By Anne Beutling, CCUERO Coordinator At the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), held in Berlin from 14 to 17 January 2026 at the beginning of Green Week, agriculture ministers from 59 countries adopted a joint communiqué highlighting the need to improve water efficiency in agriculture while fully safeguarding food safety and public health. Alongside, high-level representatives from 13 International Organisations, including FAO and WTO, took part in the Agriculture Ministers’ Conference. In this context, ministers explicitly encouraged the use of [...]

As the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) returns to its traditional July meeting cycle, Codex Secretary Sarah Cahill outlines the roadmap for 2026 and beyond. In this recent interview, she details how the Codex Secretariat is working to stabilize the global meeting schedule, leveraging digital transformation, and assisting Members and Observers in developing international food standards.  From AI-assisted drafting to digital traceability, the Codex Secretary describes the need to balance cutting-edge technology with the human consensus required to protect consumers over the next five years. The goal remains clear: to deliver standards that are both scientifically robust and practically implementable for regulators and businesses worldwide, [...]

At the conclusion of 2025, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Allan Azegele (Kenya), sat down with the Codex Secretariat to review the outcomes of the 48th Session of the Commission, providing his observations and hopes regarding the future of Codex. Allan, thanks for your time. Having just chaired your first Commission meeting, what are your initial reflections on the experience? Chairing my first Codex meeting has been both an honour and a profound responsibility. Guiding discussions that impact food safety [...]

The FAO project “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT)” contributed to the 6th edition of the AMR international course “A One Health Challenge”, held 10-14 November, 2025 in Veyrier-du-Lac, France. The course was jointly organized by the Mérieux Foundation and Université de Paris and supports the implementation of the Global Action Plan (GAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by translating its five strategic objectives into practical, action-oriented approaches. Designed as an intensive residential training program, the course brought together [...]

The 55th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH55) concluded in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, marking another important milestone in the development of international food safety standards. After years of science-based discussion and international collaboration, delegates concluded work on the Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing, with the new annexes providing, inter alia, a critical framework for assessing water "fit-for-purpose", particularly in the fish and fishery sectors, where water safety [...]

Codex delegates have gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, to discuss and further develop global food hygiene standards. Opening the 55th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH55) on Monday, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering described the committee's work as the "anchor" upon which farmers and families rely. In her opening address, Bekkering drew a personal connection between the technical negotiations in Nashville and the realities of rural agriculture. Recounting [...]

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) was celebrated 18–24 November 2025, bringing renewed attention to the urgent global challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This year’s theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”, underscored how AMR is already affecting human, animal and environmental health, and how coordinated, immediate action is essential to preserve the effectiveness of life-saving antimicrobial treatments. AMR is no longer an emerging threat, but a reality. A recent WHO analysis shows that between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic [...]

Cambodia is stepping up efforts to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock production by improving the skills of its feed inspectors. From 3–5 December 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Action to Support the Implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) on good animal nutrition, feed quality, and feed safety in Phnom Penh. The three-day programme brought together 46 [...]

For the 7th time, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), will host the International Training for Safer Food (ITS Food). ITS Food is a training series on food safety risk management, designed by BVL for staff members of government agencies and public institutions responsible for food safety and public health in non-EU countries. The upcoming ITS Food will be conducted online, focussing on “Managing Risks through Official Controls”. Various topics around official controls will be addressed – [...]

The 55th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) will close the cycle of Codex meetings for 2025. As delegates prepare to meet in Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America, we sat down with Chairperson Evelyne Mbandi to discuss the Committee's achievements, the texts under revision, and how CCFH contributes to the aims of the Commission. Evelyne, thanks for your time. CCFH is responsible for developing texts that have a direct impact on consumer health and food trade. As [...]