The Procedural Manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is intended to help Member governments participate effectively in the work of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The Manual is particularly useful for national delegations attending Codex meetings and for international organizations attending as observers. It will also be useful for Member Governments which wish to participate in Codex work by correspondence.
Section I sets out the Commission's basic Rules of Procedure and the other internal procedures necessary to achieve the Commission's objectives. These include the procedures for the elaboration of Codex Standards and related texts, general principles and guidelines for the acceptance of Codex standards by governments, and some basic definitions.
Section II is devoted to guidelines for the efficient operation of Codex Committees. These Committees are organized and operated by Member Governments designated by the Commission. It describes how standards are set out in a uniform manner, describes a uniform reference system for Codex documents and working papers, and provides a number of general principles for formulating key sections of Codex standards and outlines the core functions of national Codex Contact Points.
Section III lists the Commission's subsidiary bodies with their Terms of Reference. It also gives the Membership of the Commission (169 Member countries in July 2003) together with the addresses of Codex Contact Points.
This Thirteenth Edition of the Procedural Manual was prepared by the Secretariat following the Twenty-sixth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Rome, 2003. Further information concerning the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its Subsidiary Bodies can be obtained from the Secretary, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, 00100 Rome, Italy.
