FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts new standards

Rome - The United Nations food standards body Codex Alimentarius Commission concluded its extended 44th session (CAC44) today with the adoption of the outstanding agenda items in the final report.

On December 14th, CAC44 adopted the standards – available on the Codex website – during a series of virtual meetings on 8-13, 15, 17 and 18 November 2021. Codex food safety and quality standards are based on sound science provided by independent international risk assessment bodies or ad-hoc consultations organized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Codex Committees and Task Forces had met virtually earlier in 2021 to complete work on a range of standards, which were proposed for adoption by the Commission, in the areas of:

• Spices and Culinary Herbs
• Contaminants in Foods 
• Methods of Analysis and Sampling 
• Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
• Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
• Pesticide Residues 
• Food Additives 
• Food Labelling 
• Antimicrobial Resistance

The following standards are among those adopted during the 44th session of the Commission:

• Revision to the 2005 Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXC 61-2005)
• Guidelines on Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance
• Guidelines on front-of-pack nutrition labelling (for inclusion as an Annex to the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling)
• General standard for the labelling of non-retail containers of foods
• Guidance on paperless use of electronic certificates (Revised Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates)
• Principles and guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary Third Party Assurance (vTPA) programmes
• Standards for dried oregano, dried or dehydrated ginger, cloves, and dried basil.
• Maximum levels of cadmium in chocolate

Further to the above-mentioned decisions, many food safety and quality standards were adopted. A list of Adopted Standards and Related Texts is available here.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Established in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission is charged with protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in international food trade. It comprises 189 Members and 240 observer organizations, the Codex Alimentarius Commission meets annually to adopt food safety and quality standards and related recommendations.