CCLAC22 / Codex, an important tool in the region also for meeting SDGs.
The 22nd session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean is taking place online from 24 to 28 October, 2022, hosted in Quito, Ecuador. Bernardo Manzano, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Ecuador welcomed more than 120 delegates joining from the 33 countries in the region. The Minister underscored the mission of the Codex Alimentarius to guarantee safe, quality food for all people everywhere, preserving their health and contributing to equity in international food trade. He also highlighted Ecuador's defense of the scientific basis for decision-making, achieving the adoption of five global standards related to maximum levels of cadmium in chocolate and the global categorization of chocolates.
Latin American and the Caribbean is an important food producing geographic region due to its great natural wealth, offering resources for the provision of food, both internally and for export. “Consequently, promoting and strengthening food safety based on solid proposals from each of our countries is essential to guarantee the health of our populations, reduce malnutrition gaps and ensure equitable access to safe food,” said María Gabriela Aguinaga, Vice Minister for Health. “Codex Alimentarius, is an important tool for our region and for meeting the goals we have set ourselves in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” she added.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata from the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University, spoke of the key role Codex will play when it comes to new technologies in the agrifood chain. In describing the shift to data becoming available in the cloud he envisaged how risk assessment could be carried out in the field via real time actionable information. He saw opportunities for Codex to draw on the potential these technologies can bring to improve the way it operates as a risk manager.
Learn more
Follow CCLAC22 via the meeting web page.
Photo credit ©CCLAC Secretariat
Main photo left to right: Patricio Almeida, Executive Director of Agrocalidad; Bernardo Manzano, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Rommel Betancourt, Chairperson CCLAC; María Gabriela Aguinaga, Vice Minister of Health; Oscar Barreneche, WHO Representative in Ecuador.
Article updated 26/10/2022 with additional comments from Minister Manzano
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
CCLAC22 / Codex, an important tool in the region also for meeting SDGs.
The 22nd session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean is taking place online from 24 to 28 October, 2022, hosted in Quito, Ecuador. Bernardo Manzano, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Ecuador welcomed more than 120 delegates joining from the 33 countries in the region. The Minister underscored the mission of the Codex Alimentarius to guarantee safe, quality food for all people everywhere, preserving their health and contributing to equity in international food trade. He also highlighted Ecuador's defense of the scientific basis for decision-making, achieving the adoption of five global standards related to maximum levels of cadmium in chocolate and the global categorization of chocolates.
Latin American and the Caribbean is an important food producing geographic region due to its great natural wealth, offering resources for the provision of food, both internally and for export. “Consequently, promoting and strengthening food safety based on solid proposals from each of our countries is essential to guarantee the health of our populations, reduce malnutrition gaps and ensure equitable access to safe food,” said María Gabriela Aguinaga, Vice Minister for Health. “Codex Alimentarius, is an important tool for our region and for meeting the goals we have set ourselves in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” she added.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Marcos X. Sanchez-Plata from the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University, spoke of the key role Codex will play when it comes to new technologies in the agrifood chain. In describing the shift to data becoming available in the cloud he envisaged how risk assessment could be carried out in the field via real time actionable information. He saw opportunities for Codex to draw on the potential these technologies can bring to improve the way it operates as a risk manager.
Learn more
Follow CCLAC22 via the meeting web page.
Photo credit ©CCLAC Secretariat
Main photo left to right: Patricio Almeida, Executive Director of Agrocalidad; Bernardo Manzano, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Rommel Betancourt, Chairperson CCLAC; María Gabriela Aguinaga, Vice Minister of Health; Oscar Barreneche, WHO Representative in Ecuador.
Article updated 26/10/2022 with additional comments from Minister Manzano
Codex and Observer
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.
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