2. The Session was opened by Mr Erwin Jordan, State-Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health who, on behalf of the Minister of Health, welcomed the participants. Mr Jordan noted the increased participation at the Sessions of the CCNFSDU and emphasized the importance of the work of the
Committee and the Codex Alimentarius Commission in providing worldwide standards, guidelines and other recommendations to protect the health of consumers especially as the concept of prevention was accepted internationally during last years. He stressed the importance of the decisions being made on the basis of consensus since Codex documents were referenced under the World Trade Organization's Agreements and pointed out that if countries were deviating from the Codex standards they should provide a sound justification for those deviations. Finally Mr Jordan wished all success to the meeting and the delegates in their important work.
