• To develop principles and guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification systems with a view to harmonizing methods and procedures which protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trading practices and facilitate international trade in foodstuffs.
• To develop principles and guidelines for the application of measures by the competent authorities of exporting and importing countries to provide assurance where necessary that foodstuffs comply with requirements, especially statutory health requirements.
  
• To develop guidelines for the utilization, as and when appropriate, of quality assurance systems to ensure that foodstuffs conform with requirements and to promote the recognition of these systems in facilitating trade in food products under bilateral/multilateral arrangements by Member Nations.
  
• To develop guidelines and criteria with respect to format, declarations and language of such official certificates as countries may require with a view towards international harmonization.
  
• To make recommendations for information exchange in relation to food import/export control.
  
• To consult as necessary with other international groups working on matters related to food inspection and certification systems.
  
• To consider other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to food inspection and certification systems.

Open to all Members of the Commission.

18th Session - March 2010 (Surfers Paradise, Australia)
17th Session - November 2008 (Cebu, Philippines)
16th Session - November 2007 (Surfers Paradise, Australia)
15th Session - November 2006 (Mar del Plata, Argentina)

View Reports of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems

Codex@fao.org

CODEX Alimentarius

Subsidiary body of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission