By Ms Lusubilo Witson MWAMAKAMBA, Regional Food Safety Focal Point, WHO Regional Office for Africa and Hakim B. MUFUMBIRO, Regional Coordinator CCAFRICA As part of commemorations of the 60th anniversary of Codex in the African region, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with the FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) conducted a two-and-a-half-day regional training workshop on enhancing participation in the work of Codex and preparation of robust applications for submission to the Codex Trust [...]

The Malawi National Codex Committee (NCC)  attended a three-day training session 15 to 17 November 2023 as part of the country’s Codex Trust Fund project. The training, which was about data generation for Codex Alimentarius, informed the Malawi NCC of the basic principles of toxicology, risk profile, exposure and consumption data and gave an overview of the FAO/WHO committees and the general Codex framework of risk analysis and risk assessment. Speaking at the opening function of the training, the Director-General of the [...]

In welcoming participants to the 85th Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC85), taking place in Rome on 20-24 November 2023, Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of FAO stressed the central role Codex can play in promoting agrifood systems transformation "by developing international food standards that protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices while supporting the uptake and implementation of policies and programmes that make agrifood systems more sustainable". Recalling the 60th anniversary of the [...]

The Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom, in consultation with the Vice-Chairpersons, Allan Azegele, Kenya, Raj Rajasekar, New Zealand, and Diego Varela, Chile, and the Codex Secretariat, has published a letter to Codex Members and Observers describing how he intends to conduct discussions on whether the Commission should establish maximum residue limits for zilpaterol hydrochloride, a veterinary drug used to enhance growth performance in cattle, at the 46th Codex Alimentarius Commssion which begins at FAO HQ in Rome, Italy [...]

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023, 18 - 24 November, a global initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens, is starting today.  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to humans, animals, plants, and the environment, and it affects everyone. The theme for WAAW 2023, maintained from 2022 is: "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together". The theme emphasizes the need for a One Health approach involving multiple sectors to preserve the efficacy of antimicrobials. Addressing AMR requires collective efforts [...]

In 2020, Mauritius had a Codex Trust Fund application approved for a project that is geared towards building a stronger and more sustainable national Codex structure, with the ultimate aim of increasing the country’s participation in the work of Codex. As part of this project, a workshop was organized 21–25 August 2023 on “Achieving leadership in the Codex process,” which was organized by Codex Mauritius, Ministry of Agroindustry, in close collaboration with the WHO country office. The workshop was conducted by [...]

Throughout this year, Codex Members and Observers have celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which held its first meeting in June 1963. Here’s a taster of what’s been happening around the world. At the very start of the year, the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific met in Fiji and a celebration cake was enjoyed by delegates including Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, the Honourable Vatimi T. T. K Rayalu and the Codex [...]

The representatives from the Plurinational State of Bolivia discussed the next steps in addressing foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as part of the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project. Thirty-five people from different government departments, associations, the private sector and academia met on 23-25 October 2023 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. “This workshop allowed us to reach commitments among different stakeholders. The participants agreed to establish a sectoral committee for AMR, a laboratory network for AMR in animal health, [...]

A live event held online for Codex Members and Observers on 13 November 2023 provided information on agenda, arrangements, and logistics for the 46th Codex Alimentarius Commission, scheduled at FAO HQ, Rome, from 27 November to 2 December. In opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom, said that “with good preparation, and adherence to our core values of inclusivity, collaboration, transparency and consensus-building, I am sure we will have a productive and efficient meeting”. The [...]

A live event will take place for all Codex Members and Observers on Monday, 13 November 2023 from 13:00 to 14:30 CET via Zoom. With interpretation in six languages, all those wishing to learn more about the agenda, arrangements and logistics for the 46th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) will be able to hear directly from the Chairperson and the Vice-chairpersons of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Codex Secretariat. Learn more Register here  Download the programme for the Zoom meeting (English [...]