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Codex Alimentarius

Submitted to: Sir Talha Sajid

Submitted by: Amber Arshad
Subject: Food Quality Management (FST-404)
Programme: B.Sc. (hons) Food Science & Technology (8th Semester)

Institute of Food Science & Nutrition

University of Sargodha

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CONTENTS

World Organizations for Food Governance...........................................................................................3

The Codex Alimentarius.........................................................................................................................3
Goals of Codex Alimentarius Commission.............................................................................................3
Structure................................................................................................................................................4
The Executive Committee:.................................................................................................................4
The Secretariat:.................................................................................................................................5
The Subsidiary Bodies:.......................................................................................................................5
Codex General Subject Committee........................................................................................................5
Codex Alimentarius Commission and Member Countries.....................................................................6
Management of Codex Activities at National Level...............................................................................6
Procedural Manual................................................................................................................................6
Standards...............................................................................................................................................6
Codes.....................................................................................................................................................6
Legal Enforcement.................................................................................................................................6
General standards and codes................................................................................................................6
Specific Standards regardings................................................................................................................7
Nature of Codex Standards....................................................................................................................7
Revision of Codex Standards.................................................................................................................7

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World Organizations for Food Governance

At the global level, several organizations such as the united nations (UN), food and
agricultural organization (FAO), world health organization (WHO), the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (CAC) and the world trade organization (WTO) play a role in food governance
through formulating and enforcing rules regarding production, manufacturing, trade and
distribution. These rules are based on a variety of motives such as protecting human rights,
promoting health, ensuring food safety, promoting fair or free trade, dealing with incidents
and promoting economic development.
UN ‒ The main tasks of the UN are to ensure international peace, security and respect for
human rights.
FAO ‒ The FAO’s objective is to eradicate hunger and to make high quality food accessible
to all. It aims to improve nutrition, raise agricultural production and contribute to the world
economy.
WHO ‒ To monitor global health trends, coordinate health care activities and promote
health of the world’s population.
WTO ‒ It is a platform for negotiations on world trade. Regarding trade, it helps in resolving
conflicts between different countries and territories.
There are three major domains under WTO:
Trade in goods (most important domain)
Trade in services
Trade in intellectual property rights

The Codex Alimentarius

In 1961, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) was established by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Codex
Alimentarius refers to "A collection of internationally recognized standards, guidelines, codes
of practice and recommendations related to foods, food production and food safety under the
aim of consumer protection".

Goals of Codex Alimentarius Commission

Major goals:
 To protect the health of consumers.
 To ensure fair practices in the international food trade.

Regarding food safety and consumer protection, it is recognized by the WTO as an

international reference point for the resolution of disputes.

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Structure
The Codex Alimentarius Commission consists of the following main organizational elements:
 Commission
 Executive Committee
 Codex Secretariat
 Codex subsidiary bodies

With the exception of the Codex Secretariat, all these elements are made up of Codex
Members (i.e. national delegations and representatives of “observers”) endeavouring to
reflect stakeholder views as appropriate.
The Commission:
The decision-making body of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Consists of member governments, as well as a number of international government (IGOs)
and nongovernment organizations (INGOs) which have official observer status with the
Commission.
Presently meets annually, with meetings alternating between Rome (FAO Headquarters) and
Geneva (WHO Headquarters).

The Executive Committee:

Executive Committee is established by CAC - CCEXEC acts as the executive organ of CAC.
Responsible for managing the standards development process, developing the draft strategic
plan, reviewing applications for observer status and making other recommendations about the
general direction of the Commission’s work.
The Commission elects executive officers for a period starting at the end of the session in
which elected until the end of the following regular session.
Elected officials include a chairperson and three vice-chairpersons elected among the
delegates of the Members of the Commission. (These officers are chairperson and vice-
chairpersons of the CAC & CCEXEC).
The CCEXEC meets between Commission sessions.
The Executive Committee is geographically balanced one-member country elected from each
geographic region:
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Near East
North America
The Southwest Pacific

The Regional Coordinators of the six regions

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Chair is same as of CAC

The total membership of the CCEXEC is 17

The Secretariat:

The Codex Secretariat assists the CAC in the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food
Standards Programme
Reports to the Director-Generals of FAO and WHO
The Codex Secretariat is located at FAO headquarters in Rome.

