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.

Observer news

25 June 2020

Actions taken by China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment for World Food Safety Day

25 June 2020

World Food Safety Day observed in Beijing, China

24 June 2020

Message from Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region -2

24 June 2020

The Latin American and the Caribbean region comes together to keep Codex work active

22 June 2020

EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system

22 June 2020

Honduras celebrates World Food Safety Day

19 June 2020

Commemoration of the Second World Food Safety Day in Burkina Faso

19 June 2020

Kazakhstan supports World Food Safety Day

19 June 2020

World Food Safety Day campaign in the Russian social media

19 June 2020

Vanuatu radio station gives air time to World Food Safety Day

19 June 2020

Mexico promotes food safety awareness and actions across sectors

19 June 2020

Health and Agriculture team up to celebrate WFSD in Lebanon

19 June 2020

Czech Republic plans a series of World Food Safety Day publishing activities

19 June 2020

Scientists explain why food safety is their business

19 June 2020

Colombia spreads the World Food Safety Day word on the web

19 June 2020

WHO Regional Director urges action for safer food from farm to plate, for everyone in Africa

19 June 2020

Twitter chat delivers food safety tips for consumers to use during the pandemic

18 June 2020

Food Systems transformation is everyone’s business

18 June 2020

Food Safety is always a priority for Armenia!

17 June 2020

Ensuring food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic - a Codex observer view

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.