The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the resolution submitted by Costa Rica to declare June 7 World Food Safety Day (WFSD). For the Day to officially proclaimed the resolution must be passed by the United nations General Assembly, a which is expected to take place 20 December 2018.

The former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Switzerland, put forward the original proposal for the declaration of a WFSD at the FERG Symposium in Amsterdam on 15th December 2015, and has continued advocating for a WFSD. “It is thanks to the outstanding leadership by Costa Rica and the excellent collective effort that we are on our way to achieving this historic result”, she said.

Guilherme Antonio da Costa Junior, Brazil, current Chairperson of the Commission thanked the efforts of all those involved, Member Countries, Observers, Parent Organizations, the Codex Secretariat, especially for the efforts developed by Costa Rica for this paramount result.

The proposal was initiated by Costa Rica with the following co-sponsors:

Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

During the session of the Second Committee, the following countries were also announced as co-sponsors:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bhutan, Chile, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Ghana Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Republic of Moldova, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro, Myanmar, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sao Tome e Principe, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Turkey, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia.

Read more on the UNGA website