CAC 45 Rome, 21-25th November 2022
The 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission was a hybrid meetin. in Rome with over 350 participants online and 400 in person. There were several highly controversial topics on the agenda, including Zilpaterol, the drug made by Merck used to promote growth in livestock, and Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for malnourished infants and young children. IBFAN, ENCA and partners were there to protect breastfeeding and bio-diverse and sustainable food systems. For more CLICK HERE
The UK’s Steve Wearne, as the new Chairperson of the Commission,opened the meeting introducing QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO who began his welcome address saying that he was born in 1963, the same year as Codex. He stressed food security, efficiency, professionalism, the critical role of science, technology and innovation, and said that Codex standards help provide health, prosperity and healthy planet. He also pledged full transparency and that no one would be left behind.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General followed with a powerful and honest opening message by video, welcoming the fact that everyone could meet face-to-face again:
“But you meet at at time of unprecedented challenges. Conflicts and climate change are exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. Most people around the world who have access to food can not afford healthy diets. Deforestation and habitat loss are increasing the risk of zoonotic pathogens. Anti Microbial Resistance, environmental contamination and degradation, occupational hazards, unsafe and adulterated foods – the list goes on. A transformation of the world’s food systems is needed urgently, based on a One Health approach that protects and promotes the health of humans, animals and the planet. The Codex Alimentarius has a critical role to play in guiding country regulations that promote health, while facilitating fair trade. WHO remains committed to working with FAO to develop and deliver high quality scientific advice and evidence-based global food food safety guidelines and standards.”
After the addresses from FAO and WHO, Steve Wearne, as the new Chairperson of the Commission, opened the meeting and,gave thanks to WHO’s Dr Chizuru Nishida, who has been the WHO representative at Codex for 29 of her 36 years at WHO. The IBFAN Codex team is acutely aware of the enormous difference that Dr Nishida has made to our work, providing strong and consistent support for policy coherence with WHO’s recommendations throughout that time. She will be hugely miss