Kenyan workshop engages all stakeholder groups on the value of Codex texts
By Codex Contact Point, Kenya
The Kenya Codex Contact Point at Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in conjunction with the national Codex committee held an consultative workshop on 29 March 2022 with manufacturers, importers/exporters, local traders, consumer organizations and the general public. The workshop aimed to create awareness amongst various stakeholders who are potential users of Codex standards and have a responsibility for safeguarding consumer health.
The objectives of the workshop were to enlighten the participants on the use and importance of Codex texts, provide an overview of the different categories of texts (standards, guidelines and codes of practice) and underline the necessity of investing in working with Codex.
Ms Maryann Kindiki, the Codex Contact Point for Kenya (picture centre) said: “The Codex website is rich in information and all Codex texts are easy to locate as they are clearly categorized.” The participants were encouraged to make use of the published texts to empower them in making informed decisions in terms of food safety and fair trade practices and to participate in development of the the texts to enable consideration of all their different interests.
Dr. Evans Muthuma, a member of National Codex Committee (pictured left), emphasized the importance of Codex texts informing the participants that these are the standards that are recognized by the World Trade Organization as benchmarks in its sanitary and phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade (SPS and TBT) agreements.
“Investing in the work of Codex means to intentionally allocate and utilize resources in participation during development of all Codex texts and other Codex activities,” said Ms. Felista Nyakoe, of the Kenya Accreditation Service, during her presentation.
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Main photo © KEBS