Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, guidelines, and codes of practice relating to food safety and quality, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963.
The purpose of Codex Alimentarius is to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. It covers a wide range of topics related to food production, processing, preservation, labeling, and distribution, as well as food safety risk assessment and management.
The standards set by Codex Alimentarius are voluntary and not legally binding, but many countries use them as a basis for their own national food safety regulations. In addition, Codex Alimentarius has played an important role in facilitating international trade in food products by providing a common set of food safety and quality standards that are recognized and accepted by many countries.
The development of Codex Alimentarius involves extensive consultation with stakeholders, including governments, industry, consumer organizations, and scientific experts. The standards are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new scientific knowledge and technological developments.
Overall, Codex Alimentarius is an important international initiative that helps to ensure the safety and quality of the food we eat, and facilitates the international trade of food products through the establishment of common standards and guidelines.
Leave a comment