The Workshop was aware that many of its recommendations would have significant budgetary implications. It was recognized that certain parts of the process of providing scientific advice to Codex and Member countries might be performed in a more cost-effective way. However, it was felt that the necessary improvements in the quantity, quality, timeliness and transparency of the provision of scientific advice would require a considerable and structural increase in financial and human resources. Owing to time constraints, the Workshop was not able to elaborate an estimate of the costs of implementing its recommendations. It was agreed to request FAO and WHO to do these estimates as part of the next steps of the consultative process.
It was noted that sufficient and sustainable funding for core scientific advice programmes should not be seen in isolation, but in relation to the funding of Codex and Codex-related activities, such as the Codex Trust Fund for enhanced participation of developing countries in the work of Codex. These activities are to a certain extent interrelated, and funding for such different aspects may come from the same funding sources.
