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Codex technical committees ready to meet the challenge of 2021 online

28/01/2021

This year is going to be a big challenge for the Codex system as the technical committees that were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic prepare to operate for the first time virtually. Experiences with the smaller Executive Committee and the success of the 43rd Commission have shown that both small and large groups can be brought together on line, but how easy will it be, operating virtually, to iron out more complex, technical differences on pesticides, contaminants or matters of nutrition, and reach consensus in order to make progress on the standards Codex is currently working on?

First up in 2021 is the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) which starts on 8 February. To prepare participants for the sessions and to give the hosts France an opportunity to get used to operating virtually, the traditional “first time delegates” session, which usually takes place on the first morning of the plenary, was held via webinar on Wednesday 27 January 2021;  a dry run before the main event.

Chairperson of the Committee Jena-Luc Angot, France, said: “We're going to try to make this committee as friendly and as interactive as possible, because that's really what marks the work of Codex”. One way to prepare for this work, that is at the same time strategic yet technical, is to be “familiar with the rules of procedure in Codex”, Angot told almost 200 participants.

Top tip for participation in CCGP

Liaising with experienced delegates at national level and then looking back at previous reports from CCGP and related committees also provides the history and background to understanding how issues arise and decisions are made in the committee.

 

Read more

CCGP32 meeting documents available online

Download the Codex Procedural Manual

Watch entire webinar