1. The Sixth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems was held in Melbourne, Australia, from 23 to 27 February 1998, at the kind invitation of the Government of Australia. Mr. Digby Gascoine, Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service, chaired the Session. The meeting was attended by 252 participants from 55 Member countries and 15 international organizations. A List of Participants is attached to this report as Appendix I.
2. The Session was opened by Senator the Hon. Judith Troeth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy in the Australian government. Referring to Australia’s continuous efforts to supply safe and quality foods to consumers, she emphasized the importance of Codex in the facilitation of trade through the harmonization of food import and export inspection and certification. Senator Troeth noted the changing role of governments in food standards setting. Highly prescriptive standards were being replaced with horizontal standards that take account of the broad issues involved in achieving food safety, and, in so doing, provide recognition of alternative approaches capable of delivering equivalent outcomes. Senator Troeth also noted the complexities of issues before the Committee which needed a high level of cooperation between countries to meet mutual obligations, a willingness to be transparent, and a spirit to achieve harmonization.
