The 29th edition of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual has been published, with updates reflecting revisions to the previous edition. This edition builds on the new format and layout unveiled in the 28th edition, reflecting ongoing efforts to ensure consistency, remove redundancies, and enhance usability. 

“Every year, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodieslook at the Codex Procedural Manual and propose amendments as necessary” – said Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary – “With this new version, which includes editorial changes and other relevant inputs from Codex Members, the Procedural Manual can continue to be a compass for the way we work”. 

The new edition follows the agreement at the 46th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to make editorial changes including: insertion of a reference to the General standard for the labelling of non-retail containers of foods (CXS 346-2021) under Section 2; removal of the membership list of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to the Codex website with a link to the list provided in the Procedural Manual, thereby ensuring that the list can be updated without the need to issue new editions of the Procedural Manual; and editorial changes in sections 2, 3 and 7. 

This English version will shortly be followed by French and Spanish, and it is hoped by early of 2025 Arabic, Chinese and Russian. 

Did you know? 

The first edition of the Procedural Manual was published in July 1968, following agreement at CAC2 in 1964 that the “Rules of Procedure, and the Procedure for the elaboration of world-wide and regional standards ... should for the convenience of Members be available in a single document or handbook which should be revised and re-issued whenever necessary.” 

Read more 

Download the 29th edition of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual 

Annex I of CAC46 (CX/CAC 23/46/2)