As 2024 draws to a close, the newly elected Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Allan Azegele, Kenya, looks back on the outcome of the 47th Commission meeting and shares his view on the future of Codex. Allan, congratulations on your election. Thank you for the congratulatory message. I feel deeply honored and humbled to have been elected to the role of Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all members for placing your trust [...]

The Entidade Reguladora Independente da Saúde (ERIS) of Cabo Verde participated in the 17th ordinary meeting of the National Codex Alimentarius Commission (CNCA) on December 17, 2024. The main objectives of the meeting were to present the balance of: the CNCA's Activity Plan for 2024; the Codex Alimentarius Trust Fund Project - Cabo Verde (FFC II - CV 2024); and the STDF/PPG/869 Project funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) program. In the meeting also discussed and analyzed the proposed [...]

by the Codex Contact Point of Chile A simulation of a session of the Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate (CCCPC) was held on 12 December 2024 at the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Santiago, Chile. The event was organized by ACHIPIA, with the support of IICA, FAO and the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN). Hernán Chiriboga, Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Chile, and Joao Intini, FAO Food [...]

With the growth in the international trade in food comes the need to be able to prevent, detect and manage foodborne diseases across borders. Foodborne diseases can occur even when there are robust food control systems in place and can cause illness across the globe. In these cases, the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) facilitates the rapid exchange of the information needed between different national authorities to enable them to address cases of foodborne disease outbreak in a [...]

By the Codex Contact Point of Germany In February 2025, Germany’s Food Safety Authority, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), will once again host the International Training for Safer Food (ITS Food). ITS Food is a training programme on food safety risk management, aimed at staff working in public authorities of non-EU countries handling issues related to food safety.  In 2025, ITS Food will be held as a virtual event, and focus on latest developments in the fields [...]

On 14 November 2024, Food Industry Asia (FIA) organized a capacity building workshop as part of its annual Members Day event. The session emphasized the critical role of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in harmonizing international food trade and ensuring food safety. Over 70 senior representatives from the food industry across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand attended the event, which was held in Singapore. The workshop aimed to enhance participants' understanding of Codex principles and procedures. In-depth sharing on the latest developments [...]

Wednesday 27November 2024 marked a significant milestone for Somalia when the country’s first World Food Safety Day celebrations were commemorated, following an introductory exhibition for the main celebration, held on 25 November 2024 at the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science at the Somali National University. The broad objective of the 25 November event was to raise awareness and educate community on the importance of safe food practices to protect consumers from food safety hazards. Students showcased the best handling practices [...]

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is taking place this week, 18–24 November, in order to raise awareness globally not only about the threats posed by the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but of the ways in which we can collectively tackle the problem.  AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics. As a result, antimicrobial drugs become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, [...]

A side event to the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, organized by the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat and held on Friday 29 November, explored the different ways in which Codex texts are understood to facilitate fair practices in the food trade. The seven-person panel that, Codex Secretary Sarah Cahill observed in her opening remarks to the event, was entirely made up of Codex observers, considered whether and how Codex does in fact facilitate fair practices in the food trade. The moderator, [...]

prepared by the Codex Contact Point of Indonesia In celebrating World Standards Day, the National Standardization Agency of Indonesia (BSN) organized the Herudi Technical Committee Award, November 21, 2024, at the Jakarta Convention Center. This event was held to recognize technical committees involved in the development of the Indonesian National Standards (SNI) for their outstanding performance. The event brought together stakeholders from the standardization and conformity assessment sectors, including the food sector. The event was officially opened by Chairman of BSN, followed [...]