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 two international trainers from India, former Codex Alimentarius Commission Chairperson, Mr Sanjay Dave and the Codex Contact Point (CCP) of India, Mr Perumal Karthikeyan.

The workshop was structured into theoretical and practical sessions. The practical session was conducted as a mock drill exercise where participants were grouped to represent different Member Countries, the Codex Secretariat and Observer Organizations. The participants were given hands-on experience on the preparation of documents and on participation in different Codex committees. A pre-workshop assessment and a quiz were also conducted. The participants were from different ministries, parastatal bodies, academia and NGOs.

The workshop was very fruitful having benefited the participants. Some of the participants expressed their appreciation on the workshop as follows:

“The training was very comprehensive and the two resource persons were very knowledgeable in their area.  Following the training I was able to grasp the functioning of the different committees and their importance in safe foods and fair trade.  Further, I now understand the importance of putting forward issues of national interest by different countries.  The participative session was also very beneficial”, as reported by Mrs S. Subramaniam (Research Scientist, Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute of Mauritius [FAREI])

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to attend the workshop on ‘Achieving Leadership in the Codex Process’. It was an incredibly enriching experience, and I extend my gratitude to the CCP, WHO, and the entire team that organized the event. The workshop provided me with valuable insights into understanding the significance of Codex work and enhancing my capabilities to engage in international standard-setting. I believe this knowledge will positively impact my future collaborations as a member of the national Codex Committee/Subcommittee.””, as reported by Mrs Sharmila Buldewo Scientific Officer/Ag. Senior Scientific Officer, Food Science and Technology Division, Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security.

“'I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for this very instructive and interactive workshop delivered by Mr  Dave and Mr Karthikeyan who gave us a better understanding of Codex work and also re-emphasized the importance of Codex work is, and in particular the importance of participation in the Codex committees. The participants were highly engaged throughout the mock session and it was good practice, linking well with the theoretical aspects of the training", as reported by Smita Seebah Ramchurn, Quality Officer /Mauritius Standards Bureau.

“I would like to thank Mr Dave and Mr Karthikeyan, for leading the workshop on ‘Achieving Leadership in the Codex Process’. The lectures during the training helped me to have a better understanding of the subject. You have also made the training lively and comprehensible. Your expertise and enthusiasm are much appreciated. I truly enjoyed it and learned a lot”, as reported by Mrs M. Jugnarain, Scientific Officer/Ag. Senior Scientific Officer, Agricultural Chemistry Division, Food Technology Laboratory/ Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security.

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Codex Trust Fund website

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