45th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
This 45th session of the Commission will be a physical meeting with the possibility of taking part remotely - another first for Codex. These additional CAC45 webpages will be providing news and updates regarding the meeting which begins on Monday 21 November 2022 in Rome at FAO HQ.
Use the links section on this page to find meeting documents as well as the FAQ on procedures within FAO due to the pandemic and in case Members will be required to vote.
NEWS ON CAC45
Emilio Esteban / a new perspective, but the same values
Following his confirmation as the new United States of America Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Emilio Esteban, Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) sent a brief message to the Codex Secretariat.
Throughout my tenure in Codex I have been extremely lucky to have worked with extraordinary people. Great minds and kind hearts that shared a common goal. Professionals that are willing to understand the value of [...]
15 January 2023
Codex Chairperson Steve Wearne welcomes positive attitude of delegates at CAC45
As 2022 draws to a close, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom looks back on the outcome of the 45th Commission meeting.
How would you describe the outcome of your first Commission and the return to a physical meeting?
The return to physical was marked for me by the incredible positive energy when people met on the first day, many for the first time in two or [...]
23 December 2022
Codex approves over 500 new food safety standards at 45th Commission
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted a series of new food safety standards at its 45th session which drew to a close on 13 December 2022. Eleven new texts include guidelines on ready-to-use therapeutic foods and on the management of biological foodborne outbreaks; a code of practice for the prevention and reduction of cadmium contamination in cocoa beans, and six new commodity standards. The Commission also established 476 new maximum [...]
15 December 2022
CODEX – a year in transition, magazine launch
The latest edition of the Codex magazine has been published to coincide with the 43rd Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC45) taking place from 21-25 November 2022 in Rome.
CODEX – a year in transition, tells the story of the core activities that take place between one Commission and the next and that lead to CAC45 being able to set over 20 standards protecting consumer health and facilitating trade.
Contributions from all regions, all [...]
25 November 2022
New eLearning course: Master the foundations of Codex on any digital device
Food production, processing and trading technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Consequently the Codex Alimentarius Commission is expanding its set of standards to ensure that consumer health remains protected, while practices in the trade of food are fair.
Today FAO/WHO are announcing the launch of a completely new series of multilingual eLearning courses on Codex accessible free of charge online and in downloadable format. “The new courses have been meticulously [...]
24 November 2022
Codex votes but zilpaterol remains unresolved
The 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission has agreed by a vote to adopt the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for zilpaterol, a veterinary drug used to enhance growth performance in cattle, at Step 5 in the Codex process for developing food safety standards.
The Commission did not agree, also by a vote, to change its rules for this session and allow for the work to advance directly to the final Step 8 which [...]
23 November 2022
CAC45 opens in FAO / QU Dongyu: science and data play a crucial role in setting standards
Over 350 online delegates joined nearly 400 returning to FAO for a physical session for the first time in three years as the 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC45) opened on 21 November 2022. QU Dongyu Director-General of FAO, welcomed participants and underlined how rapidly advancing technology has made hybrid meetings such as CAC45 possible in full transparency, ensuring no one is left behind.
Science and data play a crucial role in the work of the [...]
21 November 2022
CAC45 / a new format and a key decision to be made
The 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC45) is less than two weeks away and it may be one of the most interesting gatherings in recent times. It will be the first physical meeting of CAC in 3 years and the first ever that has the option for virtual attendance – a major challenge for us in the Codex Secretariat. In addition, there is a huge interest in the Codex family to [...]
15 November 2022
Codex Executive Committee opens in Rome after two years of virtual meetings
Members gathered in a physical setting for the first time since 2020 for the opening of the 83rd Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission being held in FAO HQ, Rome, Italy from 14-18 November 2022. Online delegates are also taking part ensuring full participation.
FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero
FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero welcomed delegates to the face-to-face environment which he described as “helpful when tackling the complex issues and [...]
14 November 2022
CAC45 / information event prepares delegates for the return to physical session
A live event held online for Codex Members and Observers on 29 July 2022 provided the first details of what the 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission will look like as a physical session scheduled for Rome beginning 21 November.
In opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom, said “we have to continue to adapt and continue to address new challenges … and uppermost in my mind [...]
31 July 2022