The Codex Alimentarius Commission is the international organization responsible for proposals and consultations on all matters pertaining to the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program. The SPS Agreement recognizes the Codex Alimentarius Commission as the international standard setting organization for food safety. The Codex Alimentarius Commission works together with the other two international organizations named in the SPS Agreement: the IPPC for plant health and OIE for animal health.
Key Points
Purposes of the Codex system:
- Protect the health of consumers
- Ensure fair practices in the food trade
- Promote the coordination of all food-standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations
- Draft standards with the aid of appropriate organizations
- Finalize standards
- Publish standards in a Codex Alimentarius, either as regional or worldwide standards
- Amend published standards as necessary
The major commodities included in the Codex are:
- Cereals, legumes, and derived products, including vegetable proteins
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Processed and quick-frozen fruits and vegetables
- Fruit juices