Codex Secretariat

Introduction

The word Codex is the shortened form for Codex Alimentarius Commission or food code, an international body based in Rome, which has become the reference point for consumers, food producers and processors, national food control agencies and the international food trade. The code has had an enormous impact on the thinking of all its stakeholders especially its end users (consumers) and its influence extends to every continent and contributes greatly to public health and fair practices in trade.

Since its establishment in the early nineteen sixties, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the body charged with developing a food code, has attracted world attention to the field of food quality and safety and during the last three decades, all important aspects of food pertaining to the protection of consumers health and fair practices in food trade, have come under the scrutiny of the Commission.

The National Codex programme

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards has been designated as the Codex Contact Point/Codex Secretariat, when Guyana joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1985.  The primary function of the Codex Secretariat is to work in close collaboration with the National Codex Committee (NCC) as well as to act as the liaison point with the food industry, consumers, traders and others concerned to ensure that the Government is provided with a balance of policy and technical advice, upon which the base decisions relating to Codex work.

The Committee is configured along a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches detailed by Codex.  This approach is intended to encourage active participation by relevant stakeholders from both public and private sector entities.  The programme undertaken by the national Codex Committee is designed along the lines of National priorities based on market access, food safety and consumer protection and safety.

The primary function of the Codex Secretariat is to work in close collaboration with the National Codex Committee as well as to act as the liaison point with the food industry, consumers, traders and other stakeholders to ensure that the Government is provided with technical advice and a balanced position upon which policies can be derived and informed decisions made regarding the implementation of Codex Standards

The functions of the National Codex Committee are to:

1. Formulate the country response to the proposals of the Codex Alimentarius Commission;

2. Nominate delegates to represent the country at various Codex meetings;

3. Advise the Government on the best possible decisions as regards Codex standards and their interpretation;

4. Appoint such technical sub-committees as may be necessary for the country’s effective participation in Codex activities;

5. Implement the Food Act, Regulations, Standards and Code of Practices;

6. Advise stakeholders regarding current regulations, standards and Code of Practices;

7. Monitor compliance with international standards;

8. Recommend new regulations, standards and codes of practice based on the needs of the Authority.

9. Advise the Authority regarding periodic renumber of the standards to adapt to changing priorities and advances in knowledge and technology and the international activities going on;

10. Develop ‘on farm’ safety programmes to address agricultural production including:  water quality, workers hygiene, field sanitation, chemical/pesticide application, transportation and trace back systems and packing house facilities.