Background Paper
WHAT IS CODEX ALIMENTARIUS?
September, 2001
The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1962 as a
joint endeavor of the U.N. World Health Organization and the U.N.
Food and Agricultural Organization. With more than 160 countries
as current members, the Commission's official mandate is to implement
the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
The Food Standards Programme has five distinct goals:
- To protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices
in the food trade.
- To promote coordination of all food standards work undertaken
by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- To determine food standard priorities
- To initiate and guide the preparation of draft standards through
and with the aid of appropriate organizations.
- To finalize standards.
Why Do the Members of GMA Care about Codex?
The Codex Commission is now the food safety standards body used
to settle global trade disputes involving food. Codex standards
are now the benchmarks against which national food measures and
regulations are evaluated. (In 1995 when the World Trade Organization
was created, Codex, under the WTO’s Uruguay Round Agreements,
was named one of five recognized bodies for setting international
standards). In short, trade using Codex standards – or don't
trade!
Difficulties in Codex
While the growing world interest in all Codex activities clearly
indicates global acceptance of the Codex philosophy – embracing
harmonization, protecting consumers’ interests, and facilitating
international trade – many countries find it difficult to
accept Codex standards in the statutory sense. Differing legal and
administrative systems, varying political systems and, at times,
conflicting national attitudes and concepts of sovereign rights
impede the progress of harmonization and deter acceptance of Codex
standards.
The Codex Alimentarius has its roots in the scientific community
and so enjoys a lower profile than many other international organizations
(such as the WTO and NAFTA.) For this reason, it has often been
neglected by national trade negotiators. Contrary to the Codex mission
of cooperation among nations, some are using Codex to establish
barriers to global trade. These countries understand the trade implication
of Codex standards and use the forum to promote their trade agendas
by introducing standards that create barriers to trade. Perhaps
the most effective of these are the nations of the European Union
(EU). Much more frequently of late, the EU countries have been attempting
to negate sound science in Codex standards in lieu of national political
trade interests.
Here’s a brief summary of some barriers to trade currently
being debated in Codex:
Non-Science-Based Mandatory Labeling Of Food Derived
From Biotechnology
This standard has no health benefit for consumers
and is a deterrent to the international food trade. The EU and European
consumer groups at the Codex Committee on Food Labeling have advanced
and supported this negative standard. Not only is this proposed
standard not based on the scientific principles of Codex, but it
also is not within the scope of mandated work of Codex and may be
an infraction of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement.
Country of Origin Ingredient Labeling
The UK government is proposing to require detailed
labeling of the country of origin on all prepackaged foods as well
as labeling of product ingredients. Mandating country-of-origin
labeling across the board or expanding it to include ingredients
would be burdensome and impractical.
Consideration of “Other Factors” in the
Development of Codex Standards
Many analysts say that EU members are intent on undermining
the foundation of science in setting Codex standards. Critics of
recent EU action in this regard - including GMA - say EU members
are advocating socio-economic, cultural, animal welfare and other
factors not relevant to either consumer health or fair trade. The
Codex Statements of Principle, authorizing consideration of "other
legitimate factors,” make very clear the limited scope intended
for such factors by stating they must still be "relevant for
the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair
practices in food trade." As such, consideration of other factors
should complement, not substitute for, the scientific analysis upon
which all Codex decision-making must be based.
The “Precautionary Principle”
Advocated by the EU - led by France - this instrument
of environmental law is vigorously being pushed in all areas of
Codex. This principle, a well-intentioned but vaguely defined concept,
demands a 100-percent-guaranteed risk-free world. The “Precautionary
Principle” would be applied whenever there is a supposed potential
for adverse effects. But, in reality, it erects technical and non-tariff
barriers to trade with no corresponding benefit to public health
and welfare. A recent World Bank study estimated that Africa suffers
more than (US)$700 million in lost exports as a consequence of this
precautionary principle, which holds that restrictions or regulations
on food imports are justified while the scientific risks to health
remain unproven.
The fact is that precaution is already a part of regulatory decision
making, without imposing an arbitrary Codex standard. Member states
currently apply precaution in the exercise of their responsibilities
in ensuring food safety on a daily basis.
GMA Action
The volume of world food trade is enormous, and GMA member companies
represent (US)$460 billion of that world trade. Accordingly, GMA
will continue to be fully engaged in Codex decision-making to ensure
that international food standards are based soundly on science,
promote fair practices in food trade, and protect the health of
our consumers.
GMA serves as the Secretariat to the International Council of Grocery
Manufacturers Associations (ICGMA), a body of national food associations
from around the world. The ICGMA enjoys international non-governmental
organization status before the Codex Alimentarius Commission and
participates actively in Codex meetings. This participation extends
to the development of position papers and written comments with
submissions to the Codex Secretariat and all 165 members of Codex.
Additionally, GMA serves as a steering member of the Food Industry
Codex Coalition (FICC), whose membership consists of US industry,
commodity, consumer and trade association groups. FICC is the collective
voice of these groups to the US government and Congress.
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