CCFH53 / work completed on Escherichia coli and water in food production
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has agreed to send guidelines on the control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and on the safe use and reuse of water in food production to the next Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption. Both proposed Codex texts are extensive documents and although the general sections and several commodity specific annexes are now finalized, the committee will continue to negotiate on specific areas of intervention for other foods.
Over 120 delegates participated in the final adoption which was held virtually after a physical session which saw 51 countries in attendance. The dedication and deep technical skill of those who attend the committee was evident in their commitment to collaborate in order to reach consensus at the session.
Chairperson Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture, in closing the meeting, spoke of his deep respect for the CCFH delegates. “You are an amazing group to work with. The best group of people I have worked with in my life,” he said.
The meeting was another first for Codex as the plenary discussions were broadcast live every day in English, French and Spanish for those unable to attend in person.
Sarah Cahill from the Codex Secretariat was present in San Diego for the deliberations and also for the virtual adoption. “The physical meeting provided a superb opportunity to complete several years of work undertaken through electronic working groups and virtual meetings and resolve face-to-face outstanding issues in a timely and collaborative manner,” she said.
The close relationship between the FAO/WHO expert bodies who provide scientific advice, in this case those dealing with microbiological risk assessment (known as JEMRA), and CCFH was also critical to this progress as it ensured the committee had a strong scientific basis on which to develop the guidelines.
Learn more
Scientific advice publications
Main photo, Chairperson Emilio Esteban (left) with Chairperson's Assistant Heather Selig during virtual report adoption
Photo credit ©Marie Maratos Bhat
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
CCFH53 / work completed on Escherichia coli and water in food production
The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) has agreed to send guidelines on the control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and on the safe use and reuse of water in food production to the next Codex Alimentarius Commission for final adoption. Both proposed Codex texts are extensive documents and although the general sections and several commodity specific annexes are now finalized, the committee will continue to negotiate on specific areas of intervention for other foods.
Over 120 delegates participated in the final adoption which was held virtually after a physical session which saw 51 countries in attendance. The dedication and deep technical skill of those who attend the committee was evident in their commitment to collaborate in order to reach consensus at the session.
Chairperson Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture, in closing the meeting, spoke of his deep respect for the CCFH delegates. “You are an amazing group to work with. The best group of people I have worked with in my life,” he said.
The meeting was another first for Codex as the plenary discussions were broadcast live every day in English, French and Spanish for those unable to attend in person.
Sarah Cahill from the Codex Secretariat was present in San Diego for the deliberations and also for the virtual adoption. “The physical meeting provided a superb opportunity to complete several years of work undertaken through electronic working groups and virtual meetings and resolve face-to-face outstanding issues in a timely and collaborative manner,” she said.
The close relationship between the FAO/WHO expert bodies who provide scientific advice, in this case those dealing with microbiological risk assessment (known as JEMRA), and CCFH was also critical to this progress as it ensured the committee had a strong scientific basis on which to develop the guidelines.
Learn more
Scientific advice publications
Main photo, Chairperson Emilio Esteban (left) with Chairperson's Assistant Heather Selig during virtual report adoption
Photo credit ©Marie Maratos Bhat
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