In China, food is clearly a top priority – and food safety is seen as fundamental to the country, and to people’s livelihoods and wellbeing. As such, a series of activities were designed by authorities in China to promote public understanding of relevant issues, in recognition of both World Food Day in October 2021 and World Food Safety Day, which was celebrated on 7 June. At Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST), members of the faculty of the College of [...]

Guyana launched its Codex Trust Fund (CTF) Project on 6 October, 2021 following a two-day training programme for the National Codex Committee (NCC) members. The launch, which was held at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown, was marked by the presence of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Blair, Advisor on CARICOM Agriculture Food Systems, Ms. Carol Thomas, Guyana’s CTF Project Consultant (Semester 1), Dr. Jean Seme Fils Alexandre, Representative from PAHO/WHO, Mr. Wilmot Garnett, IICA [...]

Malaysian Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, opened the 27th session of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO), which is being hosted virtually from Kuala Lumpur, underlining the importance of the work of the committee. With total production of fats and oils increasing by over 40 percent in the last 10 years, reaching estimated volumes of 215 million tonnes for the 17 major edible fats and oils in 2020, “the role of CCFO remains pertinent … demand for fats and [...]

Hakim Mufumbiro, Uganda Regional Coordinator CCAFRICA A total of 14 Member States within the Economic Community of West African States (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) participated in an online training on Codex Electronic Working (EWG) Platform and Online Commenting System (OCS) as one of the capacity building activities to enhance the skill and knowledge of stakeholders in the region in order to better engage and participate [...]

Speaking at the opening the celebrations of World Food Day 2021, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu recognized all those around the world who continue to work against the odds to ensure everyone has food to eat, and called for the transformation of agri-food systems to make them more efficient, more resilient, more transparent and more sustainable. World Food Day highlights the role countries can play to ensure that all people everywhere have access to enough affordable, nutritious and safe food and and [...]

The Codex task force on antimicrobial resistance had to go into extra time on Wednesday 13 October 2021 but has succeeded in recommending that new Guidelines on Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will be sent for final adoption at the Codex Alimentarius Commission in November 2021. Chairperson Yong Ho Park, Republic of Korea, said: “We knew the task would not be easy. I applaud with pride the compromises made by so many wonderful people to achieve our [...]

CCFFP35 set out to evaluate if the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products (CXS 94-1981) can be amended to include the fish species S. lemuru (Bali Sardinella) in the list of Sardinella species. Working by correspondence since 20 September 2021, the work has progressed steadily with nearly 150 delegates signing up to participate on the platform also used for electronic working groups in Codex. So far the committee has agreed to select three species to be compared with Sardinella lemuru in a [...]

In an extended session on Saturday 9 October 2021, the Codex task force on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) reached agreement on sending the revision of the Code of practice to minimize and contain foodborne AMR to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption in November, but will go into extra time on Wednesday 13 October in an attempt to complete discussions on a new guideline on integrated monitoring and surveillance for foodborne AMR. Urged on by host, the Republic of Korea’s slogan [...]

The 46th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL46), hosted virtually by Canada from Ottawa, concluded on 7 October 2021 sending a new standard for the labelling of non-retail containers and guidelines for front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL) to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption in November. Chairperson, Kathy Twardek (pictured centre above), congratulating participants on the important progress made during the meeting said “it's stunning, really, I am thrilled. As a result of a lot of collaboration and flexibility, [...]

The atmosphere in the Codex Secretariat, if it is possible to describe a virtual atmosphere, was one of cautious optimism as work on the Guidelines for the Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne AMR paused on Wednesday 6 October 2021 and fresh discussions on the Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Antimicrobial Resistance took centre stage. Chairperson Professor Yong Ho Park has led the task force through much of the draft text and has been working in tandem with Rosa Perán, [...]