SPS and Codex Workshop
June 22-23, 2010
Bahamas
Overview of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission
Overview of the Presentation
 Introduction
 What is Codex ?
 Why be involved in Codex ?
 How does Codex do its work ?
 Codex and WTO
 National Codex Committee
INTRODUCTION
Consumer Expectations
 A safe, nutritious, high quality, abundant,
affordable, and varied food supply.
 Governments operate effective food
control systems.
 Imported foods are produced to
acceptable food standards comparable to
domestic products.
JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAM
 FAO and WHO collaborated to establish a
joint food standards program
 The program consists of three independent
but complementary elements:
o A standards setting body (Codex
Alimentarius Commission)
o Scientific Advice
o Capacity building/technical assistance
WHAT IS CODEX?
What is Codex?
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex):
 Is an intergovernmental body
 Currently consists of 183 members (Sept. 2009)
 Members vs. Observers
 Commission meets annually at the present time
 Meetings alternate between Rome and Geneva
 Permanent Secretariat based in Rome
 The Codex Alimentarius
What Does Codex Do?

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is
mandated to develop international food
standards to:
 Protect the health of consumers
 Ensure fair practices in the food trade

Coordinate all food standards work at the
international level.
WHY BE INVOLVED IN CODEX?
Growth in World Food Trade
 Growth in world food trade has created
economic opportunities, particularly
developing countries.
 Global movement of foods – increased
potential for transmission of contaminants.
 International standards needed to protect
the health of the consumer and to ensure
fair practices.
Using Codex Alimentarius Texts
 Use of Codex standards and related
texts;
 Basis for building sound national food
control system;
 GOC’s policy regarding use of
international standards.
Forum for Exchange of Information
• Opportunities to exchange information/ share
views/ appreciate challenges faced by
developing countries.
• Opportunities to keep apprised of
technological and regulatory/policy
developments.
• Opportunities to influence development of
standards.
HOW DOES CODEX DO ITS
WORK ?
How Does Codex Do?
 Codex develops its standards, guidelines and
recommendations through the use of subsidiary
bodies;
 Codex has 4 types of subsidiary bodies, each hosted
by a member country, established to carry out its
work:
1- General subject or “Horizontal” Committees such as:
► Codex Committee on Food Labelling [CCFL] or
► Codex Committee on Food Hygiene [CCFH]
How Does Codex Do?
2- Commodity specific or “Vertical” Committees such as
► Codex Committee on Fats and Oils [CCFO] or
► Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products
[CCFFP]
3- Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces
4- FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees.
(Canada is a member of the Regional Coordinating
Committee for North America and the South-West
Pacific.)
Appendix I:
Structure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Codex Alimentarius
Commission
Executive
Commitee
Codex Secretariat
General Subject
Committees
Commodity
Comittees
Food Additives
(China)
Fish and Fishery
Products
(Norway)
Food Hygiene
(USA)
Processed Fruit and
Vegetables
(USA)
Food Labelling
(Canada)
Fats and Oils
(Malaysia)
Ad hoc Task Forces
Regional
Coordinating
Committees
Antimicrobial
Resistance
(Republic of Korea)
Africa
(Ghana)
Asia
(Indonesia)
Europe
(Poland)
General Principles
(France)
Fresh Fruit and
Vegetables
(Mexico)
Methods of Analysis
and Sampling
(Hungary)
Milk and Milk
Products
(New Zealand)
Adjourned
Nutrition and Foods
for Special Dietary
Uses
(Germany)
Meat Hygiene
(New Zealand)
Adjourned
Pesticides Residues
(China)
Cocoa Products and
Chocolates
(Switzerland)
Adjourned
Food Import and Export
Inspection and
Certification Systems
(Australia)
Sugars
(United Kingdom)
Adjourned
Contaminants in
Food
(Netherlands)
Cereals, Pules and
Legumes
(USA)
Adjourned
Residues of
Veterinary Drugs in
Food
(USA)
Vegetable Proteins
(Canada)
Adjourned
Latin America and
the Caribbean
(Mexico)
Near East
(Tunisia)
North America and
the Southwest Pacific
(Tonga)
CODEX STEP PROCESS
STEP 1
STEP 2
Commission approves new
work based on Project
Document and the
recommendations of the
Executive Committee.
A proposed draft version of the
text is prepared – Working
Group, Secretariat, Member, etc.
CODEX STEP PROCESS
STEP 3
STEP 4
The proposed draft text is
circulated by the Codex
Secretariat to Codex members
and observers for comment.
The proposed Draft text and any
comments received are considered
by the Committee.
CODEX STEP PROCESS
STEP 5
STEP 6
The proposed draft text is adopted
by the Commission as a draft text.
The Draft text is circulated by the Codex
Secretariat to Codex members and
observers for comment on text in square
brackets.
CODEX STEP PROCESS
STEP 7
STEP 8
The Committee considers the draft text
and comments submitted. Normally
limited to text in square brackets.
The Draft text, with any amendments, is
forwarded to the Commission for final
adoption as a Codex text.
Codex and WTO
Codex and the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Codex standards are reference “benchmark”
under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Agreement (SPS Agreement).
• Obligation of WTO members to participate “within
the limits of their resources” in the relevant
international standard setting organizations, in
particular:
 Codex
 The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
 The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
National Codex Committee
National Codex Committee
 To facilitate the consultation process and to ease some of
the workload of the Codex Contact Point, many countries
have established a National Codex Committee or equivalent
structure.
 There are no specific guidelines for these national
organizations as they are usually established to facilitate the
conduct of a country’s Codex activities and hence tend to
reflect national requirements.
 In this respect, the composition and organization of a
National Codex Committee will vary.
 Ideally, all government departments and organizations
concerned with food safety, food production and trade in food
should be included.
Composition of the National Codex Committee
The following types of stakeholders are often
represented on National Codex Committees or their
equivalent:








Relevant government departments/ministries
Consumer organizations
Industry – food manufacturers
Industry – food producers
Food importers and/or exporters
Academia
Leading research institutions
Notable national experts
Appointment to a National Codex Committee
• When selecting a representative to serve on a National
Codex Committee, the following criteria could be used:
> Track
record on food issues relevant in Codex
Alimentarius;
>
Reasonable prospects of continuous participation;
>
Expertise;
>
>
Availability to attend meetings and comment on
Codex, and
Documents.
Functions of a National Codex Committee
(or equivalent) include:
 Formulating the country response to the
proposals of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
– i.e. agenda items under consideration by the
various Codex committees. This may include
coordinating consultation activities, depending
on the practice in a particular country;
 Nominating delegates;
 Advising government on best decisions
regarding Codex standards and implementation;
 Appointing technical subcommittees
Functions of a National Codex Committee
(or equivalent) include (contd.):
 Circulation of draft positions to the National Codex
Committee or equivalent structure for review, and
revision as necessary, through full consultation.
 Endorsement as official national position by
government or by National Codex Committee.
 Where appropriate, the Codex Contact Point
submits the endorsed position(s) to Rome and the
host country secretariat. The positions may also be
shared with other countries if requested by the
head delegate.