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Contaminants Contaminants are substances that have not been intentionally added to food. Food production processes can lead to substances entering the food at any moment: during manufacturing, handling, storage, processing or distribution. Contaminants can also enter the food from the environment. The presence of such substances in food must be monitored carefully to avoid contamination effecting the quality of the food or making the food unsafe. The role of Codex in Contaminants The Codex maximum level (ML) for a contaminant in a food or feed commodity is the maximum concentration of that substance recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in that commodity. As many contaminants occur naturally it would be impossible to impose a zero limit on these substances. To protect human health Codex works to keep these levels as low as possible based on sound scientific evidence. The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) establishes and endorses permitted maximum levels or guideline levels for contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed. It also prepares priority lists of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants for risk assessment by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The CCCF considers methods of analysis and sampling for the determination of contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed and develops and elaborates standards or codes of practice for related subjects. It also considers other matters assigned to it by the Commission in relation to contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants in food and feed. Reference Title Committee Last modified Reference: CXC 49-2001 Title: Code of Practice Concerning Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Food with Chemicals Committee: CCCF Last Modifiied: 2001 Reference: CXC 77-2017 Title: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Arsenic Contamination in Rice Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2017 Reference: CXC 78-2017 Title: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxins in Spices Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2017 Reference: CXC 79-2019 Title: Code of Practice for the Reduction of 3-Monochloropropane-1,2- Diol Esters (3-MCPDEs) and Glycidyl Esters (GEs) in Refined Oils and Food Products Made With Refined Oils Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2019 Reference: CXC 81-2022 Title: Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Cadmium Contamination in Cocoa Beans Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2022 Reference: CXG 92-2019 Title: Guidelines for Rapid Risk Analysis Following Instances of Detection of Contaminants in Food where there is No Regulatory Level Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2019 Reference: CXS 193-1995 Title: General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed Committee: CCCF Last Modified: 2025 Showing 1 to 7 of 7 entries The 17th session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) was declared officially open in Panama City, 15 April, following speeches from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and other distinguished guests. The opening ceremony paved the way for what promises to be an intensive week of discussions around a variety of current CCCF texts and future work for the Committee. His Excellency the President expressed appreciation that Panama was chosen to co-host [...] The Seventeenth Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF17) will take place 15–19 April 2024 in Panama City, Panama. As the meeting approaches, we spoke to Sally Hoffer, from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, who will chair CCCF17 on behalf of The Netherlands, to find out more about the agenda of the Committee, co-hosting a Codex meeting and her expectations for this session. Sally, thanks for your time. This is the fourth time for [...] As the sixteenth session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) drew to close in Utrecht, the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Thursday 20 April 2023, Japan took the floor to inform the Committee that this would be Yukiko Yamada’s last meeting. Yukiko began her Codex career initially in the Codex Secretariat in FAO in 1993 and over the last 30 years has served the Codex Alimentarius Commission, her Government but above all consumers in her inspirational and “unwavering [...] “In light of today’s global political and environmental problems, the work of the Codex Alimentarius members on ensuring the safety of food is more relevant than ever,” said Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, speaking via video message at the opening of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) being held in Utrecht from 18 to 21 April 2023. Video message: Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, for the Kingdom [...] In 2022 the Codex Secretariat began work on reviewing the formatting and layout of Codex texts to ensure consistency, to meet FAO and international publishing standards and to enhance readability. A digital object identifier has also been added to standards as they are published, providing a unique reference that can support tracking and citation of each text. The project is part of the Codex Secretariat’s contribution to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Code of [...] The challenges and opportunities posed by the emerging issues in agrifood systems identified by FAO’s foresight programme were outlined at a side event of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food in Utrecht on Tuesday 18 April. The role Codex might play in providing guidance on new foods and new food production systems was discussed by a panel that included Vittorio Fattori, FAO Food Safety Officer, Daniela Battaglia, FAO Animal Production Officer and Ong How Chee from the Singapore Food Agency, [...]
