The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly created by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), is the most important international body in the field of food standards. Since 1963, Codex has developed hundreds of internationally recognized standards, guidelines and codes of practice. It has defined thousands of permitted levels of additives, contaminants and chemical residues in food. The end goal: ensure food is safe for everyone, everywhere.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held its first meeting in 1963. Although the CAC has not met every year in between, 2023 will represent 60 years of activity.

CAC45 plenary, Rome, November 2022 © FAO/Giulio Napolitano

Why we are celebrating a 60th anniversary (Codex@60)

The 44th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC44), held in November 2021, agreed that Codex@60 in 2023 would be a “wonderful occasion” to raise awareness about food safety and quality also in connection with the 5th celebration of World Food Safety Day (WFSD). CAC45 encouraged all Codex Members and Observers to use the opportunity of the Codex 60th Anniversary to plan and implement activities to build awareness of Codex and to engage high level political support for Codex work.

The 82nd Session of Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which took place in June 2022, further noted the guidance of FAO and WHO in holding a yearlong celebration of Codex@60 and the committee envisaged the anniversary as an opportunity to promote: the essential role Codex still plays impacting consumer health and fair practices in the food trade; the people of Codex, and the future of Codex.

Activities in the Codex Secretariat

For the Codex Secretariat the aim of Codex@60 is to mark the achievements of 60 years of standard setting with an event at CAC46 whilst at the same time relaunching the Codex website and transforming the "food code" of standards, guidelines and codes of practice and the Procedural Manual with a new format and layout and a digital object identifier to track downloads and citations.

Events throughout the Codex world

Codex Members, Observers and all those wishing to mark the 60th anniversary are being encouraged to share their events with the Codex Secretariat for publication on the website and in the Codex@60 special edition of the CAC annual magazine.

The anniversary is an opportunity to showcase the key benefits of Codex standards, though awareness raising events, case studies on impact and other success stories. But is also a chance to reflect on the future of Codex as part of the current global agenda and how it can contribute to the transformation of food systems.

Send your contributions to [email protected].

WEBCAST OF THE CODEX 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Please watch the Webcast of the 60th Anniversary Event - Live from Geneva

News about Codex@60

Spectacular show in Hong Kong celebrates Codex 60th anniversary

In a burst of colour and sound, taste and vision, the Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR, China put on a show of local culture and entertainment on Monday 27 March, 2023 for delegates attending the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA). Local artisans, youth performers and lion dancers were all on show to mark the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. With the presence [...]

28 March 2023

Food additives Committee plays key role in enhancing trust in food safety work

Mr. LEI Haichao, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, opened the 53rd session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), taking place from 27-31 March 2023, in China Hong Kong SAR. In underlining the great importance the Chinese government has always attached to food safety, the Vice Minister highlighted how the committee had served as a communication platform for countries and international [...]

27 March 2023

Much to celebrate at the Codex nutrition committee on women’s day

This International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, the UN is calling on governments, activists and the private sector alike to power on in their efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable. The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), taking place in Duesseldorf, Germany from 7 to 10 March has much to celebrate with women the focus of a hugely successful start [...]

08 March 2023

CCNASWP / Fiji calls for closer collaboration as FAO/WHO regional meeting gets underway in Nadi

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, SMEs and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica (pictured centre), speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government of Fiji, opened the 16th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific (CCNASWP), taking place from 30 January to 3 February 2023 in Nadi, Fiji. “Today’s rapid changes in trade, travel and commerce call for an international standard-setting [...]

31 January 2023

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Key Information

Codex standards, guidelines and codes of practice deal with everything that can have an impact on the safety or quality of our food
All Codex food safety work is based on the scientific advice provided by independent expert bodies under the auspices of FAO and WHO
Codex food safety standards are reference texts in the World Trade Organization (WTO) SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) agreement
The Codex Alimentarius has become a global reference for trade between countries and has also in many cases led to improvements in domestic production
Food safety is very much the responsibility of all parties along the value chain, from producer to consumer
Codex continually reviews its standards to ensure the best possible protection for consumers without unnecessarily restricting trade

Women leaders in Codex

For Codex@60 we researched all the women who have chaired Codex committees since 1963.

Resources

All visual digital assets for Codex@60 are available here.