What's the difference between a Codex standard and a private standard like ISO?

Codex, as an inter-governmental organization, prepares documents to assist governments in their statutory and regulatory work to protect their citizens from health hazards caused by food consumption. Compliance with applicable Codex standards is recommended. ISO, as a non-governmental organization, develops standards that are driven by marketplace needs. As a result, ISO standards describe products, services, process, materials and systems, and conformity assessment. Compliance with ISO standards is mandatory to the extent of fulfilment of certification requirements and is beyond meeting the legal requirements.

Codex and ISO activities are complementary. Codex, as a governmental organization, prepares documents to assist governments in their statutory and regulatory work to protect their citizens from health hazards caused by food consumption. ISO prepares standards in particular on test methods to assist stakeholders along the whole food chain to fulfil both the statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as the requirements of consumers of these products.

Using the standards

What is the link between Codex and WTO?

The two WTO agreements of most significance for international food trade and Codex are: the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures (SPS), which concerns measures applied to protect [...]

Using the standards

What's the difference between a Codex standard and a private standard like ISO?

Using the standards

How do governments use Codex standards?

Members use Codex standards to ensure safe, good quality food to their citizens. By introducing legislation and regulation that is consistent with Codex standards and guidelines governments may reduce the [...]

Using the standards

What is the role of observers in Codex?

International organizations – either IGOs or INGOs - with official Observer Status in Codex may participate in Codex meetings as well as in working groups established. Observers may make interventions, [...]

Using the standards

How can I find out which Codex standards have been adopted and can be used?

To find out more about standards already adopted or to download a copy of an existing standard, consult the Official List of Standards at the Codex Alimentarius Commission website.[...]