In 1999 the 23rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission established the Regional Coordinating Committee for the Near East, bringing together countries in the Near East Region (for FAO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (for WHO). The committee held its first meeting in Cairo, Egypt in 2001.
The current regional coordinator for the Near East is based in the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in Riyadh.
The coordinator’s goals in leading the region in Codex include developing and strengthening Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees as well as improving communication and coordination amongst CCNE members, with other regions and the Codex Secretariat.
A further objective is to develop the exchange of scientific and technical expertise amongst experienced and less experienced countries in the region.
The coordinator aims to promote the use of Codex standards as a basis for national legislation and regulations and continue work developing and reviewing Codex standards taking into account regional interests.
Thirty-eight participants from Yemen, Sudan and Egypt are currently meeting in Cairo for a three-day workshop on Codex Alimentarius and its procedures. Organized by the SAFE Codex Initiative with the support of FAO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this training is part of the planned activities under the Codex Expert Working Group work plan, aimed at helping countries in the Arabic region define priorities on food safety and Codex.
“Effective coordination and raising the level of Arab participation [...]
We need a food supply system that produces safe food, produces nutritious food, and also produces authentic food, which is free of fraudulent activity.
Dr Chris Elliot
Food fraud is the intentional adulteration of food for financial gain. This can include deliberate substitution, dilution, counterfeiting, or misrepresentation of food, ingredients or packaging; or even false or misleading statements made about a product. All these examples of fraud can have a negative impact on the quality and safety aspects of foods. They can [...]
The regional meetings provide an incredibly important opportunity for dynamic discussion on major and emerging food safety and quality issues facing the region.
There are six Codex regions each represented by a joint FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC).They meet every two years. Each committee is responsible for defining the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control. By working collectively at the regional level countries are able to highlight regulatory issues and problems arising from food control [...]
A camera crew from Flooded Cellar are currently in Lebanon making a video for Codex that looks at the relevance and importance of Codex standards, guidelines and codes of practices to the Near East region.
The video will include interviews with government representatives, technicians from the national food safety committee, representatives from research and the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as those involved in food production, right along the food chain to restaurants and consumers. The video will examine Good Hygienic [...]
The Eighth session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNEA) took place in FAO HQ Rome from 1-5 June. Regional coordinating committees are responsible for defining the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control and are also tasked with developing regional standards for food products that move exclusively or almost exclusively in intra-regional trade. Chairperson Mrs Léna Dargham described the meeting as “an important forum to discuss regional concerns and challenges about [...]
