45th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Opening Statement
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
21/11/2022
45th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Opening Statement
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
21 November 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I am pleased to welcome you to this hybrid session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
2. Technology has advanced rapidly to make such meetings possible, in full transparency and with the inclusion of all stakeholders, in line with the new Digital FAO.
3. This is the new normal.
4. Technology and innovation are vital in ensuring no one is left behind.
5. The recent World Food Forum highlighted the critical role of science, technology and innovation for agrifood systems transformation globally.
6. The systematic use of science and data in Codex is a concrete example of this.
7. The Codex standards based on science provided by FAO and WHO expert bodies and the expert consultations, were among the pioneers,
8. And I call on all Members to continue to support the work of these scientific advice programmes, since the establishment of the Codex Alimentarius in 1963.
9. A key highlight of FAO’s contribution to the work of Codex is the newly formulated Strategic Priorities for Food Safety, which will be considered and eventually endorsed by the upcoming session of the FAO Council in December.
10. This key document encourages a more consistent integration of food safety and food security, as well as rural development policy, in the development of sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems, food security, and nutrition and agriculture development policies.
Dear Colleagues,
11. As you hold your discussions this week, I encourage you to continue to work together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner, to address the complex challenges we are facing globally.
12. Food security is a basic human right.
13. We are all in this together. As I often say, we are all living together on a small planet – what happens on one side of the planet, affects those on the other side too. We are all closely interlinked.
14. This is critical as we work collectively to ensure healthier populations, healthier prosperity, and a healthier planet.
15. Codex Standards are essential to achieve the transformation to more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems.
16. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.
17. I wish you fruitful discussions with successful outcomes, to the benefit of all Members and in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
18. Thank you.