En el 18.º período de sesiones de la Comisión del Codex Alimentarius, celebrado en 1989, se acordó establecer un nuevo Comité Coordinador para América del Norte y el Pacífico Sudoccidental, que reuniera, en palabras de la delegación de Nueva Zelandia, a "países muy distantes... que tienen muchos intereses comunes".
La CCNASWP es una región extraordinariamente diversa, en la que coexisten economías plenamente maduras como las de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Australia y Nueva Zelandia, con diez pequeños estados insulares. El mayor de ellos es Papua Nueva Guinea (con más de 7 millones de habitantes) y los más pequeños son las Islas Cook y Nauru, con una población de aproximadamente 10 000 habitantes.
El coordinador regional tiene su sede en el Ministerio de Agricultura de Fiji.
Fiji tiene previsto aplicar las normas en el ámbito nacional y apoyar a todos los países de la región, especialmente a los pequeños estados insulares en desarrollo, para que desarrollen un marco normativo sólido en materia de inocuidad alimentaria. Estas iniciativas contribuirán a la mejora de la salud pública, garantizarán que los alimentos importados sean inocuos y de la calidad esperada y favorecerán un mayor acceso a los mercados internacionales.
El coordinador regional seguirá prestando apoyo al trabajo sobre normas regionales y tiene el objetivo de reforzar la participación de la región en el Codex en su conjunto. Este propósito puede lograrse continuando el desarrollo de la capacidad a escala nacional mediante la mejora del papel de los coordinadores nacionales y los puntos de contacto para una participación mayor y efectiva en el Codex.
Twenty representatives from Codex Contact Points (CCP) in the North America and Southwest Pacific region met in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 28-30 October 2018 for a workshop on the online systems that are an essential part of contributing to Codex standard-setting. Participants also came together to discuss regional input to the Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and to continue work on two regional Codex standards, for noni juice and kava, both local beverages.
The countries present were Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States [...]
How can we change but remain the same?
Dr Emilio Esteban is Executive Associate for Laboratory Services in the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, and chairs the Codex Committe on Food Hygiene currently meeting in Chicago USA.
As I sit today, living the 49th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene, I find myself amazed that after 50 plus years of discussion, the objective remains the same, yet, things have changed. On May 1964, nine members [...]
The 10th International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) organized by IFIF in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together a record number of feed industry representatives and government officials from 35 countries to discuss key issues including Feed Safety Risk Management Strategies and the role of animal nutrition and feeding to minimise antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The meeting was also informed on the activities of the FAO led Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Capacity Development for Feed [...]
Los Angeles USA - 48th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Codex Secretariat is commited and dedicated to serving the Codex community
Chair Codex Alimentarius Commission
In the speech that she delivered at the Official Welcome Reception organised by the United States Codex Office on the occasion of the 48th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene, the Codex Alimentarius Chairperson Mrs Awilo Ochieng Pernet paid tribute to members of the Codex Secretariat for their commitment and dedication to delivering [...]
The food hygiene committee CCFH has been meeting since 1964 and is responsible for drafting basic provisions on food hygiene applicable to all food.
People have the right to expect the food they eat to be safe and suitable for consumption. Foodborne illness and foodborne injury are at best unpleasant; at worst, they can be fatal.
Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene
Los Angeles - Q&A with Chair Dr Emilio Esteban
As the 48th session of the committee begins in Los Angeles, Dr Emilio Esteban, Executive [...]
The RCCs provide an incredibly important opportunity for dynamic discussion on major and emerging food safety and quality issues facing the region.
There are six Codex regions each represented by a joint FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC).They meet every two years. Each committee is responsible for defining the problems and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control. By working collectively at the regional level countries are able to highlight regulatory issues and problems arising from food control in [...]
The Codex Secretariat plays a key role in the running of over 20 international meetings per year.
As the 2016-2017 round of joint FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee meetings begins with the North America and South West Pacific Region in Vanuatu, two members of the Secretariat have travelled to Port Vila.
Dr Annamaria Bruno is a Senior Food Standards Officer in the Secretariat with responsibility for CCFA, CCRVDF, CCASIA, CCMMP, CCGP, CCLAC as well as being Alternate Officer for CCFH, CCNASWP, CCSCH, CCPR, CCFFP. [...]
Representatives of government departments and bodies and the food industry attended a training course organised by the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry (DTCI) in Port Moresby with the support of the European Union. The training aims to strengthen national capacities for food safety and controls, in line with the international requirements.
The training course took place from February 02 - 05, at the request of DTCI, and covered topics that are essential for risk and quality management of public laboratories [...]
https://youtu.be/CXGLtdyyYH0
The succcess of tourism in the Cook Islands has led to an increasing dependence on food imports. Harmonising national food safety standards with those of the Codex Alimentarius will enable the islands to better protect their communities and the tourist industry.
The ministries of health, agriculture and fisheries combine to cover all aspects of food safety and quality from the field to the table.
Watch the video.
