Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain The Codex Alimentarius Commission Module 2.1.

Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain

The Codex Alimentarius Commission

Module 2.1

Module 2.1 – The Codex

Alimentarius Commission

Objectives

Inform on the role and activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Create awareness of the international importance of Codex regulations

Create interest and understanding of mechanisms for national involvement in the Codex Alimentarius Commission



Content

Introduction to the Codex Alimentarius Commission What is it? What are its objectives? How does

it function? Codex work at regional level

Regional committees Codex work at national level

National Codex Contact Points; National Codex Committee



What is the Codex Alimentarius Commission?

A joint FAO/WHO inter-governmental body with 171 member countries (as of August 2005) plus observers

Responsible for implementing FAO/WHO Joint Food Standards Programme since 1962



What is the function of the CAC?

To protect the health of consumers To ensure fair practices in the food trade To coordinate food standards work

internationally To finalise and publish international

standards, codes of practice and recommendations in the Codex Alimentarius



The Codex Alimentarius

‘Codex Alimentarius’ means ‘Food Code’

Comprises 14 volumes All standards available

at Codex web-site Codex standards are

recommended (not mandated) food quality and safety standards



How is Codex organised?

Codex Secretariat located at FAO HQ

Executive Committee meets annually

Technical committees and task forces meet every 1 or 2 years

Regional Coordinating Committees

CAC Sessions held every 2 years



Structure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

E xe cu tive C o m m ittee S e c re ta ria t

G e n era l C o m m itte es(9 )

C o m m ittee s ad jo urn ed(4 )

a d h oc T ask Fo rces(3 )

A c tive C o m m itte es(7 )

C o m m o d ity C o m m itte esa n d Ta sk Fo rces

R e g ion a l C o m m itte es(6 )

CodexA limentarius Com mission



How are Codex standards elaborated?

Commission decides on new work

Standards elaborated in relevant technical committee

Procedure for elaborating standards facilitates stakeholder input

Commission decides on adoption of Codex texts

Reports of CAC sessions are published



Current Codex final texts

Food standards – 237 Codes of Practice – 45 Guidelines – 33 Guidelines for limits of contaminants – 25 Pesticides evaluated – 207 Limits of pesticide residues – 3274 Veterinary drugs evaluated – 54 Limits of veterinary drugs residues – 289 Food additives evaluated – 1300



Horizontal Codex standards

Horizontal standards Prepared in General subject committees Have across-the-board relevance to a number of commodities

Work of some Codex Horizontal Committees is relevant to OTA question Food Additives and contaminants (CCFAC)

• Initiated discussions on need for a Code of Practice on OTA in coffee and cocoa (April 2005)

Food Hygiene (CCFH) General Principles (CCGP) Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems

(CCFICS) Methods Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)



Vertical Codex standards

Vertical standards Vertical standards are those related to a particular

commodity

There are no vertical Codex coffee standards – other international coffee standards exist (ISO, ICO)



Codex technical committee sessions

Open to all member governments and observers

Participation through attendance at sessions and submission of comments

Timely circulation of announcements and working documents

A b ou t C od ex

F o rthco m in g m e etin gs

re p o rts

a rch ive rep o rts

M e etin gs a nd E ve n ts O ffic ia l s ta nd a rds

C o de x H o m e P a ge

On the Codex web-site:



Key features of the ‘Codex process’

Science-based Participatory Transparent

Scientific advisory bodies to Codex:

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)

Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues (JMPR)

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA)



Effective participation in CAC

National Codex Structures National Codex

Contact Points National Codex

Committees

Regional Codex Coordinating Committees



National Codex structures

Industry Groups

Consumer Groups

National Governments

Codex Alimentarius Commission/Codex Secretariat

Scientific Community

Contact PointNational Codex

National Codex Committee



Codex Contact Point (CCP)

Link between Codex Secretariat and Member countries

Coordination of Codex activities within their own countries

Reception and circulation of Codex final texts and working documents of Codex sessions

Sending of comments on Codex documents or proposals to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, subsidiary bodies and/or Codex Secretariat



Codex Contact Point (CCP)

Close cooperation with national Codex committee

Liaison with food industry, consumers, traders and other concerned parties

Exchange of information and coordination of activities with other Codex Members

Maintenance of a library of Codex texts



National Codex Committee (NCC)

Acts as a consultative group to the government Formulates the country response to the proposals of

CAC Nominates delegates to represent the country at

Codex meetings Advises the government on the best possible decisions

as regards Codex standards and their implementation Appoints such technical sub-committees as may be

necessary for the country's effective participation in Codex

Undertakes such other duties as may be advised by the government



Regional Codex Committees

Definition of problems and needs in the region

Development of regional standards Coordination of activities in the region Representation of specific interests of the

region to the Commission Promotion of acceptance of Codex

standards by the member countries



What is the role of a regional committee?

Coordinating Committee for Africa Coordinating Committee for Asia Coordinating Committee for Europe Coordinating Committee for Latin America

and the Caribbean Coordinating Committee for the Near East Coordinating Committee for North

America and the South West Pacific



Summary

The Codex Alimentarius is a body of internationally recommended food quality and safety standards

Codex Alimentarius standards are of singular importance in international food trade

Countries should strengthen mechanisms for ensuring effective participation in CAC



Next steps…

Keep informed of issues being handled in Codex

Follow up with national Codex structures on key issues of national interest

Promote harmonisation of national measures with Codex

Codex Alimentarius

www.codexalimentarius.net

FAO Food Quality and SafetyProgrammes

http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/sitemap_en.stm#food

Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain The Codex Alimentarius Commission Module 2.1.

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