(FAO: Rome/Geneva) -- The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted 44 new and amended food standards and set up a comprehensive set of risk analysis principles to help governments establish their own standards, especially for food items that are not covered by Codex standards, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization recently announced.

Codex food-safety standards are developed using scientific advice from FAO/WHO expert committees that enables the rigorous standard setting procedures within Codex. According to Dr. Kazuaki Miyagishima secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, “This is why Codex standards are so successful globally and the reason they are recognized by the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.

“Because governments often adopt Codex standards into their national legislation and sometimes even see the need for additional measures in areas not covered by Codex guidance, it is important that the extra safety measures are taken using the same rigorous and internationally recognized principles, not only to protect consumers, but to ensure they are consistent with multilateral trade rules” says Dr. Miyagishima.

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