Food safety to be part of the UN Food Systems Summit, Codex executive body hears

Two FAO and WHO directors briefed the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC) yesterday on the UN Food Systems Summit, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene later in 2021 to set about bold new actions that transform the way the world produces and consumes food. Jamie Morrison, FAO Director of the Food Systems and Food Safety Division and Lead on Knowledge and Policy for the Food Systems Summit Secretariat, and Francesco Branca, WHO Director of Nutrition and Food Safety, emphasized the important role food safety and Codex standards will have in the transformation process, and can benefit food and agriculture production, human health and livelihoods.

By 2050, feeding a global population of almost 10 billion nutritiously and sustainably will require transforming how food is produced, processed, traded and consumed. FAO supports governments in building inclusive, efficient and sustainable food systems through leadership-driven, market-based action and collaboration, informed by insights and innovation and in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. Food safety is incorporated in that agenda.

CCEXEC, now in its 80th session, will conclude its 4-day meeting on 21 January 2021. Its function is to make proposals to the Codex Alimentarius Commission on general orientation, strategic planning and programming of its work. The Committee conducts a ‘critical review’ of proposals to undertake work and monitor the progress of Codex standard development.

Read more about the CCEXEC discussion of the upcoming Summit on the Codex site

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Find out more about the UN Food Systems Summit

See the FAO Food Systems site