The CCASIA Region - Regional Coordinator Japan
The Coordinating Committee for Asia was established at the 11th Meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission held in Rome, Italy, in July 1976. Its first meeting was held in New Delhi (India) in January 1977.
The regional coordinator operates from within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.
Japan, as the regional coordinator for Asia, aims to pursue the following goals while upholding the Codex core values, i.e. inclusiveness, collaboration, consensus building, and transparency
- Foster collaboration and coordination within the region by facilitating the exchange of views, so that Asian members can be well-informed and effectively participate in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies; and,
- Promote open and constructive discussions at the Regional Coordinating Committee to identify the current, emerging, and critical issues concerning consumer health protection and ensuring fair practices in the food trade within the region, and to address these issues in a timely manner.
News from the region
4th spices committee meeting underway in Kerala, India
Delegates from over 30 countries are meeting in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), India from 21 January 2019 to discuss draft Codex standards for selected spices and herbs that will eliminate trade barriers and strengthen food supply chains with safe food.
Inaugurating the fourth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs, Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, Justice (retd) Shri P Sathasivam said that “cultivators of spices should be encouraged to think globally and make use of the latest farming technologies to succeed [...]
21 January 2019
Codex sets quality standards where food without spices is unthinkable
The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) this year returns to the State of Kerala, meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, 200km from the site of the inaugural meeting in Kochi held in February 2014. The meeting takes place 521 years after Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut in Kerala following the first direct sea voyage from Europe to Asia and changed the spice trade forever.
“Since time immemorial export of black white and green pepper has been a [...]
18 January 2019
Codex Asian region digs deep into strategic plan in Beijing workshop
At the next Codex Alimentarius Commission to be held in Geneva in July 2019, Codex Members are expected to adopt a strategic plan which will drive activities from 2020 to 2025 in parallel with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At a two-day workshop held for the Asian region in Beijing, China and organized jointly by China and the Regional Coordinator India, 31 participants from 14 countries had an opportunity to discuss national and regional food safety and trade matters and to [...]
03 November 2018
Building national capacity the way ahead for participation in Codex
The two-day training workshop held in Delhi earlier this month focussed on enhancing the ability of 17 Asian countries to operate successfully in the Codex Alimentarius international standard-setting environment. Led by the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat, the sessions focussed on the electronic systems and tools including: the new Codex website; Online Commenting System (OCS); Digital platform for Electronic Working Groups (EWG) and other web-based tools, such as the platform to collect information on Member countries’ food safety control systems.
30 participants from [...]
20 September 2018
Codex India talks food safety and trade concerns with the Secretariat
Tom Heilandt, Codex Secretary, welcomed the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Pawan Agarwal and other representatives of FSSAI to the Codex Secretariat at FAO in Rome last week for a round table discussion on broad themes of mutual interest.
Codex India is hosted by FSSAI and has lead the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) since its inception in 2014. India is also the current regional coordinator for the Asia region and extremely [...]
19 September 2018
17 countries meet in India for Codex online tools workshop
A two-day training workshop started in Delhi today to enhance the ability of 17 Asian countries to operate successfully in the Codex Alimentarius international standard-setting environment. Led by the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat, the sessions are focussed on the electronic systems and tools including: the new Codex website; Online Commenting System (OCS); Digital platform for Electronic Working Groups (EWG) and other web-based tools, such as the platform to collect information on Member countries’ food safety control systems.
The workshop will further the [...]
05 September 2018
Timor-Leste: a strong national food control system to ensure safe food consumption
On February 20th 2018, the Government of Timor-Leste officially became the 188th Member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Dr Rajesh Pandav is the WHO Representative to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and he explained to Codex what finally convinced Timor-Leste to join the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
A strong national food control system will play a critical role in ensuring safe food consumption.
The government feels that a strong national food control system will play a critical role in ensuring safe food consumption, protecting [...]
05 March 2018
Timor-Leste becomes 188th Codex member
On February 20th 2018, a letter was sent from the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to the State Minister and Minister of Health for Timor-Leste, Dr Rui Maria de Araujo, acknowledging their application to join the Codex Alimentarius Commission. And with this communication, the Government of Timor-Leste officially became the 188th Member of the Commission.
Great opportunities to improve public health and drive sustainable development.
Dr Kazuaki Miyagishima, Director Food Safety and Zoonoses, WHO, said: “Timor-Leste, located at [...]
21 February 2018
Developing partnerships to strengthen the work of Codex
Codex Chairperson Guilherme Costa and Vice-Chairperson Purwiyatno Hariyadi praised the commitment and achievements of countries in the CCASIA region and called on the skill and experience of the private sector to continue to develop partnerships that can strengthen the work of Codex.
Speaking at the 12th CII Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Summit held in New Delhi India 4-5 December 2017, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Costa said that Codex standards are taken up by industry and governments if [...]
08 December 2017
AMR Task Force meeting: opening statement Tom Heilandt
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Check with delivered
It is an honor for me to be here on Jeju Island and assist in the 5th Session of the Codex Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance.
First, let me thank our hosts from the Republic of Korea for their kind offer to continue their contribution to the task force and especially our chairperson Prof Park. Codex could not work without its host governments and the Codex chairs – they are the backbone of [...]
28 November 2017
Video Message
CCASIA Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCASIA Secretariat
International Standards Office, Food Safety Policy Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3502 8732
E-mail: [email protected]