The CCNE Region - Regional Coordinator Saudi Arabia
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.
News from the region
Tunisia celebrates World Food Safety Day
As part of the World Food Safety Day celebrations the Tunisian National Agency for Sanitary and Environmental Control of Products (ANCSEP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and all governmental and non-governmental parties involved in food safety, come together to consolidate food safety efforts and support actions to ensure food safety.
This year World Food Safety Day addresses "Food safety in markets" especially in times of COVID-19.
In this context, ANCSEP and the World Health Organization, in collaboration with all [...]
07 June 2020
Saudi Arabia celebrates World Food Safety Day
In commemoration of World Food Safety Day (WFSD), the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is participating in the celebration of the second WFSD through a series of events and activities under the theme “Food safety, everyone's business”. These activities include number of webinars over two days, awareness infographics, clips, and participation in some TV programs to enhance food safety awareness.
Webinars (Arabic Language)
Webinar 1: Assuring Food Safety, 7th June 2020 (10:00 – 10:30 KSA time)
Webinar 2: Feed products safety, 7th June 2020 (11:00 – 11:30 KSA time)
Webinar 3: Pesticide residues in food, 8th June 2020 [...]
07 June 2020
Food safety in the time of COVID-19 webinar - Sunday 7 June 2pm (GMT+3)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - Food Safety Webinar
Sunday, June 7, 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. (GMT +3) Participate Online
Chris Sealey, Vice President, Community Life invites you to join Community Life, in celebrating the World Food Safety Day on June 7. The action-oriented campaign theme is "Food safety, everyone's business" and aims to enhance global food safety awareness.
Food safety is a shared responsibility. This webinar is designed to share information and resources regarding food safety and COVID-19. The goal is to support informed actions in the community since everyone, from farm [...]
05 June 2020
Qatar to promote food safety in a two-week campaign
On the occasion of World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2020, the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar will organize a two-week virtual campaign under the theme “Food safety, everyone's business” to promote awareness to consumers by disseminating brochures, banners and messages through social media, radio, press interviews and a press release. The campaign aims to encourage consumers to follow containment-related health measures while grocery shopping and to improve their knowledge about food hygiene and the risks associated with handling food [...]
04 June 2020
WFSD video / in Kuwait, food safety is everyone’s business
To celebrate World Food Safety Day (WFSD) the Codex Contact Point of Kuwait based in the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) has developed a video. In line with the 2020 WFSD theme of Food safety, everyone’s business the short film brings together the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Health, the Public Authority of Agricultural affairs and fisheries, PAFN itself - which is responsible for developing the national food safety policy, food laboratories, farmers, food business [...]
24 May 2020
FAO and EOS Continue to support the Codex System in Egypt
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS), held a workshop on Codex on 16 December 2019 in Aswan Governorate, Egypt. The workshop was the third in a series of initiatives which has included events in Cairo and Alexandria to support the Codex system in Egypt within the framework of the "Improving the National Food Control System” programme.
Participants at Aswan workshop December 2019
The workshop aimed to raise [...]
29 December 2019
Alexandria workshop maximises participation of all those involved in Codex in Egypt
FAO, in cooperation with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS), held a workshop in Alexandria from 25-27 November 2019 entitled "Supporting Codex Capacity in Egypt" to strengthen the structure and program of Codex in Egypt, to improve the food import control system in the country in order to facilitate trade and ensure food safety.
Workshop: "Supporting Codex Capacity in Egypt"
The three-day workshop took place in the context of the public/private partnership, under the supervision of the Egyptian Codex Contact [...]
09 December 2019
Ensuring food safety a sophisticated task for Near East region
In welcoming delegates to the opening of the 10th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East, H.E. Mohammad Hossein Emadi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to FAO and the Rome Based Agencies, said ensuring food safety was a sophisticated task considering the challenges brought by globalization and international food trade, increased demand for safer and better quality of food, as well as threats that arise from new and intensification technologies of food [...]
11 November 2019
Near East meeting, a precious space for open discussions around food safety
Delegates from 17 countries will gather at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy for the 10th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE) from 11 to 15 November 2019.
Mrs Nayereh Sadat Piroozbakht, President of the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, and the current Regional Coordinator, said the committee should “take into consideration the development of standards related to safety and integrity and authenticity of foods for all countries as a priority”. CCNE should promote [...]
10 November 2019
Developing national Codex capacity for Libya
32 members of the different regulatory authorities tasked with managing food safety in Libya, together with experts from academia, gathered in Tunis, Tunisa 4-6 February 2019 for a workshop on developing national Codex capacities. The project is part of the Arab Food Safety Initiative for Trade Facilitation, known as the SAFE project, under which FAO is providing technical support through collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The Tunis workshop is part of a series that will train participants [...]
08 February 2019
Video Message
CCNE Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCNE Secretariat
Saudi Food & Drug Authority
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 2038222 Ext:3347
Email: [email protected]