All About Codex Alimentarius

January 28, 2023 no responses

Codex Alimentarius

Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) an organization established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an organization established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963 to develop and promote international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice. The Commission is responsible for the development, promotion, and oversight of the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of international food standards that are designed to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

Purpose of the Codex Alimentarius

The purpose of the Codex Alimentarius is to protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade by promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations. It aims to achieve this goal by developing and promoting international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice that are based on the latest scientific evidence and are designed to address the current and emerging food safety issues and concerns.

The Codex Alimentarius includes standards for food labelling, food additives, contaminants, pesticide residues, and hygiene, as well as guidelines for the management of food safety and the assessment of risks associated with food. It also includes standards for specific foods such as canned foods, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and cereals.

These standards aim to ensure that food is safe and nutritious for consumers and that the food trade is fair for farmers and other producers. They also provide a reference for governments and international organizations when developing their own food safety regulations.

Scope of the Codex Alimentarius

The scope of the Codex Alimentarius is broad and covers various aspects of food safety and trade. It includes standards for food labelling, food additives, contaminants, pesticide residues, and hygiene, as well as guidelines for the management of food safety and the assessment of risks associated with food.

Scope of the Codex Standards

Codex standards are developed through a collaborative process involving representatives from governments, international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. They are based on the latest scientific evidence and are designed to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

The nature of Codex standards is voluntary, meaning that they are not legally binding, but they are widely recognized and respected by governments and the food industry as a reference for the development of their own food safety regulations. Adoption of Codex standards by countries is voluntary, but many countries adopt them as national standards or use them as a basis for their own regulations.

Codex subsidiary bodies

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has several subsidiary bodies that assist in the development and implementation of Codex standards. These include:

Codex Committees: These are specialized committees that are responsible for the development and revision of Codex standards for specific food categories, such as fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, and fish and fishery products.
Regional Coordinating Committees: These committees coordinate the activities of Codex in their respective regions and promote the harmonization of Codex standards with regional and national food safety regulations.
Codex Contact Points: These are designated national focal points that provide a link between the CAC and national governments and other relevant stakeholders.
Codex Trust Fund: This fund provides financial support for the participation of developing countries in Codex activities and the implementation of Codex standards in these countries.
Codex Secretariat: This is the administrative body that supports the CAC and its subsidiary bodies in their work, including the coordination of meetings, the preparation of documents, and the dissemination of information.