The 11th session of the newly re-activated Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes has got underway by correspondence in order to start work on a group standard for whole millet grains. The new work was agreed in November 2024, at the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC47), following a proposal from India. CAC47 agreed that millets are an essential source of nutrition, are widely traded and consumed in some regions, and are an important food for infants and [...]

By Hakim B. Mufumbiro, Regional Coordinator, FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa Food Safety Experts drawn from 23 African countries (Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe) completed an intensive 5-day training session on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) for animal disposition studies that was held in Rabat, Morocco ,31 March to 4 April 2025. The main purpose of the training was to [...]

On 7 April 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) launches its "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures" campaign for World Health Day, spotlighting maternal and newborn health, with a sharp focus on nutrition. This year’s initiative urges governments, health communities, and stakeholders to intensify efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths while prioritizing women’s long-term well-being. The campaign aligns with global health goals, emphasizing the critical role of nutrition in early life—a focus shared by Codex. Healthy beginnings rely on access to safe, [...]

In the world of international food standards, a key committee is preparing for a significant task: establishing a group standard for whole millet grains. Ken Lowery, United States of America, a long-serving delegates within the Codex Alimentarius Commission, steps into the chair's role for CCCPL11, bringing nearly two decades of experience to the table. As the committee shifts to working through correspondence, we interviewed Ken to learn more about the challenges and opportunities of this new working method, the agenda of [...]

By Milagrosa Mondlane, Secretary, National Codex Committee, Eswatini Standards Authority The Eswatini National Codex Committee (NCC) convened a national meeting on Friday 21 March 2025 at the Eswatini Standards Authority to review and plan strategic activities for the 2025/26 period. This critical session aimed to strengthen Eswatini’s engagement with the international Codex Alimentarius framework and ensure that national food safety and quality standards align with global best practices. The discussions focused on reviewing past performance, identifying challenges, and setting priorities for the [...]

On 27 February 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially launched the JECFA Toolbox for Veterinary Drug Residues Risk Assessment. FAO hosted a launch event on Zoom, attracting over 150 attendees from 50 countries (see the summary report for more details).   The JECFA Toolbox for Veterinary Drug Residues Risk Assessment describes the process used by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) when assessing the risks of veterinary drug residues in animal-derived food products consumed by humans. The key output of [...]

On 27 March 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted an in-house training session on the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and its relevance to food safety, for approximately 50 of its technical officials. Dr Alka Rao, Advisor, Science and Standards and Regulations, who serves as both the SPS Enquiry Point of India for food safety and the Codex Contact Point for India, underscored the significance of the WTO SPS Agreement [...]

The World Food Safety Day teams at FAO and WHO are organizing a webinar for 7 April, where they will outline the theme for this year’s World Food Safety Day celebrations and showcase the materials that have been made available for event organizers this year. Taking part will be FAO’s Director, Division of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety, Corinna Hawkes, who will explain the thinking behind this year’s theme, “Food safety: science in action”. FAO’s Markus Lipp and WHO’s Moez Sanaa [...]

The 55th session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) has concluded in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with the adoption of the report and an acknowledgement of the spirit of compromise and collaboration that underscored fruitful discussions. Concluding this first co-hosted session of the food additives committee, co-Chairperson, Professor Hae-Jung Yoon of the Republic of Korea said: “As we conclude this session, I’d like to extend my appreciation to everyone for their dedication, expertise and constructive discussions. Your commitment to [...]

The 55th session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) has opened in Seoul, Republic of Korea, where the week-long meeting will be co-hosted by China and the Republic of Korea, 24–28 March. The Committee’s Chairperson, Dr Fan Yongxian, noted, in welcoming guests and delegates, that there were more than 250 people from more than 55 countries and 28 observer organizations attending the meeting. He noted, too, that this session is “pretty special for Codex because it is the first [...]