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What Codex Alimentarius means to us?


The Codex Alimentarius Commission is the international body responsible for the execution of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations/World Health Organisation (WHO) Food Standards Programme. It was established in 1962 by the FAO and the WHO. There are currently 163 countries that are Codex members.

The principal role of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is to develop food standards that can be recommended to governments for adoption. The Commission works to harmonize and co-ordinate all food standards work internationally, whether undertaken by governmental or non-governmental organisations. Its global charter is the protection of the health of consumers and the ensuring of fair practices in the food trade. Coverage extends to all the principal foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, in the form that they are delivered to the consumer. The Codex Alimentarius (Latin, meaning Food Law or Code) refers to the collection of international food standards adopted by the Commission.

The principal developmental work of the Commission is undertaken by its various committees and other subsidiary bodies. There are currently 25 subsidiary bodies, as well as six regional committees based on geographical regions.

The work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is divided between two basic types of committees. The first type, called Commodity Committees or Vertical Committees, deals with specific foods or classes of foods. These commodity committees work vertically in the commodities allotted to them. The second type, called the Horizontal Committees, deals with a specific subject area of concern on a generic basis across all foods and all commodity committees. The subject areas include food additives, pesticide residues, labelling, inspection and certification systems, and analysis and sampling. There are also the Regional Coordinating Committees, which deal with matters that are of regional interest. They are based in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and the South-West Pacific and the Near East.

Importance of Codex food standards - implications to trade

Codex standards were previously not mandatory. However, with the adoption of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Codex standards are now the benchmark for resolving trade disputes and harmonizing national legislation. Singapore adheres closely to the Codex standards to ensure that public health is protected and that the food trade is not impeded.

Codex Contact Point

The Food Control Department (FCD), Ministry of the Environment, is the Codex Contact Point for the Republic of Singapore. It serves as the link between the Codex Alimentarius Commission, each Member Country, the local food industries, consumer organisations, concerned government agencies/organisations and non-government organisations.

All the Codex final texts (standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other advisory texts) and working documents of Codex sessions are first received by the Codex Contact Point, studied and then disseminated to all concerned parties for reference and comments. Parties which have comments on the working Codex documents can provide feedback to the Codex Contact Point for evaluation before forwarding the comments to the Commission. The Codex Contact Point maintains a library of Codex final texts.

In addition to its role as a channel for exchange of information, the Codex Contact Point also ensures that various Codex food safety standards are adequate to protect the population and that Codex food standards are practicable and fair to our local food traders.

A National Codex Committee was formed in 1998. It comprises FCD, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), Food Standards Committee, Singapore Productivity and Standards Board, Singapore Confederation of Industries, Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and Consumers Association of Singapore.

The Committee serves to advise on the implications of various Codex food standards. It ensures that international food standards elaborated are practicable to local manufacturers and do not impose trade barrier. The Committee also works towards encourages local food manufacturers to improve quality and hygiene management to meet the requirements of international standards.

FCD and AVA have been actively contributing to the deliberation and establishment of food safety and food specification standards at the following Codex sessions, which are held annually or biannually.

  • Codex Alimentarius Commission (Plenary Session)

  • Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection

  • Codex Committee on General Principles

  • Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants

  • Codex Committee on Food Labelling

  • Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

  • Codex Regional Co-ordinating Committee for Asia

These Codex sessions serve as important forums to have national views and policies incorporated into proposed Codex standards and safety guidelines. This has taken greater significance in view that WTO has taken the stand that products which comply with Codex standards must be allowed import. WTO would consider it a trade barrier if such products were refused entry.

The Food Standards Committee and its eight Technical Committees assist the National Codex Committee by contribution of their expert knowledge on food standards. These committees currently focus their effort on Codex standards that deal with product specifications. They review existing and draft Codex standards and provide inputs to the National Codex Committee to formulate national position to safeguard Singapore's interests. The Technical Committees will also propose standards, which are important to our processors and traders, for consideration by Codex, especially on Asian products that have no international standards. The National Codex Committee has been working very closely with the Technical Committees to ensure that proposed Codex food standards are applicable to our local industries.

FCD and AVA, as regulatory authorities for food safety, lead Codex work in Singapore, in particular, in the field of food safety, food hygiene and sanitary requirements for all commodities whether in the raw or processed forms. They represent Singapore at various Codex meetings, participate actively in the deliberations and establishment of Codex standards.

A seminar on "Implications of Codex International Food Standards to Food Exporters & Proper Cold Chain Management for Milk and Dairy Products" organised by the Food Standards Committee, PSB and supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Agri-food & Veterinary Authority, Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association, Singapore Confederation of Industry, ECR (Singapore) and Singapore Article Number Council. This seminar will be held on 11 October 2000, in conjunction with the World Standards Day celebration.

Parties interested in matters relating to the Codex Alimentarius Commission can contact the Food Control Department at Tel: 731 9015 or email: lim_lee_san@env.gov.sg.

(Reference: "Impact of WTO on Codex Alimentarius and its implications on ASEAN countries" by Dr Richard J. Dawson, FAO)

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