Food additives Committee plays key role in enhancing trust in food safety work

Mar 27, 2023, 06:44 AM by System

Mr. LEI Haichao, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, opened the 53rd session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), taking place from 27-31 March 2023, in China Hong Kong SAR. In underlining the great importance the Chinese government has always attached to food safety, the Vice Minister highlighted how the committee had served as a communication platform for countries and international organizations to exchange views on the management of food additives. CCFA plays a key role in “enhancing understanding and trust in food safety work, as well as promoting the development of the food additive industry and playing a positive role in safeguarding consumer health and improving food safety management,” he said.

One of the key efforts to maintaining a reliable and healthy food supply is the continuous review and updating of food safety standards. Mr. TSE Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong, SAR said: “Here in Hong Kong, when formulating our standards in regulating food safety, we adhere as closely as possible to Codex’s standards.  As an international trading hub, this is particularly important for Hong Kong to facilitate international food trade.”

 

Learn more

The meeting can be followed via webcast.

All working documents on the CCFA53 meeting page.

Photo credit © Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR, China

Mr LEI Haichao (left) with CCFA Chairperson FAN Yongxiang and Codex Secretary, Tom Heilandt – 27 March 2023  

 

 

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

Food additives Committee plays key role in enhancing trust in food safety work

Mar 27, 2023, 06:44 AM by System

Mr. LEI Haichao, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, opened the 53rd session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), taking place from 27-31 March 2023, in China Hong Kong SAR. In underlining the great importance the Chinese government has always attached to food safety, the Vice Minister highlighted how the committee had served as a communication platform for countries and international organizations to exchange views on the management of food additives. CCFA plays a key role in “enhancing understanding and trust in food safety work, as well as promoting the development of the food additive industry and playing a positive role in safeguarding consumer health and improving food safety management,” he said.

One of the key efforts to maintaining a reliable and healthy food supply is the continuous review and updating of food safety standards. Mr. TSE Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong, SAR said: “Here in Hong Kong, when formulating our standards in regulating food safety, we adhere as closely as possible to Codex’s standards.  As an international trading hub, this is particularly important for Hong Kong to facilitate international food trade.”

 

Learn more

The meeting can be followed via webcast.

All working documents on the CCFA53 meeting page.

Photo credit © Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR, China

Mr LEI Haichao (left) with CCFA Chairperson FAN Yongxiang and Codex Secretary, Tom Heilandt – 27 March 2023  

 

 

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.