The Subsidiary Bodies:

Under its Rules of Procedure, CAC is empowered to establish four kinds of subsidiary
bodies:
 General Subject Committees (sometimes referred to as horizontal), which establish
standards and guidelines applicable to all foods.
 Commodity Committees (sometimes known as vertical), which prepare standards for
specific commodities.
 FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees, through which regions or groups of countries
coordinate food standards activities in the region, including the development of
regional standards.
 Inter governmental Task Forces, which are time-limited and prepare standards and
guidelines on specific issues.

Codex General Subject Committee

General Principles - France
Food Additives - China
Contaminants in food - Netherlands
Food Hygiene - USA
Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems - Australia
Methods of Analysis & Sampling - Hungary
Pesticide Residues - China
Residue of Veterinary Drugs in Foods - USA
Food Labelling - Canada
Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses – Germany

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Codex Alimentarius Commission and Member Countries

Most of Members use some of Codex Standards/ texts as the basis of their legislation/
regulations/guidelines etc.
Because Internationally recognized- Based on sound science

Management of Codex Activities at National Level

 Strengthening National Codex capacity through improving familiarity and
understanding of Codex structures and processes - establishment and strengthening of
NCCP, NCC, Codex Country Manual/ working procedures, websites
 Providing practical guidance on how to participate in Codex committees
 Support networking and collaboration at the national level bringing together all
interested parties-National Codex Committee.

Procedural Manual
The ‘constitution’ of the Codex Alimentarius is the Procedural Manual. The Procedural
Manual not only specifies the procedures and format for setting Codex standards and
guidelines but also presents some general scientific principles and definitions.

Standards
Food standards are established through an elaborate procedure of international negotiations.
They address all principal foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw. It includes
general standards, like the General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packed Foods.

Codes
In addition to formally accepted standards, the Codex includes recommended provisions
called codes of practice or guidelines. These include, for example, a Code of Ethics for
International Trade in Food and a set of hygiene codes like the Recommended International
Code of Practice - General Principles of Food Hygiene and the Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP) system and guidelines for its application.

Legal Enforcement
The Codex standards are not legally binding norms and are of voluntary nature. Member
states undertake to transform the Codex standards into national legislation.

General standards and codes

Food labelling
General standard including guidelines on nutrition labelling, guidelines on labelling claims.

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Food additives:
General standard including authorized uses, specifications for food grade chemicals.
Contaminants in foods:
Tolerance for specific contaminants including radionuclides (to kill parasites, to control
ripening of stored fruits and vegetables), aflatoxins (toxins from fungus) etc.
Pesticides:
Pesticides and veterinary chemical residues in foods (maximum residual limits).
Risk assessment:
Procedure for determining the safety of foods derived from biotechnology (DNA-modified
plants, DNA-modified micro-organisms)
Food hygiene:
Codes of hygienic practice in specific industries or food handling establishments, guidelines
for the use of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system)

Specific Standards regardings

 Meat products (fresh, frozen, processed meats and poultry)
 Fish and fishery products (marine, fresh water and aquaculture)
 Milk and milk products
 Foods for special dietary uses (including infant formula and baby foods)
 Fresh and processed vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices
 Cereals and dried legumes
 Fats, oils and derived products such as margarine
 Miscellaneous food products (chocolate, sugar, honey, mineral water)

Nature of Codex Standards

Codex standards and related texts are not a substitute for, or alternative to national legislation.
Every country’s laws and administrative procedures contain provisions with which it is
essential to comply.

Codex standards and related texts contain requirements for food aimed at ensuring for the
consumer a safe, wholesome food product free from adulteration, correctly labelled and
presented. A Codex standard for any food or foods should be drawn up in accordance with
the Format for Codex Commodity Standards and contain, as appropriate, the sections listed
therein.

Revision of Codex Standards

The Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies are committed to revision as
necessary of Codex standards and related texts to ensure that they are consistent with and
reflect current scientific knowledge and other relevant information.

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When required, a standard or related text shall be revised or removed in accordance with the
Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts.

Each member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is responsible for identifying, and
presenting to the appropriate committee, any new scientific and other relevant information
which may warrant revision of any existing Codex standards or related texts.

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