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

22 May 2020

Suriname awareness campaign for World Food Safety Day 2020

21 May 2020

Cocoa processing facility in Ghana plans observance

21 May 2020

Promote Safe Food in Markets through INFOSAN

20 May 2020

China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment to celebrate World Food Safety Day

19 May 2020

Join the #WorldFoodSafetyDay Twitter chat: new date June 9

19 May 2020

Webinar with Uganda highlights the importance of participation in Codex work

15 May 2020

GFSI observes World Food Safety Day: 5 days, 5 videos, 5 calls to action!

15 May 2020

Codex and the pandemic - strategic challenges and opportunities

13 May 2020

Codex Euro Region responds to the challenge of cancelled meetings

13 May 2020

Latin America and Caribbean region pioneers new ways of working in Codex

06 May 2020

COVID-19 likely to cause cancellation of a physical meeting of 43rd Codex Commission

30 April 2020

Photo, poster and video contest opens in Asia and the Pacific

24 April 2020

Protecting the food supply chain from COVID-19

24 April 2020

COVID-19 / Codex discusses working online

22 April 2020

COVID-19 / Codex Africa region holds first informal meeting online

28 March 2020

COVID-19 / Maintaining the momentum of Codex work

26 March 2020

COVID-19 / Codex Secretary discusses options for meeting schedule

23 March 2020

COVID-19 / Three additional Codex meetings cancelled

17 March 2020

COVID-19 / Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods postponed

11 March 2020

COVID-19 / Update on Codex meeting schedule-2

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.