The CCLAC Region - Regional Coordinator Ecuador
In 1976 a Coordinating Committee for Latin America, established by the 10th Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1974, held its first meeting in Rome with eight countries from the region in attendance. At its third session a proposal was made to change the name of the committee to its current form (Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean) as this better reflected the membership of the region. In 1984 at its 31st session, the Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the Commission, agreed to this change.
The region of Latin America and the Caribbean is an important actor in the production and trade of food at a global level. The region produces enough food to supply itself and to export, with both water and land resources to produce even more.
The region has enormous natural wealth, a flourishing agricultural industry and a family farming sector that is essential for its population. The promotion and strengthening of food safety must be continued at the level of all regions to guarantee the health of consumers and fair and equitable trade.< /p>
The coordinator, Ecuador is based in AGROCALIDAD an agency attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. They aim to create synergies between countries in the region, to provide mutual support in order to overcome regional problems and examine solutions to common challenges.
The coordinator further aims to strengthen collaboration among countries and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
CCLAC Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCLAC Secretariat
Agencia de Regulación y Control Fito y
Zoosanitaria AGROCALIDAD
Avenida
Eloy Alfaro y Amazonas
Quito
Email: [email protected]
Codex Trust Fund / Project Launched to Promote Food Safety Standards for a Healthier Guyana
Guyana launched its Codex Trust Fund (CTF) Project on 6 October, 2021 following a two-day training programme for the National Codex Committee (NCC) members. The launch, which was held at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown, was marked by the presence of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Blair, Advisor on CARICOM Agriculture Food Systems, Ms. Carol Thomas, Guyana’s CTF Project Consultant (Semester 1), Dr. Jean Seme Fils Alexandre, Representative from PAHO/WHO, Mr. Wilmot Garnett, IICA Delegation in Guyana Representative, Ms. Ramrattie Karan, Executive Director (Acting) of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), and public and private sector representatives.
(Left to Right) Chairperson of NCC, Tandeka Barton, PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Jean Alexandre, Ms. Ramrattie Karan, Executive Director (Ag.) GNBS, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Advisor of CARICOM Agriculture Food Systems, Dr. Richard Blair at the Codex Trust Fund Project Launch
This Codex project operating under the theme “Promoting Food Safety Standards for a Healthier Guyana” is geared towards raising awareness on food safety and Codex standards countrywide. With this project, the NCC plans to strengthen their work nationally, regionally, and internationally to increase support for national food safety policies, retool stakeholders to improve food safety in Guyana, and increase the capacity of NCC members. Likewise, Guyana’s CTF Project will target high-level policy makers, regulators, food business operators, media operatives, and the general public over a three year period.
Project Consultant, Carol Thomas during her virtual address, urged the public to make food safety their business by spreading the message. Ms. Thomas pointed out that “Public awareness sensitization is important and necessary in order to ensure the buy-in of the message on food safety and standards from all sectors of society. We want to involve all stakeholders.”
PAHO/WHO representative, Dr. Jean Seme Fils Alexandre pledged the organization’s continued support to the NCC and wished the committee every success in the execution of its duties and activities under the CTF project.
IICA’s country representative, Mr. Wilmot Garnett, pointed out the assistance the technical cooperation agency provided Guyana to position itself to provide safe, nutritious, quality and reasonably priced foods for local consumption and to access new markets overseas. It was mentioned that a Procedural Manual for the National CODEX activities in Guyana was prepared in collaboration with the FONDO Chile and ACHIPIA, Chile’s food systems network, in consultation with Guyana’s stakeholders. IICA pledged its support to the operationalization of the Guyana Food Safety Authority and reiterated that the CTF project will contribute significantly to support national efforts to strengthen food safety systems in Guyana, thus increasing Guyana’s market share.
Ms. Ramrattie Karan, Executive Director (ag) of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards stated that the GNBS has been the Codex Contact Point since 1985, providing technical support and therefore commits to continue supporting the NCC.
Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy charged those in attendance to become active participants in creating food safety standards and guidelines as he underscored the need for Guyana to build its capacity to participate effectively in Codex.
Dr. Richard Blair, speaking on behalf of Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, assured attendees that the Government of Guyana supports the development of concrete actions to transform the agriculture-food system, and to ensure that safe and nutritious food is produced for and consumed by the population.
Gratitude was expressed to Guyana’s developmental partners especially PAHO/WHO, FAO, and IICA.
Learn more about the Codex Trust Fund on the web site
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