The Codex Alimentarius Commission and the FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
1. The Codex Alimentarius Commission implements the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, the purpose of which is to protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. The Codex Alimentarius (Latin, meaning Food Law or Code) is a collection of internationally adopted food standards presented in a uniform manner. It also includes provisions of an advisory nature in the form of codes of practice, guidelines and other recommended measures to assist in achieving the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius. The Commission has expressed the view that codes of practice might provide useful checklists of requirements for national food control or enforcement authorities. The publication of the Codex Alimentarius is intended to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods, to assist in their harmonization and, in doing so, to facilitate international trade.
Principles for Risk Analysis and Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Foods derived from Modern Biotechnology
2. The Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 26th session in 2003 adopted Principles and Guidelines on foods derived from biotechnology. These are overarching principles on the risk analysis of foods derived from modern biotechnology and guidelines for food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants and microorganisms. It is hoped that this compact format will allow wide use and understanding of the risk analysis and safety assessment of food derived from biotechnology and that it will encourage their use by governments, regulatory authorities, food industries and all food handlers, and consumers.
3. Further information on these texts, or any other aspect of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, may be obtained from:
The Secretary, Codex Alimentarius
Commission,
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme,
FAO,
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100, Rome Italy
fax: +39(06)57.05.45.93
email: [email protected]
http://www.codexalimentarius.net
