Enhancing participation in Codex activities

Unit 2
Understanding the organization of Codex

Lesson 1
How Codex is organized

Exercises

© FAO, 2008
 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Summary
Exercise 1.........................................................................................................1

Exercise 2.........................................................................................................2

Exercise 3.........................................................................................................3

Exercise 4.........................................................................................................4

Exercise 4.........................................................................................................4

Exercise 5.........................................................................................................5

Exercise 6.........................................................................................................6

Solutions..........................................................................................................8

FAO/WHO Training materials I

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 1
How often does the Commission meet?

1. According to the decision of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

2. Every six months.
3. Once a year

Please tick the correct option

o 1
o 2
o 3

FAO/WHO Training materials 1

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 2
The four main organizational elements of the Codex Alimentarius Commission are the
(Commission, Codex Secretariat, Executive Committee and Codex Subsidiary Bodies). Each of
these bodies is made up of representatives from the Member countries of the Commission.

1. True

2. False

Please tick the correct option

o 1
o 2

FAO/WHO Training materials 2

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 3

Please combine each organizational element with the role it holds in the Codex Alimentarius
Commission.

(1)
Management of standards development.
(A) Secretariat

(2)
(B) Publication of the Codex Alimentarius. Subsidiary Bodies

(3)

(C) Adoption of Standards. Executives Committee

(4)

(D) Elaboration of standards. Commission

Please indicate for each element the correspondent role

o A, _
o B, _
o C, _
o D, _

FAO/WHO Training materials 3

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 4

Which of the following are General (horizontal) Subject Committees?

1. Codex Committee on General Principles.

2. Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products.

3. Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene.

4. Codex Committee on Food Labelling.

5. Codex Committee on Food Additives.

Please tick the correct options (two or more)

o 1
o 2
o 3
o 4
o 5

FAO/WHO Training materials 4

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 5

Please match each type of Codex subsidiary body identified below with the description which
best identifies its main characteristic.

(1)
(A) Prepare standards for specific commodities. Codex Task Force

(2)
(B) Through them groups of countries coordinate food
Codex General Subject
standards activities in the region, including the
development of regional standards. Committees

(3)
(C) Are time-limited and prepare standards and/or Codex Commodity
other texts on specific issues. Committees

(4)
(D) Establish standards and/or other texts applicable to FAO/WHO Regional
all foods.
Coordinating Committees

Please indicate for each element the correspondent role

o A, _
o B, _
o C, _
o D, _

FAO/WHO Training materials 5

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Exercise 6
Let’s consider an example of a possible case.
Country “A” is a small country on the coast of Africa which has just become a member of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Their official Codex Contact Point has been identified as the Minister of Agriculture, but the task
of actually coordinating their Codex activities has been delegated to a senior food safety official
who can only devote about 35% of his time to Codex activities.
In recent years the country has endured several food borne disease outbreaks associated with
consumption of “redroot”. This has been particularly problematic since “redroot” is not only a
staple crop for domestic consumption, but as one of the largest producers in the region it is
also proven to be of economic importance as the have commenced to export “redroot” and
related products to offshore markets, with the biggest markets being Europe and South
America.
“Redroot” can be eaten raw or cooked. These outbreaks have resulted in a decline in exports
for the past two years. This decline has been offset to some extent by an increase in the
export of smoked fish. Country “A” has slowly developed a small commercial fishery which
contributes not only to domestic food supply but also has economic benefits as specialized
smoke fish products are exported to Asia and North America.
The senior food safety official has been asked by the Codex Contact Point to identify three
Codex Committees with which Country “A” should become actively involved in, as the Minister
is in the process of preparing a budget for consideration by Cabinet and is confident that
support can be found to fund active participation in three committees.

Based upon the information about country “A’, which of the following should be the Committees
identified by the official as the ones of significance?
1. FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Europe
2. Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
3. Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
4. FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Africa
5. The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
6. Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products

Please tick the correct options (two or more)

o 1
o 2
o 3
o 4
o 5
o 6

FAO/WHO Training materials 6

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Solutions

Exercise 1

Options Correct answer Comment

1 X That is correct. The Codex Alimentarius Commission decides on the
frequency of meeting for the CAC. Meetings alternates between
the headquarter locations of FAO (Rome) and WHO (Geneva).
2 Sorry, your answer is incorrect. Try again.
3 This is not correct. The Codex Alimentarius Commission currently
meets on an annual basis, however this can be changed according
to the decision of the CAC.

Exercise 2

Options Correct answer Comment

1 The Commission, the Executive Committee and the Codex
2 X Subsidiary Bodies are all made up of Member countries. The Codex
Secretariat, however, are international civil servants employed by
FAO/WHO and are not country representatives.

Exercise 3

Correct answer Comment

A, 3 These are the functions of the four main organizational element of the
B, 1 Codex Alimentarius Commission.
C, 4
D, 2

Exercise 4

FAO/WHO Training materials 7

 ENHANCING PARTICIPATION IN CODEX ACTIVITIES
Lesson 2.1 How Codex is organized - Exercises

Correct answer Comment

1, 4, 5 These Committees indicated are General Subject Committees, while the ones
on “Fish and Fishery Products” and on “Meat Hygiene” are a Commodity
(vertical) Committees.

Exercise 5

Correct answer Comment

A, 3 These are the main functions of the four types of subsidiary bodies
B, 4 established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to undertake its work.
C, 1
D, 2

Exercise 6

Correct answer Comment

2, 4, 6 Of the three, the Regional Coordinating Committee for Africa might be
considered the most significant. One of the reasons for participating in Codex
is that it provides a forum for exchange of information. The Regional
Committee would provide country “A” with an opportunity to talk to like
countries in the region to determine if they have been experiencing similar
problems with their “redroot” crop. The Regional meetings provide
opportunities to find local solutions to local problems.

FAO/WHO Training materials 8