by Codex office Bhutan A three-day advocacy workshop on the theme “"Achieving Leadership in the Codex Process"” took place from 20 to 22 September 2021 at Drubchhu Resort, Lobesa, Punakha in Bhutan. Around 40 participants from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, State Owned Enterprises, World Health Organization and World Food Programme country office attended the workshop. [...]

In officially opening the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) on 23 September 2021, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Food is life, food is hope. Changing food systems is not only possible but necessary, for our planet, for people, for prosperity.” Everyone must take action to transform the way the world produces, consumes, and thinks about food. “Food Systems can and must play a leading role in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda,” he said. Although it did [...]

The Codex Committee on Food Additives has adopted its final report confirming consensus reached on recommendations that include over 500 food additive provisions already in the Codex step procedure and 90 proposed provisions that will all now proceed for consideration by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in November 2021. The committee, hosted by China, met virtually from 1 to 10 September 2021 and emboldened by the support from the Executive Committee maintained its word that the business of debating and agreeing on [...]

The Codex Secretariat has learned of the sad death of Dr. Claude John Shara Mosha, Tanzania, who served as the first ever Codex Alimentarius Chairperson from an African country from 2006 to 2008. Hakim Mufumbiro, the current Regional Coordinator for the Codex African region said: “Dr Mosha will be remembered for his astute leadership, dedication, hard work, negotiation prowess, unwavering commitment and deep passion for Codex and food safety as well as his wisdom and extremely joyful and imaginative nature.” John Oppong-Otoo [...]

At midnight on 7 September 2021 the deadline passed for Codex Members to express their agreement that the Codex Alimentarius Commission could hold its forty-fourth session virtually and proceed with elections for the appointment of new officers. With 135 of the 126 preferences required, countries have once again endorsed the move to meet virtually to address priority matters. Voting will be conducted by appointment, through a physical secret ballot in Geneva, following the modality adopted by the recent FAO Conference for [...]

By Gyanendra Gongal    Regional Advisor (Food safety) WHO Regional Office for South East Asia Bhutan, India and Nepal have been implementing a Codex Trust Fund (CTF) group project since 2019. One of the major challenges the project is addressing is limited technical knowledge and expertise to run a functional National Codex Committee and participate actively in the Codex standard setting process. Nepal has been facing challenges to meet requirements for the export of indigenous agri products such as ginger [...]

The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)wrapped up its 52nd session advancing new Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for spices, seeds, fruits, and other commodities to the 44th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC44). These limits for pesticide residues in food are established by Codex based on a risk assessment and limits for safe intake set by an FAO/WHO international expert scientific group named Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). Gracia Brisco, the Food Standards Officer in the Codex [...]

A webinar held on 21 July 2021 gave countries an update on plans for the 44th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC44) scheduled for November 2021 and the procedures currently being developed by the Codex Secretariat, together with FAO and WHO, that are expected to be presented to the Membership for endorsement similar to the approach taken for the first virtual CAC in 2020. Speaking at the event attended by over 150 participants, Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt said that before holding a virtual [...]

More than 300 delegates gathered virtually for the opening of the 25th session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF), hosted by the United States of America, which will run from 12 to 16 July 2021. Chairperson Kevin Greenlees welcomed the opportunity the virtual environment made allowing the committee to become more inclusive then ever with such high numbers of participants. CCRVDF will look at proposed draft maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various veterinary drugs, and [...]

The Codex Trust Fund Secretariat in collaboration with the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) and the FAO and WHO Regional Offices for Africa held a highly engaging webinar on 5 July 2021 with a focus on the use of the FAO/WHO Diagnostic Tool for assessing status of National Codex Programmes. The Tool is key to determining strengths and weaknesses at country level and the results help identify areas for capacity development. Over 50 participants attended online both from CCAFRICA and [...]