The role of animal nutrition and feed strategies and options for reducing the need to use antimicrobials in animal production was highlighted in a side event during a meeting of the Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance that took place in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 10 to 14 December 2018. The speakers summarized the current state of the art and recent insights on how diets, gut health and the immune system interact and could contribute to disease [...]

Today the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a World Food Safety Day. Starting in 2019, every 7 June will be a time to celebrate the myriad benefits of safe food. “World Food Safety Day will be a chance for everyone to take a moment to think about something we often take for granted: food safety”, said Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt. “Thanks to the widespread efforts of Codex Members and Observers, the international community will speak with one voice [...]

The Codex Secretary Mr Tom Heilandt, Mr Fan Yongxiang, Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) and the Former Codex Chairperson Mrs Awilo Ochieng Pernet attended the 3rd Shenzhen Food Safety Risk Communication Forum, which took place in Shenzhen (China) on 5th and 6th November 2018. This year the Forum was dedicated to food safety early warning and food quality improvement. It brought together renowned national and international experts as well as 400 participants including government officials, industry [...]

Health and agriculture officials, food safety authorities, scientific experts, representatives of consumers and food producers associations as well as other organizations including the private sector will convene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Geneva, Switzerland early 2019 to identify key actions and strategies to address current and future challenges to food safety. “The Future of Food Safety – Transforming knowledge into action for people, economies and the environment” is the overall topic of the events, co-organized by FAO, WHO, WTO and the [...]

“Codex provides a real opportunity for collaboration but what does it actually mean to engage in a collaborative negotiation?” This was the question posed by Susan Coleman, trainer and coach as a negotiations workshop running from 11-14 December 2018 got underway in Accra, Ghana for 26 members of the Ghana Standards Authority. The four-day programme is part of a Codex Trust Fund (CTF) project to build national capacity for effective engagement in Codex. Mr Kofi Nagetey, Deputy Director General of the Ghana [...]

The Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR) started its sixth week-long meeting today in Busan, Republic of Korea. With more than 250 Codex Members and Observers in attendance, the meeting will make progress on revising the Codex Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance as well as developing the Guidelines on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. "The problem seems simple”, said Dr Yong Ho Park, the TFAMR Chair, underscoring the rapid increase of microorganisms [...]

Experts met in FAO on 19 – 23 November 2018 to discuss ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) and develop scientific advice for the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. CFP is one of the most common foodborne illnesses related to seafood consumption. While CFP has been known about for centuries, its true incidence remains unclear. In 2000 it was estimated that 10 000 – 50 000 people per year suffer from this illness. Markus Lipp, Senior Food Safety Officer, and FAO Secretary [...]

The Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) opened 26 November in Berlin, Germany. Speaking at the opening session before a record number of 420 delegates from Member countries and observer organizations, Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, reminded the committee of its dedication to those with special nutritional needs and therefore in need of special care. Fuchtel told delegates that achieving “a well-balanced nutritional diet for a growing world [...]

The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) will meet in Berlin, Germany on 26-30 November 2018. A new team has been appointed by the host government, Germany, and the session will be chaired by Anja Brönstrup (top left), who has a background in nutrition. Prior to joining the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 2016, Anja worked for national and international scientific authorities, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Hilke Thordsen is the [...]

The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the resolution submitted by Costa Rica to declare June 7 World Food Safety Day (WFSD). For the Day to officially proclaimed the resolution must be passed by the United nations General Assembly, a which is expected to take place 20 December 2018. The former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Switzerland, put forward the original proposal for the declaration of a WFSD at the FERG Symposium in [...]