About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) & Codex Alimentarius
The Codex Alimentarius Commission ( CAC )
The Codex Alimentarius Commission or CAC is the body responsible for all matters regarding the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and WHO which are interested in international food standards.
The Commission meets in regular session once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.
The programme of work of the Commission is funded through the regular budgets of WHO and FAO with all work subject to approval of the two governing bodies of the parent organizations.
The Commission works in the six UN official languages.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of Codex comprises the Chair, three vice Chairs, six regional coordinators and seven elected representatives from the various geographical groups of Codex.
Between sessions, the Executive Committee acts as the Executive organ of the Commission.
In particular, the Executive Committee can make proposals to the Commission regarding general orientation, strategic planning, and programming of the work of the Commission.
The Executive Committee assists in the management of the Commission’s programme of standards development by conducting a "critical review" of proposals to undertake work and monitoring the progress of standards development.
Members of The Executive Committee are elected on a geographic basis shall hold office from the end of the session of the Commission at which they were elected until the end of the second succeeding regular session and shall be eligible for re-election if they have not served for more than two years in their current term, but after having served two consecutive terms shall be ineligible to hold such office for the next succeeding term. Members elected on a geographic basis are expected to act within the Executive Committee in the interest of the Commission as a whole.
The Codex Alimentarius international food standards
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.
The reference made to Codex food safety standards in the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) means that Codex has far reaching implications for resolving trade disputes. WTO members that wish to apply stricter food safety measures than those set by Codex may be required to justify these measures scientifically.
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