About Codex Alimentarius C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S is about safe, good food for everyone - everywhere. International food trade has existed for thousands of years but until not too long ago food was mainly produced, sold and consumed locally. Over the last century the amount of food traded internationally has grown exponentially, and a quantity and variety of food never before possible travels the globe today. International Food Standards The C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of this international food trade. Consumers can trust the safety and quality of the food products they buy and importers can trust that the food they ordered will be in accordance with their specifications. Protecting Consumer Health Public concerns about food safety issues often place Codex at the centre of global debates. Veterinary drugs, pesticides, food additives and contaminants are some of the issues discussed in Codex meetings. Codex standards are based on sound science provided by independent international risk assessment bodies or ad-hoc consultations organized by FAO and WHO. While being recommendations for voluntary application by members, Codex standards serve in many cases as a basis for national legislation. Removing Barriers to Trade The reference made to Codex food safety standards in the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) means that Codex has far reaching implications for resolving trade disputes. WTO members that wish to apply stricter food safety measures than those set by Codex may be required to justify these measures scientifically. Since its foundation in 1963, the Codex system has evolved in an open, transparent and inclusive way to meet emerging challenges. International food trade is a 2000 billion dollar a year industry, with billions of tonnes of food produced, marketed and transported. General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius Purpose of the Codex Alimentarius The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally adopted food standards and related texts presented in a uniform manner. These food standards and related texts aim at protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade. The publication of the Codex Alimentarius is intended to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods to assist in their harmonization and in doing so to facilitate international trade. Scope of the Codex Alimentarius The Codex Alimentarius includes standards for all the principal foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, for distribution to the consumer. Materials for further processing into foods should be included to the extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius as defined. The Codex Alimentarius includes provisions in respect of food hygiene, food additives, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, contaminants, labelling and presentation, methods of analysis and sampling, and import and export inspection and certification. Nature of Codex Standards Codex standards and related texts are not a substitute for, or alternative to national legislation. Every country’s laws and administrative procedures contain provisions with which it is essential to comply. Codex standards and related texts contain requirements for food aimed at ensuring for the consumer a safe, wholesome food product free from adulteration, correctly labelled and presented. A Codex standard for any food or foods should be drawn up in accordance with the Format for Codex Commodity Standards and contain, as appropriate, the sections listed therein. Revision of Codex Standards The Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies are committed to revision as necessary of Codex standards and related texts to ensure that they are consistent with and reflect current scientific knowledge and other relevant information. When required, a standard or related text shall be revised or removed in accordance with the Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts. Each member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is responsible for identifying, and presenting to the appropriate committee, any new scientific and other relevant information which may warrant revision of any existing Codex standards or related texts.
Protecting health, facilitating trade What is the "Food Cood" Codex Alimentarius? The Codex Alimentarius, or "Food Code" is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and was established by FAO and WHO to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. It held its first meeting in 1963. [... more] Why do we need Food or Codex standards? Codex standards ensure that food is safe and can be traded. The 188 Codex members have negotiated science based recommendations in all areas related to food safety and quality. Codex food safety texts are a reference in WTO trade disputes. [... more] Common Questions What are Codex standards? The term "Codex Alimentarius" is Latin and means "food code”. Codex standards are international food texts, i.e. standards, codes of practice, codes of hygienic practice, guidelines and other recommendations, established to protect the health of the consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. The collection of food standards and related texts adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission is known as the Codex Alimentarius. Who Contributes to Food Standard Development? Food or Codex standards are adopted in most cases by consensus among Members and are based on the best scientific and technical knowledge. International organizations with official Observer Status in Codex may also make interventions, submit written comments …, during Codex meetings and on draft standards, but only Members (i.e. Countries) make decisions. Are Food or Codex standards mandatory? Codex texts are voluntary and do not have binding effect on national food legislation. However, WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) encouraged WTO members to harmonise national regulations with the international standards. Since the SPS Agreement specifically identifies Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations as the international benchmark for food safety, national regulations consistent with Codex standards are deemed to meet the requirement of the SPS Agreement. Under the SPS Agreement, WTO Members are allowed to implement national standards that are more stringent than those of Codex. In doing so, however, WTO Members may be requested to provide scientific justification that such stringent sanitary measures are required to achieve their appropriate level of protection, as well as demonstrate that the measure taken is based on an assessment of risk. Codex standards, guidelines and other recommendations may also be used as a reference in