The FAO-implemented and Republic of Korea-funded Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT) project is being carried out in six countries, of which one is the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, the Project has made great progress in helping the national authorities improve governance of the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and has supported training to improve surveillance and monitoring of foodborne AMR. Carolina Tejerina is a protagonist in these activities, and we spoke with her to find out [...]

When implemented, Codex standards facilitate fair practices in the food trade and protect consumer health. It is therefore expedient for countries to be able to participate in the standards setting processes. However, for a range of reasons, not all countries can or do participate in Codex work. In this interview, Alfred Barrett, Plant Quarantine Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jamaica, explains how participating in the Codex procedure for setting the Standard for Yam meant the text is [...]

The Use and impact of Codex texts - Report of the Codex Survey 2023 has been published, with insights into use by Codex Members of four key Codex texts: General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192-1995) Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CXG 2 -1985) Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CXS 234-1999) Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed (CXG 90-2017) The 2023 survey has revealed that Codex texts play a critical role in informing [...]

In celebration of this year’s World Food Safety Day, Codex has published a “case study” showing how one country used Codex texts to resolve a food safety outbreak. In line with this year’s World Food Safety Day theme, “food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” the story recounts how Honduras worked with the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and food safety authorities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to identify the source of an outbreak of [...]

Goal 3 of the Codex Strategic Plan 2020–2025 calls for increased impact through the recognition and use of Codex texts, including  the development of a mechanism to monitor the use and impact of Codex standards. The Codex surveys of 2022 and 2023 form the first part of this work. To collect more qualitative data that will feed into this M&E framework, a case study approach is now being deployed. A pilot case study for this phase will take place in Brazil [...]

On 6 February 2024, a validation workshop on a study on the use of Codex Alimentarius standards in Benin took place in Cotonou, Benin. This workshop brought together members of the National Codex Alimentarius Committee, actors from the private and public sectors that use these standards, and consumer associations. The general objective of this study is to know the level of use of international Codex standards. Specifically, the aim was to identify the uses made of international Codex standards in [...]

The Codex General Standard on the Use of Dairy Terms (GSUDT) (CXS 206-1999) took center stage at the Codex-IDF co-hosted webinar, which provided a platform for engaging discussions and insights on the use and implementation of this standard. Raj Rajasekar, Vice-chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, opened the event stating that “The GSUDT is an important text providing key principles and guidelines based on the product identity, integrity, truth in labelling and also fair trade”. Melissa Cameron, Chairperson of the IDF [...]

The Codex Secretariat has extended the deadline for countries to participate in the second survey to measure the use and impact of Codex texts. The new date to complete the survey is 15 November 2023. “It is important for us to hear from our Members. We hope that the new deadline gives more time to collect the information and participate in the survey”, said Farid El Haffar, Codex Secretariat Officer in charge of the survey. This year, the survey focuses on the [...]

The first survey on the use and impact of Codex texts, launched on 20 September 2022, reports that the large majority of Codex Members, more than 80 percent, are satisfied with these international food texts. Steve Wearne, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, welcomed the publication and commented that “Monitoring the use and impact of Codex texts provides key information on how Codex is assisting Members in protecting consumer health and facilitating fair trade practices”. He also underlined that “by adhering to [...]

The Codex Secretariat launched today the second survey to measure the use and impact of Codex texts. Building on the lessons learned and the success of the 2022 survey, this year the survey focuses on the General Standard for Food Additives, Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling, Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling, and Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed.Countries are urged to complete the survey by 25 October 2023. “It [...]