Codex Alimentarius Commission often seen in the news is an initiative ...
- Recent context: India has recently hosted the fifth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) established under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
- To develop and expand worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs, and to consult with other international organizations in the standards development process CCSCH was formed in 2013 with the support of more than a hundred countries with India as the host country and Spices Board India as the Secretariat for organizing the sessions of the committee.
- Since its inception, the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs has been successful in developing harmonized global Codex standards for spices and herbs. In its past four sessions, the committee developed and finalized standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC) is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 1963.
- Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code”, is a collection of international standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
- The Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations as reference standards for international trade and trade dispute settlement.
- Currently, the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union). India became a member of Codex Alimentarius in 1964.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
- Additional Information
- The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
- The Global Food Safety Initiative is a private organization, established and managed by the international trade association, the Consumer Goods Forum under Belgian law in May 2000. The GFSI maintains a scheme to benchmark food safety standards for manufacturers as well as farm assurance standards.
Codex Alimentarius Commission often seen in the news is an initiative ...
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is an international body that sets standards, guidelines, and codes of practice related to food safety and quality. The main aim of the Commission is to ensure the safety and quality of food products and promote fair practices in the international food trade.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1963 by the FAO and the WHO to develop international food standards and guidelines. It is composed of 189 member countries, including the European Union, and various observer organizations. The Commission meets annually to discuss and adopt standards, which are then published in the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of internationally recognized food standards.
The key objectives of the Codex Alimentarius Commission include:
1. Protecting consumer health: The Commission develops science-based standards and guidelines to ensure the safety and quality of food products, with the aim of protecting consumer health.
2. Facilitating international trade: The Commission's standards and guidelines help facilitate the international trade of food products by providing a common basis for food safety and quality requirements.
3. Promoting fair practices: The Commission promotes fair practices in the food trade by establishing guidelines on labeling, advertising, and other aspects of food marketing.
4. Enhancing food safety systems: The Commission supports countries in strengthening their food safety systems by providing guidance on risk assessment, management, and communication.
The work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is crucial in ensuring that food products meet the necessary safety and quality standards, thereby protecting consumers and facilitating fair trade. The collaboration between the FAO and the WHO allows for the integration of scientific expertise and policy development, ensuring that the standards and guidelines developed by the Commission are based on the best available evidence and meet the needs of both consumers and the food industry.
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