The Codex Alimentarius Commission will meet for the 47th time next week, 24–30 November. With some highly anticipated new texts for adoption, the week will also see the election of a new chairperson and three new vice-chairpersons of the Commission, as the tenure of Steve Wearne, the current Chairperson and Allan Azegele, Raj Rajasekar and Diego Varela, the three current vice-chairpersons, comes to an end.

The landmark texts up for adoption include work on guidelines for food hygiene control measures in traditional markets for food and a code of practice for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning. Both texts have been elaborated in very quick time and respond to specific and urgent needs of Members.

“I am writing this in Geneva, as I prepare for CAC47, where I hope to meet and talk to as many of you as I can”, said Steve Wearne who went on to remind CAC Members of the task ahead “I know people are eagerly anticipating the election of a new chairperson and vice-chairpersons of CAC. But there is also much work to do, including the consideration and adoption of standards proposed by the committees who have met over the past year. We have positively concluded my last CCEXEC as Chairperson of the committee hoping to have drawn the attention to some useful advice all Codex Members can use when analysing items under discussion next week. With your support and engagement, Codex will continue to go from strength to strength”.

CCEXEC87 Members celebrate report adoption

“I am really pleased with the productive albeit intense week of CCEXEC87, which provides a good basis for some of our discussion at CAC47, as well as setting a path for how we might address current and emerging challenges also in the context of the next Strategic Plan”, said Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary. The Codex Secretary continued by thanking Steve Wearne for his excellent leadership during CCEXEC87, and looking forward to CAC47 invited Codex Members and Observers to bring a “spirit of collaboration and a progressive mindset” to the meeting.

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CAC47 webpage

Photo credits © WHO / Pierre Albouy