Today sees publication of the fourth edition of the new look Codex annual report, this year entitled CODEX – What next for standards?

With contributions from Member Countries, Observer Organizations, FAO and WHO, and experts reaching across all six Codex regions, the publication is an overview of the successes and challenges throughout the Codex year that traditionally runs from one Codex Alimentarius Commission to the next.

Before March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit international travel and the possibility of holding physical meetings, in the last four months of 2019 all six FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees held their sessions as did three technical committees and the task force on antimicrobial resistance.

Writing in the magazine, Codex Chairperson Guilherme Da Costa underlines the contribution of the Codex regions “precisely because of the wealth of different experiences they have in dealing with the tough issues, especially during this challenging new normal,” he says.

In his leader piece, Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt speaks of his pride at the “overwhelmingly positive response we received with 147 endorsements from countries encouraging us to go ahead with this our first-ever virtual Commission”.

The magazine is currently available in English with other languages to be added shortly.

Read more

Click here for all Codex publications