What is Codex Alimentarius?
The Codex Alimentarius (Latin for “Food Code”) is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety.
Its name is derived from the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus.
Why do we need Codex Alimentarius?
International food trade has existed for thousands of years but until not too long ago food was mainly produced, sold and consumed locally.
Over the last century the amount of food traded internationally has grown exponentially, and a quantity and variety of food never before possible travels the globe today.
The Codex Alimentarius international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of this international food trade.
Consumers can trust the safety and quality of the food products they buy and importers can trust that the food they ordered will be in accordance with their specifications.
Who develops and maintains the texts of Codex Alimentarius?
The texts of Codex Alimentarius are developed and maintained by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a body that was established in 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was joined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1962, and held its first session in Rome in 1963.
What is the main goal of Codex Alimentarius Commission?
The main goals of Codex Alimentarius Commission are to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the international food trade.
Is Codex Alimentarius recognized by WTO?
The Codex Alimentarius is recognized by the World Trade Organization as an international reference point for the resolution of disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.
What is the scope of Codex Alimentarius?
The Codex Alimentarius includes standards for all the principal foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, for distribution to the consumer.
The Codex Alimentarius includes provisions in respect of food hygiene, food additives, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, contaminants, labelling and presentation, methods of analysis and sampling, and import and export inspection and certification.
What are contaminants in food?
Contaminants are substances that have not been intentionally added to food.
Food production processes can lead to substances entering the food at any moment: during manufacturing, handling, storage, processing or distribution. Contaminants can also enter the food from the environment.
The presence of such substances in food must be monitored carefully to avoid contamination effecting the quality of the food or making the food unsafe.
What is Codex maximum level (ML) for a contaminant?
The Codex maximum level (ML) for a contaminant in a food or feed commodity is the maximum concentration of that substance recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in that commodity.
What is the role of Codex Alimentarius in Nutrition and Labelling of food products?
Codex Alimentarius provides guidance on the compositional requirements of foods so that they are nutritionally safe.
Codex also provides guidance on general labelling of foods and the health or nutrient claims producers make on labels, with terms such as “low fat”, “high fat” etc.
Codex guidance ensures that consumers understand what they are buying and that “it is what it says it is”.
What is the role of Codex Alimentarius in setting pesticides limit?
To protect consumer health, most countries have maximum legal limits for pesticide residues in foods. Trade difficulties can arise when limits differ between countries.
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is responsible for establishing Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food or feed that move in international trade.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES 1 . As regards the use of international food safety standards as reference point for the dispute settlements, which one of the following does WTO collaborate with?
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
(b) International Federation of Standards Users
(c) International Organization for Standardization
(d) World Standards Cooperation
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission . The Codex Alimentarius is recognized by the World Trade Organization as an international reference point for the resolution of disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.
