Georgia participated in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission by organizing an event held on 3 November 2023 in Tbilisi.

The event commenced with an opening address by the head of the LEPL National Food Agency, who emphasized the significance of Codex standards and the agency’s activities in the country. Welcoming speeches were delivered by representatives from FAO, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) One Health contact point. A panel, moderated by the Codex Alimentarius Contact Point (CCP) for Georgia, included representatives from relevant ministries and government agencies, donor and development organizations, food business operators, food industry associations, and other stakeholders in the food safety sector. The panel discussed the current status of Codex Alimentarius and future opportunities in the country.

Hosted by the USDA Safety and Quality Investment in Livestock Project (USDA SQIL Project), implemented by Land O’Lakes Venture 37, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association, the event was conducted in collaboration with the CCP for Georgia.

At the event, the first faithful and accurate English-to-Georgian translations of the following sectoral standards were presented. These translations aimed to provide a resource for food business operators to improve their food safety practices, serve as a reference for regulatory enhancements to Georgia’s food control system, and increase awareness among market system actors regarding Codex Alimentarius standards, guidelines, and codes of practice, including: 

• General Principles of Good Hygiene (CXC 1-1969, updated 2020)
• Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products (CXC 57-2004, updated 2009)
• Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding (CXC 54-2004, updated 2008)
• Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat (CXC 58-2005)

These translations were commissioned as part of the USDA SQIL project and a FAO Co-Publishing agreement.

Georgia has been a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since June 2000, and of the Codex Alimentarius Commission since 1998. As a WTO Member State, Georgia engages in the development of international standards under the purview of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

© Codex Contact Point, Georgia