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Codex meet to discuss food safety issues

Our Bureau

MUMBAI, July 1

THE Codex Alimentarius Commission, the highest international body on food quality and safety standards, will hold its 24th session in Geneva from July 2 to 7 when global food safety issues will be discussed.

The international food trade is currently valued at more than $400 billion annually. The Codex system was set up to protect the health of consumers, ensure fair practices in the international food trade and to coordinate all food standards work.

Major issues that are likely to be discussed in Geneva include draft principles for risk analysis of foods derived from modern biotechnology; standards for food hygiene, including bottled and packaged water; food labelling of organic and genetically modi fied food; guidelines for organic farming and livestock production; standards and codes of practice for a wide range of food and food products; food additives; contaminants: maximum levels for lead, cadmium in cereals and aflatoxin in milk; and maximum l imits on pesticide and veterinary drug residues.

Codex develops and adopts international standards for food based on sound scientific risk assessment provided by the expert advisory bodies convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.