Speaking on Wednesday 26 Aprile, 2023, at the 22nd annual Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America, Codex Chairperson Steve Wearne said: “Our systems for standards and trade have their foundation in the creation of Codex 60 years ago and the World Trade Organization more than a quarter of a century ago.  The global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, soil, water and air quality, require us to think about how we might make the international framework of rules on trade and standards fit for the future.”

To an audience of over 700 stakeholders from more than 50 countries, Wearne also announced the theme of the fifth World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2023, “food standards save lives”, encouraging GFSI members to take part and raise awareness, together with the Codex Family, in “showcasing the benefits that Codex and its standards have delivered.”

Casting an eye to the future Wearne asked how should standards be used to support the development of modern trading relationships, “in a rapidly changing world where the need for transformation to support sustainable food systems has become a matter of increased urgency and global consensus.”

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GFSI website

Codex 60th anniversary details

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