012 which had deferred the application date to january 2019 and setting maximum limits for blended products instead of cocoa beans to facilitate trade. the european union further elaborated that these limits were based on efsa recommendations that exposure to cadmium should be reduced and that in the light of available science excluding chocolate and cocoa products from this measure would not achieve the desired level of protection. in march 2018 peru reiterated its concern over the maximum levels of cadmium in chocolates and other cocoa products proposed by the european union commission regulation eu no. 488 2014. peru highlighted the social and economic importance of cocoa and chocolate exports to its economy underscoring the potential negative impact of the regulation on its exports. peru further observed that the regulation did not establish maximum levels for cadmium in cocoa beans only in chocolate. peru recalled the findings of the european food safety authority efsa which indicated that it was unlikely that there would be adverse effects in an individual exposed to dietary cadmium in the european union. peru also noted that jecfa considered foods to be a risk when it contributed 5 or more of the maximum tolerable daily intake of the contaminant. based on the jecfa parameter peru argued there was no justification for including chocolate in the regulation as it only contributed 4.3 to dietary cadmium exposure and further concluded that the eu regulation was not in line with the sps agreement. peru drew members attention to the ongoing development of a codex standard for cadmium maximum levels and highlighted that this standard could serve as a reference point for trade. finally peru urged the european union to exclude chocolate and cocoa products from the scope of its regulation. brazil colombia costa rica the dominican republic guatemala and panama shared perus concern and requested that the european union exclude chocolate and cocoa products from its regulation pending the development of codex standards on maximum levels of cadmium. the european union recalled its intervention in the november 2017 com