Agriculture ministers spotlight Codex water reuse guidance at GFFA
By Anne Beutling, CCUERO Coordinator
At the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), held in Berlin from 14 to 17 January 2026 at the beginning of Green Week, agriculture ministers from 59 countries adopted a joint communiqué highlighting the need to improve water efficiency in agriculture while fully safeguarding food safety and public health. Alongside, high-level representatives from 13 International Organisations, including FAO and WTO, took part in the Agriculture Ministers’ Conference.
In this context, ministers explicitly encouraged the use of internationally agreed guidance, including the Codex Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing (CXG 100-2023). This reference underscores the importance of science-based Codex texts in supporting sustainable water management practices across food production and processing. The development of the guidelines, including a recently finalised annex on fisheries and aquaculture developed by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), was led by the European Union with broad engagement and contributions from Codex Members and Observers.
The Codex guidelines provide risk-based, practical guidance on the safe use and reuse of water of different qualities in food production and processing. They support competent authorities and food business operators in identifying fit-for-purpose water sources, applying preventive measures and controls, and ensuring that water reuse practices do not compromise food safety, including in specific sectors such as fisheries.
Read more
About GFFA: https://www.gffa-berlin.de/en/gffa-homepage/
Full Text Communiqué: https://msc.gffa-berlin.de/app/uploads/sites/5/2026/01/GFFA-2026-ENG-Final-Communique.pdf
Photo credit: 2026 Photothek komm komm
Related content
Risk communication, nutrition and food safety shape discussions at CCEURO34
The 34th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (CCEURO) has concluded in Berlin after a week of intensive discussion on topics relevant to food safety and Codex work in the region. Germany’s...
Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Germany opens CCEURO34
The 34th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (CCEURO34) has opened. Alois Rainer, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Germany, welcomed the delegates in...
The first Congress of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Service took place in Kazakhstan
On 15 September 2026, the 1st Congress of Sanitary-Epidemiological Service Workers of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in Almaty, and was dedicated to their professional holiday and the 35th anniversary...
Codex coordinators prepare for new regional meeting cycle, stress stronger coordination and capacity building
The Codex coordinators met with representatives of the Codex Secretariat, FAO and WHO, to prepare for a new cycle of FAO/WHO coordinating committee meetings, with six regional sessions scheduled between...
.tmb-thb5x4.jpeg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=b11362b7_1)
Republic of Korea hosts APFRAS 2026 to strengthen regional cooperation on food safety
Seoul, Republic of Korea The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea hosted the fourth Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit (APFRAS 2026) in Seoul, Republic of Korea,...
Exploring the future of food safety: novel foods and emerging production systems in focus
A recent webinar titled “The Future of Food Safety in Europe: Update of the Regulatory Framework and Research Needs on Novel Foods” brought together international experts to discuss the rapidly evolving...
Learning from experience and procedures: New EU delegates build confidence for future Codex work
by the European Union Codex Contact Point From 13 to 15 January 2026, the European Union (EU) hosted a Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) workshop entitled Supporting Effective Participation in Codex...
Germany to host the International Training for Safer Food 2026
For the 7th time, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), will host the International Training for Safer Food (ITS Food). ITS Food is a training series on food safety risk...
.tmb-thb5x4.jpeg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=544d6908_1)
CTF / Seminar on harmonizing Uzbekistan’s food safety legislation with international standards
On 18–19 September 2025, a seminar was held in Tashkent on the topic: “The importance of harmonizing the Republic of Uzbekistan’s food safety legislation with international standards for protecting human...