In times of self-isolation and quarantine we all rely more than ever on a safe and efficient food supply chain to ensure that food is readily available in every home.  As food shopping in stores and markets becomes more difficult for consumers because of the measures to reduce contact and avoid the person-to-person spread of coronavirus, governments are doing all they can to keep food available on the shelves. To ensure this, the food itself and the people working hard to [...]

COVID-19 and the related response from governments across the globe has led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous Codex subsidiary body meetings scheduled to be held in 2020. However, food safety remains an important issue and the Codex Secretariat is working together with Host Secretariats, Chairs of Committees and Chairs/Vice-Chairs of Electronic Working Groups (EWGs) to ensure that the standards development work can continue even if the committees cannot meet this year. Tom Heilandt, Codex Secretary confirmed that electronic working groups [...]

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to interrupt the meeting and events schedules of all organizations worldwide, the Codex Secretariat in conjunction with the governments that host Codex meetings has announced that eight meetings have either been postponed or cancelled, calling into question whether the Codex Alimentarius Commission will go ahead in Rome, Italy in July 2020. In an extended interview, Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt explains the contingency plans being put in place to mitigate the loss of meetings from the Codex [...]

The host secretariat of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) has confirmed that the upcoming session, due to be held in San Diego, USA from 25-29 May 2020 has been postponed due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. In collaboration with the Codex Secretariat, discussions are underway to explore if the meeting could be rescheduled for early 2021 at the same location. Further details on new dates and on the work of the committee will be published [...]

The Codex Secretariat, in agreement with the respective host secretariats of the Codex Committees on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF), Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), and Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) has announced that the sessions are cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. “Given the increasing gravity of the situation we needed to provide certainty to those preparing to organise and participate in these sessions. We discussed with each host secretariat to find out their national [...]

The Codex Secretariat together with the host secretariats for Codex Committees are monitoring the evolving situation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and assessing its possible impact for upcoming Codex meetings.  Updates on the status of all Codex meetings scheduled to take place from March to June 2020 will be published as soon as they become available and a further status report will be provided by Friday 20 March 2020 at the latest.   Read more Go to the WHO website for COVID-19 updates  

Due to the exceptional circumstances related to the expansion of the COVID-19 outbreak in France and in different parts of the world, serious consideration had to be given regarding the scheduled Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP), due to be held in Bordeaux from 23-27 March 2020. The host government, France, through the CCGP Secretariat and in agreement with the Codex Secretariat regret to announce that CCGP32 has therefore been postponed. Information regarding new dates and the venue will be published as [...]

Codex meetings bring together experts from all over the world and the session calendar for 2020 has 15 committees scheduled in multiple international locations across 5 continents. FAO internal guidance for staff, including the Codex Secretariat, following the COVID-19 outbreak states that travel is to be limited to “critical missions and time-sensitive essential travel”. This means for example that the workshop planned for committee host secretariats in France from 27-29 March 2020 has now been postponed. FAO has also postponed all [...]

Madagascar is continuing its efforts to build the capacity of its members with the support of the Codex Trust Fund. A four-day training workshop in Antananarivo from 24-27 February 2020 set out to integrate new members and provide a refresher for more experienced members. The workshop also dealt with the redefinition of priority committees for Madagascar, the formulation of national positions, preparation for sessions as well as the use of online Codex tools. After this training, Madagascar will further improve [...]

Over 1 000 food safety stakeholders from around the world gathered in Seattle, USA this week for the 2020 Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Conference, which also marked the 20th anniversary for the GFSI. Action is more urgent than ever. Addressing the conference, Peter Freedman, Managing Director of the Consumer Goods Forum said 2020 marked a moment of change in governance and strategy for GFSI. “Action is more urgent than ever”, he said, citing the climate advocate Greta Thunberg. “Our agenda remains [...]