Would you like to know more about how to strengthen the food safety system in your country? The growing population worldwide, the increase in food demand, the consequent growth of the food industry, added to global health risks, demonstrate the importance of incorporating food safety into national policies and strengthening the food safety systems. Foodborne diseases generate great impacts on the health of the population.   The Phyto and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency of Ecuador (AGROCALIDAD), as the base of the FAO/WHO Coordinating [...]

Burundi, a Member of Codex since 1963, needs to have an operational National Codex Alimentarius Committee and has begun to sensitize decision-makers on the importance of Codex standards. The committee will help to enforce food standards and Burundi’s participation in fair competition in international trade. This emerged from the joint FAO/Burundi Bureau of Standardization two-day workshop on Codex, which took place in Bujumbura from 24 to 25 August 2022 and was followed by a National Technical working group of Codex [...]

The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa opened virtually from Kampala, Uganda on Monday 5 September 2022. In opening remarks, Hon. Ms. Harriet Ntabazi, State Minister for Trade, Uganda, called for harmonization of food safety standards across the continent. “If we merge as Africa and talk one language, if we concretize our standards together then the level of competitiveness as a continent will grow … in other markets.” Hon. Mrs. Margaret Muhanga Mugisha, State Minister for Primary Health Care, welcomed nearly 200 [...]

In celebration of World Food Safety Day – 7 June 2022, the FAO office in Tajikistan led a scientific conference on the theme "Safer food, better health" with the participation of the national Committee on Food Safety (CFS), Association of Veterinaries of Tajikistan (TVA), scientific institutions, World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders. Issues related to food safety, prevention of zoonoses, AMR were discussed during the conference. The organizers recognize, in particular, Dr Eran for support. The conference was attended [...]

by the Regional Coordinator of CCLAC   The Codex Coordinating Committee for Latin America and Caribbean (CCLAC) has concluded its "Regional Workshop for the popularization of Codex Alimentarius work in CCLAC countries 2020-2022". The purpose of the workshop was for the different countries of the region, to share experiences and activities related to Codex work, such as meetings attended, events held and the different areas of interest in which they are working. Similarly, the workshop extended messages about the importance of countries’ participation [...]

On 5 August 2022 the President of Liberia George Weah signed into law a series of bills. The official Facebook page of the Liberia Presidency and government websites describe the measures as a spur to national inclusiveness and to fight corruption. Amongst the bills signed is “an Act to Establish the Liberia Standards Authority.”  Stephen Mambu, Codex Contact Point for Liberia said, “Liberia now has a national standardization body known as the Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA). As part of this legislation, [...]

The National Codex Committee of Nigeria, in collaboration with FAO Nigeria, under the sponsorship of the Codex Trust Fund, held a two-day regional workshop from 26to 27July 2022 in Lagos, Nigeria to create awareness on the importance of using Codex Standards for farmers, processors, small and medium enterprises, and to train local journalists on the reporting of Codex activities. With more than 65 participants in attendance, the general objective of the workshop was to spread information and awareness on Codex Alimentarius [...]

The Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025 incorporated a new goal on recognition and use of Codex texts. Key to achieving this goal and monitoring progress is data on the use and impact of Codex texts. To collect such data the Codex Secretariat will launch a survey to all Members in September 2022. Previously, data on the use of Codex Standards has been collected by the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees. Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt recalls that “we have learned a lot from these efforts, [...]

by the Codex Contact Point of Liberia   The fourth meeting of the National Codex Committee (NCC) of Liberia was held on the 25 July 2022 at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). The NCC meeting, which is held quarterly, brings together key national actors from both the private and public sector to discuss and take action on Codex work and food safety. The meeting opened with several statements from stakeholders. In his opening remarks Walter Sayor, President of the National [...]

The World Health Organization (WHO) supported Timor-Leste in their application to the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund Project. The application was approved in 2021 and a Codex orientation workshop was planned as part of the project. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO facilitated this workshop in Baucau city from 13-15 July. Since language is an issue, presentations were translated into Tetun in advance. The workshop was addressed by Odete da Silva Viegas, Director General for Health [...]