Codex Alimentarius Commission
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC)is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)in May 1963 with the objective of protecting consumer’s health and ensuring fair practices in food trade.
- The Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations as reference standards for international trade and trade dispute settlement
- Currently the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union). India became a member of Codex Alimentarius in 1964.
- India, as the Regional Coordinator for FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA) is a member of the CCEXEC
- India is the host secretariat for the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs
CODEX COMMITTEES
- The food standards development work of the Commission is assisted by its Executive Committee and subsidiary bodies –General subject/Commodity Committees, Coordinating Committees and Task Forces
- The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Commission as its executive organ and assists in the management of its programme of standards development, mainly by conducting a critical review of its work programme, making proposals regarding general orientation and strategic planning.
CODEX STANDARDS
- “Voluntary in nature, Codex standards can be general or specific and are recognised by WTO Agreements as reference standards”
General Standards, Guidelines and Codes of Practice
- These core Codex texts, typically deal with hygienic practice, labelling, contaminants, additives, inspection & certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides and apply horizontally to products and product categories.
Commodity standards
- Codex commodity standards refer to a specific product although increasingly Codex now develops standards for food groups.
Regional standards
- Standards developed by the respective Regional Coordinating Committees, applicable to the respective regions.
Source: Indian Express & fssai.gov.in
