43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

24 September 2020, 12pm

Opening Speech
Director-General FAO, Dr Qu Dongyu

As prepared

 

 

My dear friend Tedros [Director-General of WHO],

Dr. da Costa, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission,

Esteemed Participants,

Colleagues and Friends!

1. Welcome to the first ever virtual session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This 43^rd session is already a historical one for that reason. My congratulations!

2. You dared to jump into the digital world! And now the Digital Codex is here. It was forced by the global crisis, but this has also shown us that if something is really important to us we can do it.  Whatever the obstacles. Important work will be done.

3. FAO went the same way with the last Council session.  We took far reaching decisions on FAO in a virtual session and so will you in Codex.

4. Especially in the time of COVID-19, the world needs the international Codex standards that allow us to keep our food traveling safely across borders. The last thing we need in this already fragile situation is an outbreak of a food borne disease.

5. In that respect, I congratulate Codex on how it has coped with the COVID-19 pandemic and how guidance for governments, the food industry and consumers was swiftly produced together with experts from FAO and WHO.

Distinguished Delegates,

6. You agreed with an overwhelming majority to hold this meeting in order to adopt many standards both for food safety and for trade: Standards that range from fresh garlic and kiwi fruit to how to handle food allergens and improve food hygiene.

7. Among the numerous documents you will review, I want to highlight the General Principles of Food Hygiene and the HACCP system to prevent hazards along the food chain. You will be giving this signature text an important update, based on science and experience that will make food safer for all of us.

8. I’m a scientist and when I first came into contact with Codex what impressed me about it was the commitment to base its standards on science and evidence.

9. In China, I was the first to implement Codex standards to contribute to achieving the four “betters” for the national population: to produce better, have better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

10. Now as FAO DG my commitment is to achieve the four betters for the world and we can only do that using science and evidence, through solid partnerships and by taking full advantage of digital innovations.

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11. One of my first decisions in FAO was to allocate more funds to the FAO/WHO Scientific Advice Programme, which is the basis for Codex standards. That work is important because without it, Codex is delayed and we cannot let that happen.

12. Codex concerns every country and prioritizing Codex activities locally allows countries to build national systems and speak at the global stage. I have seen this happen in my own country.

13. The work of the Codex contributes to achieving many SDGs and Codex by itself is a shining example for SDG17 on partnerships.

14. And we are fully aware how essential partnerships are for our work.

15. We cannot achieve anything alone. FAO needs its Members, international organizations, civil society and the private sector to achieve its work and so does Codex.

16. In fact Codex itself, founded by FAO with WHO in 1963, is one of the longest lasting examples of a successful partnership within the UN system.

17. Codex standards benefit from the input of observer organizations – those in industry or consumer groups that work at the frontline and the input of academia to benefit from the best science available.

18. Another example of active partnerships are the Codex regional meetings, as they underline the value of listening to and learning from those who work at the country level.

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19. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative I have introduced in FAO is a novel approach to partnerships and a new business model that brings countries with the highest poverty and hunger rates together with donors.

20. Trading on a level playing field through Codex standards provides tremendous purchasing power.

21. As the pandemic evolves, we must ensure that trade continues to flow smoothly to contribute to food security and nutrition globally

22. This requires a steady flow of information and nearly real-time data. Embedding digital technologies and innovative approaches into our work is crucial in that respect.

23. So what does that mean for the work of Codex?

24. Codex standards are traditionally developed by consensus in physical meetings held all over the world.

25. In 2021 you will need to explore the power of innovation and digital technology to continue your important work.

26. Adopting digital solutions would allow you to meet more frequently and deliver standards more efficiently.

27. Digitalization is one area where FAO is well ahead of the curve and we are working relentlessly to harness the potential of modern technology for all involved in food and agriculture.

28. We are working towards establishing the International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture – an inclusive multi-stakeholder forum for identifying and discussing the potential benefits and risks of digitalization of the food and agricultural sectors.

29. This Platform will address an important gap between multilateral fora for the digital economy and those for food and agriculture. It will bring agriculture to global discussions on digitalization.

30. We need to make efficient use of natural resources and take advantage of what is different in each country.

31. Blockchain, the Internet of Things and the arrival of 5G technology take us beyond the digital economy to a new digital society.

32. The second World Food Safety Day was a triumph for digitalization bringing worlds and people together.

33. It was impressive to watch plans unfold – webinars, Twitter chats, radio shows, video messages, online contests and press conferences in more than 60 countries.

34. The COVID-19 pandemic moved celebrations to a virtual space; and so we had a truly inclusive UN Day: all that one needed was an internet connection to be part of the Day and attend events across the world.

35. The global crisis has made it clear that ‘food safety is everyone’s business’.

36. And it made the general public see producers, processors, distributors and retailers as what they are: real food heroes.

37. Together with WHO, we have produced an overview of the 2020 celebrations. The collaboration, creativity and dedication that went into these initiatives is an inspiration for future celebrations of World Food Safety Day. I invite you to read this new report.

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38. I would like to close by sharing with you my vision for FAO and urge you to do all you can to future proof Codex in that framework.

39. The Codex Secretariat is now well integrated in the new FAO/WHO Centre, contributing to making the Organization not only more agile and transparent, but also more accountable, inclusive and innovative.

40. Hierarchical systems were good in the time of the pyramids and matrix systems worked in the 1960s. Today with change moving faster and faster we need modular systems that can adapt swiftly and painlessly.

41. My vision is creating an inclusive, innovative and agile FAO that serves its Members to achieve the "four betters": better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Dear Delegates,

42. Food safety is essential to food security. Unsafe food is not food.

43. On our way to food security, we must leave no one behind.

44. Codex works in an inclusive and transparent way whether virtual or physical.

45. I expect that this meeting will be historic not only for the way it is held but also for the content it will deliver.

46. The standards that you will adopt will have far reaching global implications.

47. And I am pleased to see that you will also discuss how to make Codex more resilient to crises like COVID-19 in the future.

48. How to continue your technical meeting programme that is spread out among many countries with host governments providing necessary means. I would like to express my special thanks to all these hosts!

49. I am confident that you will find ways to make the Codex and its important science-based work advance and develop in 2021 and beyond.

50. And I can assure you that FAO will continue to support Codex as we did since its foundation in 1963.

51. I wish you a fantastic and successful first virtual meeting of the Codex Commission!

Thank you.