Codex technical committees ready to meet the challenge of 2021 online
This year is going to be a big challenge for the Codex system as the technical committees that were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic prepare to operate for the first time virtually. Experiences with the smaller Executive Committee and the success of the 43rd Commission have shown that both small and large groups can be brought together on line, but how easy will it be, operating virtually, to iron out more complex, technical differences on pesticides, contaminants or matters of nutrition, and reach consensus in order to make progress on the standards Codex is currently working on?
First up in 2021 is the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) which starts on 8 February. To prepare participants for the sessions and to give the hosts France an opportunity to get used to operating virtually, the traditional “first time delegates” session, which usually takes place on the first morning of the plenary, was held via webinar on Wednesday 27 January 2021; a dry run before the main event.
Chairperson of the Committee Jena-Luc Angot, France, said: “We're going to try to make this committee as friendly and as interactive as possible, because that's really what marks the work of Codex”. One way to prepare for this work, that is at the same time strategic yet technical, is to be “familiar with the rules of procedure in Codex”, Angot told almost 200 participants.
Top tip for participation in CCGP
Liaising with experienced delegates at national level and then looking back at previous reports from CCGP and related committees also provides the history and background to understanding how issues arise and decisions are made in the committee.
Read more
CCGP32 meeting documents available online
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
Codex technical committees ready to meet the challenge of 2021 online
This year is going to be a big challenge for the Codex system as the technical committees that were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic prepare to operate for the first time virtually. Experiences with the smaller Executive Committee and the success of the 43rd Commission have shown that both small and large groups can be brought together on line, but how easy will it be, operating virtually, to iron out more complex, technical differences on pesticides, contaminants or matters of nutrition, and reach consensus in order to make progress on the standards Codex is currently working on?
First up in 2021 is the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) which starts on 8 February. To prepare participants for the sessions and to give the hosts France an opportunity to get used to operating virtually, the traditional “first time delegates” session, which usually takes place on the first morning of the plenary, was held via webinar on Wednesday 27 January 2021; a dry run before the main event.
Chairperson of the Committee Jena-Luc Angot, France, said: “We're going to try to make this committee as friendly and as interactive as possible, because that's really what marks the work of Codex”. One way to prepare for this work, that is at the same time strategic yet technical, is to be “familiar with the rules of procedure in Codex”, Angot told almost 200 participants.
Top tip for participation in CCGP
Liaising with experienced delegates at national level and then looking back at previous reports from CCGP and related committees also provides the history and background to understanding how issues arise and decisions are made in the committee.
Read more
CCGP32 meeting documents available online
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