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codexalimentarius > News and Events

CCRVDF / A transparent forum developing science-based standards

In opening remarks at the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) taking place in Portland, Oregon, United States of America from 13 to 17 February 2023, Chairperson Brandi Robinson said “CCRVDF serves a very important role by providing a transparent forum where we can develop science-based standards which will meet Members’ needs, protect consumers, and ensure fair trade practices in the food trade.” The value veterinary drugs play to the health and wellbeing of animals and a [...]
13 February 2023

CCFICS / Workshop underlines Codex role in prevention and control of food fraud

By Scott Mersch Codex Contact Point, Australia On 8 February 2023, the Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), Nicola Hinder, Australia, and Michelle Catlin, United States of America, the Chairperson of the Electronic Working Group (EWG), along with EWG Co-Chairpersons, delivered a virtual workshop to discuss progress to date on drafting the guidance on the Prevention and Control of Food Fraud. The draft guidance will be considered at Step 4 by CCFICS26 [...]
10 February 2023

CCRVDF / New Chairperson Brandi Robinson looking for success in developing risk management advice

The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) takes place in Portland, Oregon, United States of America from 13 to 17 February 2023. The Committee will be chaired for the first time by Brandi Robinson. In the lead up to the meeting Brandi responded to a series of questions from the Codex Secretariat. Q: What’s your day job for those who don’t know you? A: I work for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, where I [...]
09 February 2023

CCNASWP16 / Steve Hathaway describes lessons learned for Codex from the COVID-19 pandemic

At the 16th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific held from 30 January to 3 February 2023 in Nadi, Fiji,  Steve Hathaway, New Zealand, gave the keynote address on lessons learned from the COVID pandemic, which he said had “irrevocably changed international thinking on food control … [and] dramatically illustrated the importance of effective and science driven risk management by all sectors throughout the food chain.” Hathaway went on to outline how the [...]
05 February 2023

CCNASWP / Fiji meeting an excellent opportunity to reconnect

“After last having met as a region in 2019, the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific (CCNASWP16) provides an excellent opportunity to reconnect and exchange views concerning food standards and food control in the region,” said FAO’s Dirk Schulz, in Nadi, as preparations for the session neared completion. WHO will be represented at the meeting by Jessica Kayamori Lopez. "This meeting will be a great opportunity to revisit the priorities of the region and hear from [...]
29 January 2023

CCNASWP / Vinesh Kumar sets the scene for Fiji as the FAO/WHO regional meeting approaches

Vinesh Kumar is the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture in Fiji and will chair the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific (CCNASWP) that will take place in Nadi from 31 January to 3 February 2023. Hosting the meeting puts Fiji and the region on the global map and gives us a better platform to be recognized in Codex. We have been involved in the development of the kava standard and other national areas of interest include pesticide [...]
26 January 2023

Agriculture Ministers underline critical role of science-based standard-setting organizations

The 15th Berlin Agricultural Ministers’ Conference took place on 21 January 2023, with the theme “Agrifood systems transformation: a worldwide response to multiple crises". Tom Heilandt, Codex Secretary, spoke of the importance of using all international fora to improve cooperation regarding global food systems. “Applying Codex standards helps remove trade barriers,” he said, explaining how a global structure like Codex can also drive and enhance policy coherence. A final communiqué from the meeting, agreed by approximately 70 countries present, underlined the [...]
23 January 2023

GFFA Expert Panel / Is the Codex system fit for the future?

A Codex expert panel discussion “Is the Codex system fit for the future?” took place on Friday 20 January 2023 at the annual Global Forum for Food and Agriculture organized, in Berlin, Germany, by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General FAO, described Codex as “a public good to serve countries in defending their standards, in protecting consumers and ensuring also fair trade.” Speaking also of the need to respond to interconnected challenges in agriculture, [...]
21 January 2023

CCFH Chairperson Emilio Esteban is new USA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety

Jose Emilio Esteban, Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), has been confirmed as the new United States of America Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety. In a statement following the swearing in of Dr Esteban, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said: “I am confident that Dr. Esteban’s leadership and experience is the right combination to advance our commitment to maintaining public health and reducing foodborne illness.” Emilio Esteban has chaired the Food Hygiene Committee since its fortieth session [...]
13 January 2023

CCFH53 / work completed on Escherichia coli and water in food production

The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has agreed to send guidelines on the control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and on the safe use and reuse of water in food production to the next Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption. Both proposed Codex texts are extensive documents and although the general sections and several commodity specific annexes are now finalized, the committee will continue to negotiate on specific areas of intervention for other foods. Over 120 delegates participated in [...]
09 December 2022