On the sidelines of the 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), hosted a high-level side event titled "From Code to Codex: AI’s Role in Shaping the Future of Food Safety." Held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, the session brought together Codex leaders and international experts to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping global food safety systems, from inspection and regulatory control to traceability, risk [...]

The Codex Trust Fund (CTF) is facing challenges that may mean it will have to be restructured, changed, re-thought. But this should not detract from the incredible impacts that it has been and still is responsible for. In line with the aims of the project to help countries build Codex capacities and structures and participate more effectively in Codex standards development, CTF projects have brought countries together, fostered confidence among national stakeholders, helped to enhance awareness, and promoted policy action. [...]

An event titled “Bridging the gap between the parliamentary community and Codex” was held in the margins of the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting Tuesday and brought together key Codex and FAO actors, and representatives from African parliamentary networks. The event was held in a collaboration between Codex and the FAO partnerships and UN collaboration division and aimed to bring to the attention of parliamentarians the crucial role that effective participation in Codex can play in the health of consumers and [...]

The 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has opened at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. Over the week of 10–14 November, delegates will deliberate on the work that has been forwarded to CAC by the Codex subsidiary bodies, which include consideration of hundreds of Codex texts, the issues that have been brought to the attention of the Commission, and the monitoring framework for the upcoming Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031. The meeting was opened by the Directors-General of the Codex [...]

The annual CODEX magazine has launched just ahead of the 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which will take place in Rome 10–14 November. Taking the theme that has been adopted also for CAC48, the magazine is titled “Together”, and touches on some of the ways in which the development and adoption of Codex texts depend on and benefit from a collective approach by Members. The magazine is comprised of articles written from diverse perspectives, including those of some [...]

The 89th Session of the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) has concluded at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy with adoption of the report after “a good and productive session,” according to Allan Azegele, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Azegele commended the delegates for their “extreme commitment to Codex”. He said: “It’s not easy for the work to get where it does without your commitment.,” and referring to next week’s Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting, he continued: “We should be ready to engage [...]

By the CCNE Coordinator and IUFoST As part of the preparations for the 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48), the Coordinator for the Near East (the Sultanate of Oman) convened a stakeholder engagement session held virtually on 27 October 2025, in conjunction with the 43rd regional coordination meeting of the Arab Codex Initiative. The consultation emphasized the importance of inclusive participation—bringing together regulators, industry representatives, and regional organizations—to ensure well-informed and cohesive regional positions in Codex deliberations. Participants exchanged views [...]

The 89th Session of the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) has commenced at FAO headquarters in Rome, ahead of the 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which will be held in the week 10–14 November. The meeting heard opening remarks from FAO Deputy Director-General, Godfrey Magwenzi, who highlighted the celebrations that have recently taken place to mark FAO’s 80th anniversary which included the launch of FAO’s Museum and Network. These milestones, he said, “celebrate not only what we have achieved, [...]

Building on the positive momentum following the 23rd Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA23), the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP) under the regional project Enhancing Capacity in Codex for Effective Participation and Contribution of Selected Countries in Asia (GCP/RAS/278/JPN), in collaboration with the Codex Secretariat, virtually organized a Regional Workshop on the Codex Online Commenting System (OCS) on 22 October 2025. The workshop brought together over 40 participants from 15 countries across Asia, including [...]

by CCNE Coordinator and IUFoST The 41st and 42nd meetings of Codex Contact Points (CCPs) from CCNE member countries were held virtually on 9 and 16 October 2025, chaired by Dr. Intisar Al-Gharibi, CCNE Coordinator from the Sultanate of Oman, under the umbrella of the Arab Codex Initiative implemented by the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO) — a Codex Observer — and the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), the disciplinary group of IUFoST. The 41st meeting focused on [...]