The Codex Alimentarius Commission Module 2.1 The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission Objectives Inform on the role and activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) Create awareness of the international importance of Codex regulations Create interest and understanding of mechanisms for national involvement in the Codex Alimentarius Commission Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission Content Introduction to the Codex Alimentarius Commission What is it? What are its objectives? How does it function? Codex work at regional level Regional committees Codex work at national level National Codex Contact Points; National Codex Committee Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

What is the Codex Alimentarius Commission? A joint FAO/WHO inter-governmental body with 171 member countries (as of August 2005) plus observers Responsible for implementing FAO/WHO Joint Food Standards Programme since 1962 Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

What is the function of the CAC? To protect the health of consumers To ensure fair practices in the food trade To coordinate food standards work internationally To finalise and publish international standards, codes of practice and recommendations in the Codex Alimentarius Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

The Codex Alimentarius ‘Codex Alimentarius’ means ‘Food Code’ Comprises 14 volumes All standards available at Codex web-site Codex standards are recommended (not mandated) food quality and safety standards Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission How is Codex organised? Codex Secretariat located at FAO HQ Executive Committee meets annually Technical committees and task forces meet every 1 or 2 years Regional Coordinating Committees CAC Sessions held every 2 years Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Structure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

How are Codex standards elaborated? Commission decides on new work Standards elaborated in relevant technical committee Procedure for elaborating standards facilitates stakeholder input Commission decides on adoption of Codex texts Reports of CAC sessions are published Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Current Codex final texts Food standards – 237 Codes of Practice – 45 Guidelines – 33 Guidelines for limits of contaminants – 25 Pesticides evaluated – 207 Limits of pesticide residues – 3274 Veterinary drugs evaluated – 54 Limits of veterinary drugs residues – 289 Food additives evaluated – 1300 Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Horizontal Codex standards Horizontal standards Prepared in General subject committees Have across-the-board relevance to a number of commodities Work of some Codex Horizontal Committees is relevant to OTA question Food Additives and contaminants (CCFAC) Initiated discussions on need for a Code of Practice on OTA in coffee and cocoa (April 2005) Food Hygiene (CCFH) General Principles (CCGP) Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) Methods Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Vertical Codex standards Vertical standards Vertical standards are those related to a particular commodity There are no vertical Codex coffee standards – other international coffee standards exist (ISO, ICO) Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Codex technical committee sessions Open to all member governments and observers Participation through attendance at sessions and submission of comments Timely circulation of announcements and working documents On the Codex web-site: Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Key features of the ‘Codex process’ Scientific advisory bodies to Codex: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) Science-based Participatory Transparent Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Effective participation in CAC National Codex Structures National Codex Contact Points National Codex Committees Regional Codex Coordinating Committees Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

National Codex structures Industry Groups Consumer Groups National Governments Codex Alimentarius Commission/ Codex Secretariat Scientific Community Contact Point National Codex National Codex Committee Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Codex Contact Point (CCP) Link between Codex Secretariat and Member countries Coordination of Codex activities within their own countries Reception and circulation of Codex final texts and working documents of Codex sessions Sending of comments on Codex documents or proposals to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, subsidiary bodies and/or Codex Secretariat Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Codex Contact Point (CCP) Close cooperation with national Codex committee Liaison with food industry, consumers, traders and other concerned parties Exchange of information and coordination of activities with other Codex Members Maintenance of a library of Codex texts Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

National Codex Committee (NCC) Acts as a consultative group to the government Formulates the country response to the proposals of CAC Nominates delegates to represent the country at Codex meetings Advises the government on the best possible decisions as regards Codex standards and their implementation Appoints such technical sub-committees as may be necessary for the country's effective participation in Codex Undertakes such other duties as may be advised by the government Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Regional Codex Committees Definition of problems and needs in the region Development of regional standards Coordination of activities in the region Representation of specific interests of the region to the Commission Promotion of acceptance of Codex standards by the member countries Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

What is the role of a regional committee? Coordinating Committee for Africa Coordinating Committee for Asia Coordinating Committee for Europe Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean Coordinating Committee for the Near East Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission Summary The Codex Alimentarius is a body of internationally recommended food quality and safety standards Codex Alimentarius standards are of singular importance in international food trade Countries should strengthen mechanisms for ensuring effective participation in CAC Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission Next steps… Keep informed of issues being handled in Codex Follow up with national Codex structures on key issues of national interest Promote harmonisation of national measures with Codex Codex Alimentarius www.codexalimentarius.net FAO Food Quality and Safety Programmes http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/sitemap_en.stm#food Module 2.1 – The Codex Alimentarius Commission