48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) tackles key food safety and trade topics
The 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) was held physically at FAO Headquarters in Rome (Italy) from 10 to 14 November 2025.
The Session was opened by the Directors General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and FAO, Dr QU Dongyu, and addressed a variety of food safety topics. Some of the themes are highly relevant to the post-harvest and trade sector and have implications for producers, processors, and authorities.
Various topics were discussed under CAC48’s various Committees:
The Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) is advancing key initiatives, including the conversion of the Regional standard for laver products (Asia) into a worldwide standard. The Committee is also considering new work on other seaweed and aquatic species, reviewing marine biotoxin provisions, updating standards for fisheries and aquaculture products to ensure accuracy and alignment with recent Codex texts, and responding to queries from other Codex committees.
The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) updated the Recommended methods of analysis and sampling (CXS 234-1999). The revisions include corrections to methods for quick frozen fish products and the addition of references to Appendix VI. CCMAS also revoked certain outdated methods of analysis, while retaining the method for salt saturation in salted fish and dried salted fish of the Gadidae family of fishes and the method for sampling preparation in Appendix VI to CXS 234.
The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) discussed the need for guidance on the use of 4‑hexylresorcinol (INS 586) in quick frozen shrimps, prawns, and lobsters. The Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) will examine the issue and provide feedback to CCFA.
The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) CAC48 adopted editorial amendments to the General standard for contaminants in food and feed (CXS 193-1995) to remove outdated content from Annex X on Scientific justification for the guideline levels for radionuclides in foods contaminated following a nuclear or radiological emergency; and include MLs for marine biotoxins contained in Section 5 of the Standard for live and raw bivalve molluscs (CXS 292-2008)) to ensure CXS 193-1995 remained the single authoritative reference for the safety levels for contaminants in foods and feeds.
Lastly, a new proposal was submitted by the Regional Committee for Africa (CCAfrica) for the development of a regional standard for boiled, salted, and unsalted dried fish.
Food safety standards are a public health priority and a cornerstone of food security. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases, from diarrhea to cancer, and contributes to a cycle of disease and malnutrition that particularly affects infants, children, the elderly, and the sick. According to WHO, globally, contaminated food leads to an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illness and 420,000 deaths each year. Science-based standards are therefore essential for consumer protection, and their effective implementation must remain central.
About the CAC
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the body responsible for all matters regarding the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and WHO which are interested in international food standards.
The Commission meets in regular session once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.
The programme of work of the Commission is funded through the regular budgets of WHO and FAO with all work subject to approval of the two governing bodies of the parent organizations.
The Commission works in the six UN official languages.
© FAO/Roberto Sciotti
© FAO/Roberto Sciotti