The CCNE Region - Regional Coordinator Oman
In 1999 the 23rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission established the Regional Coordinating Committee for the Near East, bringing together countries in the Near East Region (for FAO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (for WHO). The committee held its first meeting in Cairo, Egypt in 2001.
The current regional coordinator for the Near East is based in the Food Safety and Quality Centre of the Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources in Muscat.
Objectives of the Sultanate of Oman through taking on the role of Regional Coordinator for the Near East Region and Chair of the FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East:
- Enhancing efforts to promote effective participation of member countries and all stakeholders, including producers, consumers, and relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations of the Near East Region, in Codex Alimentarius proceedings.
- Continuing to build and enhance national capacities in member states and regional organizations to enable effective participation in international food standard setting.
- Ensuring that the development of Codex Alimentarius standards, at the global level, take into account the specificities of food production and consumption in the Near East Region.
- Promoting the adoption and use of Codex standards as the basis of national food regulatory decisions in member states of the region. This will positively impact consumer health and facilitate the trade of food products at both the regional and international levels and will further contribute to the development of food production in the region, with added competitiveness both regionally and internationally.
News from the region
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The Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee for the Near East talks to us ahead of September meeting
The eleventh meeting of the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE) will take place 18–22 September at FAO headquarters in Rome. We spoke to Khalid S Al Zhrani, from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), who will chair CCNE11 on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current Regional Coordinator for the Near East, to find out more about him and his expectations for the meeting.
Q. Khalid, thanks for your time. For those who don’t know you, could [...]
23 August 2023
Qatari authorities join forces on World Food Safety Day
The Qatar General Authority for Standardization and Metrology held World Food Safety Day events on 7 and 8 June under the theme “Food standards save lives”. Celebrations took place in collaboration with the Municipality, Qatar University, and Monoprix supermarkets and included a popup stall showcasing awareness videos and emphasizing the importance of food safety to consumers and children. Leaflets were distributed and colouring sessions and games were organized for children.
There were three key messages the events were aiming to highlight:
The [...]
27 July 2023
Updating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in Line with the WHO Air Quality Guidelines
A Regional Expert Consultation was held on 6-8 June 2023 in Amman, Jordan, to Harmonize the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in Line with WHO Air Quality Guidelines.
The consultation was organized by the Climate Change, Health and Environment unit / Healthier Populations Department/ Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean and attended by 40 air quality & health experts (32 in person and 8 virtual) from the ministries of health and environment, research centres, and [...]
25 July 2023
Improving emergency response to food safety events of international concern
For the fifth year, WHO Country Office in Jordan, Climate Change, Health and Environment Unit / EMRO and the International Food Safety Authorities secretariat /HQ, celebrated with the Jordan Ministry of Health and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration World Food Safety Day 2023.
This year'stheme “Food standards save lives”, holds a call for action for policymakers, food businesses and workplaces, educational institutions, and most importantly consumers. Drawing attention to the role of food safety standards in protecting consumers health, food [...]
25 July 2023
Sultanate of Oman commits to Codex and global food standards in 60th anniversary video
The Sultanate of Oman declares its commitment to Codex and to international standards and guidelines for food safety and quality in a video recently released as part of the country’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius.
The country has been a Codex Member for over 50 years and has actively participated in the development of global standards and in particular has played an active role in regional initiatives such as the Arab Codex initiative and the Gulf Cooperation [...]
12 July 2023
Multistakeholder World Food Safety Day event organized by Egypt’s Codex Committee
Egypt celebrated World Food Safety Day 2023 through a special event co-convened by the National Food Safety Agency (NFSA) of Egypt and Codex Egypt, based in the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS).
The event highlights the importance given by Egyptian food stakeholders to food safety, with special addresses from the leadership of both Organizations and the leadership of the Chamber of Food Industries (CFI). The event also features an introduction to future efforts of modernization of the Egyptian Food [...]
05 July 2023
Qatari logistics company celebrates World Food Safety Day
The Gulf Warehousing Company, GWC, a logistics provider based in Qatar, celebrated World Food Safety Day on 7, 8 and 11 June 2023 as part of a commitment to support this global observance in all its facilities.
GWC emphasizes stringent food safety control measures and its food safety policy and objectives focus on compliance, training and competency development, communication, and a strong food safety culture to ensure customer satisfaction.
Food safety awareness sessions were organized across the company’s food warehouses as part [...]
28 June 2023
Oman celebrates World Food Safety Day in high-level event and Codex colloquium
The Sultanate of Oman celebrates World Food Safety Day “Food standards save lives” through a number of events, held from 10-14 June 2023. These events coincided with Oman’s Food Safety Week, and included holding Oman's 6th International Conference on Food Safety and Quality .
The event, which brought together specialists from Oman and around the world, focused on reviewing enablers of the food safety system. It also dealt with artificial intelligence, modern technologies, the management of food hazards and challenges in the field [...]
27 June 2023
Saudi Arabia authority conducts multimedia campaign for World Food Safety Day
In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) conducted a multimedia campaign on the occasion of World Food Safety Day. The SFDA Executive President, Professor Hisham Al-Jadhey stated in a public address: “This year's slogan, ‘Food Standards Save Lives’, confirms the importance of the safety of products throughout all stages of the food chain, starting from the production and manufacturing, up to transportation, preservation and storage, and ending with the display of these products in the markets to [...]
20 June 2023
Near East region celebrates World Food Safety Day
On Wednesday 7 June Members of the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE) gathered for a hybrid session in celebration of World Food Safety Day, titled “Food Safety: A shared responsibility”. Organized by the CCNE Regional Coordinator, Khalid Al Zhrani, the event included the participation of Dr Sarah Cahill from the Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat and Engineer Ahmed Albashah from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO).
CCNE members highlighted this year’s slogan on how food standards can save [...]
20 June 2023
Video Message
CCNE Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCNE Secretariat
Food Safety and Quality Centre of the Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources
Muscat , Sultanate of Oman
Tel: +968 22592000
Email: [email protected]