FAO, WHO and Codex continuing to fulfil leadership in food safety and public health

Jan 13, 2021, 22:20 PM by System

Parent bodies applaud innovation in Codex, maintaining focus and momentum during the pandemic

As the 80th session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission opened online on 13 January 2021, Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of FAO, complimented Codex on its ability to quickly adapt to new efficient and effective virtual ways of working. During the pandemic, Codex standards have provided clear, immediate and effective solutions to protect supply chains and consumers and “together we have a chance to change and transform food systems to be more resilient and sustainable,” she said.

Executive Committee a trailblazer in implementing new technologies.

With reference to the UN Food Systems Summit taking place later this year, Semedo told the Executive Committee that “normative work, including Codex work, will form an important base for all the work that FAO will do. More visible than ever before.”

Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General of WHO thanked the committee for advancing Codex work under difficult conditions. “The pandemic has tested and challenged us as never before, and has highlighted the need for resilient, fair and sustainable food systems to ensure the availability and affordability of safe and nutritious food for all.”

In 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted a new food safety resolution, ‘Strengthening efforts on food safety’ which underlines the commitment from Member States to strengthen national food safety systems and lower the burden of foodborne disease. “It also calls for further expanding WHO’s collaboration with FAO in food safety for coming years, including through Codex,” she said.

Guilherme Da Costa, Brazil, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission said: “Codex has the strength to achieve better and fairer food trade globally”. Science-based standards provide transparency for market access, inclusiveness, and economic development. Equitable commercial relations contribute to the aim of eradicating poverty and hunger, fostering more productive employment and job creation. “Striving to ensure that no one is left behind in the drive to reach the 2030 sustainable development goals is one of our responsibilities,” he said.

The Executive Committee runs over two weeks as a virtual meeting and will discuss operational strategy during COVID-19 and issues related to the role of science. The session ends on 21 January.

 

Read more

CCEXEC80, working documents

Main photo
Left to right: Naoko Yamamoto (WHO); Maria Helena Semedo (FAO)

 

 

At the heart of the Codex mandate are the core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Governmental and non-governmental, public and private organizations alike play a vital role in ensuring Codex texts are of the highest quality and based on sound science.

Codex would have little authority in the field of international standard setting if it did not welcome and acknowledge the valuable contributions made by observers. Expert technical bodies, industry and consumer associations contribute to the standard-setting process in a spirit of openness, collaboration and transparency.

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can apply for observer status in Codex in order to attend and put forward their views at every stage of the standard-setting process.

Current Codex Alimentarius Commission

240
Codex Observers
60
IGOs
164
NGOs
16
UN

FAO, WHO and Codex continuing to fulfil leadership in food safety and public health

Jan 13, 2021, 22:20 PM by System

Parent bodies applaud innovation in Codex, maintaining focus and momentum during the pandemic

As the 80th session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission opened online on 13 January 2021, Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of FAO, complimented Codex on its ability to quickly adapt to new efficient and effective virtual ways of working. During the pandemic, Codex standards have provided clear, immediate and effective solutions to protect supply chains and consumers and “together we have a chance to change and transform food systems to be more resilient and sustainable,” she said.

Executive Committee a trailblazer in implementing new technologies.

With reference to the UN Food Systems Summit taking place later this year, Semedo told the Executive Committee that “normative work, including Codex work, will form an important base for all the work that FAO will do. More visible than ever before.”

Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General of WHO thanked the committee for advancing Codex work under difficult conditions. “The pandemic has tested and challenged us as never before, and has highlighted the need for resilient, fair and sustainable food systems to ensure the availability and affordability of safe and nutritious food for all.”

In 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted a new food safety resolution, ‘Strengthening efforts on food safety’ which underlines the commitment from Member States to strengthen national food safety systems and lower the burden of foodborne disease. “It also calls for further expanding WHO’s collaboration with FAO in food safety for coming years, including through Codex,” she said.

Guilherme Da Costa, Brazil, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission said: “Codex has the strength to achieve better and fairer food trade globally”. Science-based standards provide transparency for market access, inclusiveness, and economic development. Equitable commercial relations contribute to the aim of eradicating poverty and hunger, fostering more productive employment and job creation. “Striving to ensure that no one is left behind in the drive to reach the 2030 sustainable development goals is one of our responsibilities,” he said.

The Executive Committee runs over two weeks as a virtual meeting and will discuss operational strategy during COVID-19 and issues related to the role of science. The session ends on 21 January.

 

Read more

CCEXEC80, working documents

Main photo
Left to right: Naoko Yamamoto (WHO); Maria Helena Semedo (FAO)

 

 

Codex and Observer

Food is a sensitive commodity, which has travelled
around the world since ancient times.
We might not always know where it comes from,
but we expect it to be available, safe and of good quality.