Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS CONTENTS

COMBINED TEXTS

SECOND EDITION

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ISBN 92-5-105321-9

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Issued by the Secretariat of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome

PREFACE

THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND THE FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME

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.

Combined Texts on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems - Second Edition

Following the FAO/WHO Conference on Food Standards, Chemicals in Food and Food Trade in March 1991, the Codex Alimentarius Commission undertook the development of guidance documents for governments and other interested parties on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems. A series of texts developed over the period 1993 to 1999 was presented in the first edition of this booklet in 2000. This second edition includes additional texts adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission up to 2004. 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,
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100, Rome Italy
fax: +(39) 06 57054593
email: [email protected]
http://www.codexalimentarius.net

Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations World Health Organization Rome, © FAO AND WHO 2005

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Contents

Preface

Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification (CAC/GL 20–1995)

Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems (CAC/GL 47–2003)

Guidelines for the Design, Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and
Certification Systems (CAC/GL 26–1997)

Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence Agreements
Regarding Food Import and Export Inspection
and Certification Systems (CAC/GL 34–1999)

Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures
Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems
(CAC/GL 53–2003)

Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and
the Production and Issuance of Certificates (CAC/GL 38–2001)

Principles and Guidelines for the Exchange of Information
in Food Safety Emergency Situations
(CAC/GL 19–1995, Rev. 1–2004)

Guidelines for the Exchange of Information Between Countries on Rejections of Imported Food (CAC/GL 25–1997)