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Workshop in Portugal boosts agri-food interest in Codex

08/08/2018

A seminar, "Codex Alimentarius in Portugal", was held on 22 June in Lisbon for agri-food sector experts, public and private, including competent authorities and public bodies, associations of different production chains, universities and laboratories.

Issues related to Portuguese participation in the elaboration of EU positions in Codex were discussed, with the division of competences between EU Member States and the European Commission. The main issues under discussion in each of the 19 Codex Committees were also presented by the different national representatives.

The workshop was important from a regional perspective because it offered a unique platform where the main challenges, needs of the region and initiatives for the near future were discussed

said Nailya Karsybekova, Chairperson of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Europe (CCEURO), who addressed the meeting in Portugal.

Nailya Karsybekova

Nailya Karsybekova, Chairperson of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Europe

Barbara Moretti of the European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety, also a keynote speaker, said of the workshop:

The aim was to raise awareness about Codex and its implications for both the private sector and for consumers. Given the high number of participants it clearly demonstrated the interest in Codex by both the public and private sector. This type of event should be encouraged as it helps get Members to actively participate in the preparation of all the committees and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Barbara Moretti

Barbara Moretti, representing EU at the meeting

The seminar also featured speakers from the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme; Fernando Bernardo, General Director for Food and Veterinary Affairs in Portugal; Miguel Cardo, Portuguese Codex Contact Point; and all the Portuguese representatives who serve on Codex Committees.

Participants appreciated the workshop as an important incentive for the work of the Codex Alimentarius and reiterated their interest in this type of initiative to boost integrated participation in the work at national, EU and multilateral levels, explained Karsybekova. “The turnout was surprising, with a total of 126 participants, who demonstrated throughout the different working sessions a keen interest in more actively participating in Codex work,” she said.

Read more http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/committees/codex-regions/cceuro/about/en/