World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2023, 18 - 24 November, a global initiative to raise awareness and encourage action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens, is starting today.  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to humans, animals, plants, and the environment, and it affects everyone. The theme for WAAW 2023, maintained from 2022 is: "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together". The theme emphasizes the need for a One Health approach involving multiple sectors to preserve the efficacy of antimicrobials. Addressing AMR requires collective efforts [...]

Throughout this year, Codex Members and Observers have celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which held its first meeting in June 1963. Here’s a taster of what’s been happening around the world. At the very start of the year, the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific met in Fiji and a celebration cake was enjoyed by delegates including Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, the Honourable Vatimi T. T. K Rayalu and the Codex [...]

A live event held online for Codex Members and Observers on 13 November 2023 provided information on agenda, arrangements, and logistics for the 46th Codex Alimentarius Commission, scheduled at FAO HQ, Rome, from 27 November to 2 December. In opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom, said that “with good preparation, and adherence to our core values of inclusivity, collaboration, transparency and consensus-building, I am sure we will have a productive and efficient meeting”. The [...]

A live event will take place for all Codex Members and Observers on Monday, 13 November 2023 from 13:00 to 14:30 CET via Zoom. With interpretation in six languages, all those wishing to learn more about the agenda, arrangements and logistics for the 46th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC46) will be able to hear directly from the Chairperson and the Vice-chairpersons of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Codex Secretariat. Learn more Register here  Download the programme for the Zoom meeting (English [...]

The Codex General Standard on the Use of Dairy Terms (GSUDT) (CXS 206-1999) took center stage at the Codex-IDF co-hosted webinar, which provided a platform for engaging discussions and insights on the use and implementation of this standard. Raj Rajasekar, Vice-chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, opened the event stating that “The GSUDT is an important text providing key principles and guidelines based on the product identity, integrity, truth in labelling and also fair trade”. Melissa Cameron, Chairperson of the IDF [...]

The report on this year’s World Food Safety Day is out now and ready to view. The 16-page document offers a glimpse into the immense variety of World Food Safety Day celebrations across the world this year and the unprecedented number of events and activities that took place. There were over 500 events in 139 countries. There were gastronomic and tasting events that promoted the enjoyment of food that is safe. There was a range of sports events that highlighted the [...]

As part of the celebrations for the 120th anniversary of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the IDF Standing Committee for Standards of Identity and Labelling (SCSIL) and the Codex Secretariat are organizing the webinar “Implementing Codex Standards: case studies on the General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms (GSUDT)”. IDF launched a survey in 2022 among its members on how the GSUDT has been implemented at national and/or regional levels. [...]

The Codex Secretariat has extended the deadline for countries to participate in the second survey to measure the use and impact of Codex texts. The new date to complete the survey is 15 November 2023. “It is important for us to hear from our Members. We hope that the new deadline gives more time to collect the information and participate in the survey”, said Farid El Haffar, Codex Secretariat Officer in charge of the survey. This year, the survey focuses on the [...]

On the occasion of the World Food Forum, a youth-led movement and network to transform our agrifood systems, we had a chat with Espoir Agbohouto and Minh Nguyen, two young food safety experts currently working with FAO and the Codex Secretariat, respectively. In this interview, they explain how they developed a passion for food safety and how young generations can contribute to safer and more sustainable agrifood systems. Dear Espoir and Minh, thanks for your time. Why did you choose to study [...]

World Food Day 2023 is celebrated under the theme "Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind". FAO is hosting a week-long series of events from Monday 16 to Friday 20 October welcoming world leaders, experts, changemakers, youth and indigenous activists to spark global action for water, climate action and sustainable agrifood systems. Water is essential for life and it is, indeed, food. But it is also essential in food production and processing. Ensuring that water coming into contact [...]