FAO, others launch 4th edition of revised national codex manual

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other stakeholders have launched and presented to the policy makers, public the revised National Codex Committee Manual produced by FAO in collaboration with the National Codex Committee of Nigeria.

The manual which was launched in Abuja on Thursday, will enhance the work of the Codex Committee in Nigeria towards creating effective and efficient policies and strategies to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the country.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), was jointly established in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.

Speaking during the launching, FAO Country Representative, who was represented by the Assistant Country Representative, Mr. David Fehintola, said the FAO country office with support from the regional office for Africa, continues to partner with the Government of Nigeria and the National Codex Committee towards creating effective and efficient policies and strategies to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the country.

“FAO believe that ensuring the supply of safe, quality and nutritious foods is as important as ensuring the availability of foods and food standardization. “Poor quality foods do not ensure food security”

“FAO has been supporting the National Codex Committee (NCC) in Nigeria, which has members from all the MDAS and the Private sector through the execution of the Codex Trust Fund 2 activities with a focus on the implementation of the Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

“We, at FAO believe that it is vital that the NCC commits itself to the core values of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in its Inclusiveness, Collaboration, Consensus Building and Transparency in all its work. FAO in its support through the CTF2 project endeavors to ensure the participation of all Codex members. in the country in standard setting process to ensure these core values are met. A lot has been achieved this year in terms of capacity building of codex members, advocacy, sensitization and public awareness as well as in the review, finalization and dissemination of the NCC procedural manual.

“The reason we are here today is to officially launch and present to the Policy makers, the Stakeholders and the public the revised National Codex Committee Manual produced by FAO in collaboration with the National Codex Committee of Nigeria and the dissemination of the document,” he said.

He urged the committee members to remember that the mission of CAC is to “protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade by setting international, science-based food safety and quality standards”. “Let us strive to ensure we meet this mission.

“Therefore, there is need for the world to “come together to create food safety and quality standards to protect everyone everywhere.” Today, the CAC has 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization.

“Since the inception of CAC, FAO has worked with WHO in the development of international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practices to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices in the food trade using the principles of risk analysis and scientific advice provided by joint FAO/WHO expert bodies and consultations,” he said.