The CCNASWP Region
Regional Coordinator Fiji
The 18th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held in 1989, agreed to establish a new Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific, bringing together, in the words of the New Zealand delegation "far flung countries ... which have many common interests".
CCNASWP is a remarkably diverse region combining fully mature economies such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with 10 small island states. The largest of these is Papua New Guinea (population over 7 million) and the smallest, the Cook Islands and Nauru with populations of around 10 000.
The regional coordinator is based within the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture.
Fiji looks forward to applying standards at the national level and supporting all countries in the region, especially the small island developing states, to establish a sound policy framework for food safety. These initiatives will support improvements in public health, ensure that imported food is safe and of the expected quality and develop increased access to international markets.
The regional coordinator will continue supporting work on regional standards and seeks to strengthen participation of the region in Codex in general. This can be achieved by continuing to develop capacity at the national level by enhancing the role of national coordinators and contact points for increased and effective participation in Codex.
CCNASWP Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCNASWP Secretariat
Ministry of Agriculture
Private Mail Bag
Hugh Robinson Complex
Raiwaqa,
Suva.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.agriculture.gov.fj
CCFICS / Workshop underlines Codex role in prevention and control of food fraud
By Scott Mersch
Codex Contact Point, Australia
On 8 February 2023, the Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), Nicola Hinder, Australia, and Michelle Catlin, United States of America, the Chairperson of the Electronic Working Group (EWG), along with EWG Co-Chairpersons, delivered a virtual workshop to discuss progress to date on drafting the guidance on the Prevention and Control of Food Fraud. The draft guidance will be considered at Step 4 by CCFICS26 in Hobart, Australia in May 2023. The webinar was well attended by over 200 Codex Members and Observers and provided valuable insights to assist further drafting in the EWG.
“Food fraud is not a new phenomenon but it is becoming more sophisticated. It is a complex, global, and critically important issue, and I am very proud that CCFICS is leading the way in developing guidance in the context of food safety and fair practices in the food trade,” said Hinder.
The discussions on food fraud began at CCFICS22 in 2016, and the new work proposal on the draft guidance on the prevention and control of food fraud was approved by CAC44 in December 2021. Hinder thanked the chairs and co-chairs of the EWG – United States of America, United Kingdom, China, the European Union and Iran – noting the good progress made on drafting the standard by the EWG and the importance of developing as much consensus as possible to allow for fruitful discussions at the CCFICS26 plenary.
Catlin took the group through the draft guidance section by section to elicit feedback from the broader Codex membership. “The workshop has proved incredibly helpful in garnering constructive feedback”, she said. “The strong engagement of participants and their willingness to offer alternatives and proposals for compromise has given the EWG plenty to consider over the next short while”.
Hinder reminded participants that the EWG will consider the inputs from the workshop and then provide a final report – also considering feedback from EWG members – which will be published on the CCFICS26 webpage. She encouraged Members and Observers to comment. “I look forward to seeing many of you in attendance at CCFICS26 in Hobart to continue the discussions, or online if you can’t make it physically”, she said.
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Photo credit ©FAO/Luis Tato
Food fraud can consist of addition, substitution, dilution, counterfeiting, misrepresentation, and concealment. Commodities typically at risk include honey, olive oil, fish, spices (saffron), juice and milk.
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