The “Brexit” agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union reached on 24 December 2020 was described by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a “fair and balanced” deal. The treaty is expected to receive the support of all 27 member states and will be “provisionally applied” at the end of the year. Chapter 3 of the agreement describes collaboration on sanitary and phytosanitary measures with the objective of “enhanced cooperation” in international organizations including the Codex Alimentarius. [...]

In the second of a series of online webinars organized by the Codex Secretariat for the incoming coordinators representing the six regions in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the focus was on their role in the Executive Committee, the next session of which will take place, again virtually, from 13 to 21 January 2021. Guilherme Da Costa, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission said: “The successful achievement of Members in Codex is directly related to the commitment of the Regional Coordinators to [...]

Interview with Professor Yong Ho Park during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week The 43rd Codex Alimentarius Commission, which ended on Friday 6 November focused on the draft standards relayed by the committees that were held since September 2019. Among the topics discussed was the work of the Ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR), an area of great international interest. After a lengthy discussion, Members agreed on the preliminary adoption of the revision of Code of Practice to Minimize and [...]

Steve Wearne, Vice-Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, from the United Kingdom, spoke at the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement (or SPS) committee’s thematic session on 3 November 2020, to explain the value that voluntary third-party assurance (vTPA) can add to National Food Control Systems.  Participants heard about the UK experience of using vTPA data in a new approach to animal feed inspection and enforcement, which has achieved an 83 percent reduction in official inspections, while investing more than ever [...]

For 25 years an agreement on how governments can apply food safety and animal and plant health measures (sanitary and phytosanitary or SPS measures) has set out the basic rules for trading partners in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The SPS Agreement ensures a country’s consumers are supplied with food that is safe and that national health and safety regulations are not used for protecting domestic markets. The SPS Agreement encourages governments “to establish national SPS measures consistent with international standards, [...]

Codex recommended methods of analysis are particularly important for checking compliance with provisions in Codex standards. Foundation texts developed by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS), such as The General Standard on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, CX234, provide an essential reference for food business operators and analysts. The upcoming webinar series, taking place online from 23 to 25 November 2020, will include a session with experts from Standard Development Organizations (SDOs), who will hold an open meeting [...]

改版后的第四版Codex年度报告今天发布，今年的报告标题是《国际食品法典委员会 – 关于标准的下一步工作》。 在成员国、观察员组织、粮农组织和世卫组织以及全部六个Codex区域的专家的共同努力下，该报告概述了过去一年中取得的成功和遇到的挑战，传统上Codex年度是从一届国际食品法典委员会开始，到下一届结束。 2020年3月前，国际旅行受到冠状病毒病（COVID-19）疫情的影响，亦无法举行面对面会议。但是，在2019年的最后四个月， 粮农组织/世卫组织的全部六个协调委员会各自召开了会议，三个专业委员会和抗菌素耐药性特别工作组也分别召开了会议。 在这份以期刊形式发布的报告中，Codex大会主席基耶姆·科斯塔（Guilherme Da Costa）强调，各个Codex区域之所以能够做出非凡的贡献，“正是由于它们在处理棘手问题方面拥有丰富和独特的经验，尤其是在目前具有挑战性的新常态下。” Codex秘书长汤姆·黑兰德（Tom Heilandt）自豪地说：“我们收到了大量积极的反馈，各国总共提出147份赞同意见，鼓励我们有史以来第一次以虚拟形式召开大会。” 该报告目前仅用英文出版，不久将添加其他语言版本。   阅读更多内容 点击此处查阅所有国际食品法典委员会出版物    

World Food Day 2020 under the slogan “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”, calls for more resilient and robust agri-food systems, and for global solidarity - both vital for our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for building back better. World Food Day 2020 also applauds Food Heroes throughout the food supply chain who, no matter what the situation or where in the world they are, continue to provide food to their communities and beyond. This observance falls as the Codex Alimentarius Commission is [...]

According to data published by FAO in The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020, global fish production in 2018 is estimated to have reached about 179 million tonnes with fisheries and aquaculture playing a significant and growing role in providing food, nutrition and employment. Fish accounts for 17 percent of the global population’s intake of animal protein. This updated version of the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products delivers key technical guidance on the harvesting, processing, transport and [...]

With an audience again exceeding 500, the 43rd gathering of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, being held in three-hour sessions across six days, has completed its programme of standard adoption and approval of new work. Chairperson Guilherme Da Costa, Brazil, applauded once again the continued collaboration of Member Countries to build consensus and ensure valuable work can continue. “I thank you all for your support, your energy and usual cooperative spirit”, he said. The Commission adopted a series of standards from the Processed [...]