case of a food trade dispute. Who uses Codex standards? Codex standards are used by its Members to protect the health of the consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. Reference to the Codex Alimentarius occurs in many bilateral and plurilateral trade agreements. Several trade agreements have recently been negotiated or are being negotiated including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) among twelve Pacific Rim countries; the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and Europe, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the United States. These agreements typically contain provisions related to SPS measures and invariably reference the standards adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. How do governments use Codex standards? Members use Codex standards to ensure safe, good quality food to their citizens. By introducing legislation and regulation that is consistent with Codex standards and guidelines governments may reduce the risk of being brought before a WTO Disputes Panel. A Government can adopt its own level of protection, e.g. go beyond or stop short of Codex. If a government chooses a higher level of protection, and in the event of a trade dispute, it may be required to justify the sanitary measure corresponding to its chosen level of protection on scientific, health, or other legitimate grounds. In many countries, most food legislation is already consistent with Codex. Where do i find Food/Codex Standard? Use our List of Standards or browse by Codex Committee. Food/Codex and... Animal Feed Good animal feeding plays a vital role in animal health & welfare and in the production of safe and quality products of animal origin. Antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global threat of increasing concern to human and animal health. It also has implications for both food safety and food security and the economic well being of millions of farming households. Biotechnology While there is little controversy about many aspects of biotechnology and its application, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are often the target of very intensive debate. Contaminants Contaminants are chemical substances that have not been intentionally added to food or feed and may pose a risk to animal and human health. Nutrition & Labelling The food label is one of the most important tools consumers can use to make informed choices about healthy and safe foods. Pesticides Pesticides with public health uses are intended to limit the potential for disease. By their nature, many pesticides may pose some risk to humans, animals, or the environment. Scientific Approach Codex committees, when developing standards, need to analyze risk. Independent scientific advice is provided to Codex by expert bodies organized by FAO/WHO. These bodies also give direct advice to Member Governments. [... more] CCMAS45Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling Budapest Hungary 09/03/2026 13/03/2026 CCRVDF28Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods Minneapolis, Minnesota United States of America 23/03/2026 27/03/2026 CCFFP37Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products by correspondence 07/04/2026 08/05/2026 CCFA56Codex Committee on Food Additives Chongqing China 13/04/2026 17/04/2026 CCFL49Codex Committee on Food Labelling Ottawa Canada 11/05/2026 15/05/2026 CCEXEC90 Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Geneva
Switzerland 29/06/2026 03/07/2026 CAC49
Codex Alimentarius Commission Geneva
Switzerland 06/07/2026 10/07/2026 CCPR57
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
China 07/09/2026 12/09/2026 Standards CXS 193-1995
General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed CXC 1-1969
General Principles of Food Hygiene CXS 1-1985
General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods CXG 2-1985
Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling CXM 2
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and Risk Management Recommendations (RMRs) for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) The traces pesticides leave in treated products or those left by veterinary drugs in animals are called "residues". Pesticide residues A maximum residue limit (MRL) is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice. Veterinary drug residues The maximum residue limit (MRL) is the maximum concentration of residue legally tolerated in a food product obtained from an animal that has received a veterinary medicine. CXS 192-1995
General Standard for Food Additives Publications The procedural manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission helps national delegations and international organizations participate effectively in the work of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The manual sets out the basic rules of procedure, procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts, and basic definitions and guidelines for the operation of Codex committees. It also lists the subsidiary bodies to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, along with their current status. Regular amendments to the Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual enhance clarity, strengthen procedural guidance and harmonize language.
In the thirty-first edition, following adoption at the Forty-eighth Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, updates were made to the "Procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts" to reflect revised definitions and delineate procedure; the "Guidelines for subsidiary bodies" were updated based on a review of procedures; modifications to the language in the "Criteria and procedural guidelines for Codex committees and ad hoc intergovernmental task forces working by correspondence" clarified meaning and procedures; the "Risk analysis principles applied by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues" were updated to clarify language, ensure consistency, and to address superseded content; the "Table of committees, document references and terms of reference" was updated to reflect the reactivation of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (CCMMP) and the handover of host country responsibility from the United States of America to the Republic of Korea of the Codex Committee for Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV); a new heading was added to "Principles concerning the participation of international non-governmental organizations in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission" to clarify that the clause in paragraph 24 applies to all INGOs with observer status with Codex, irrespective of their status with FAO or WHO; several sections were to correct superseded text throughout the manual; and finally, editorial corrections and refinements were made, such as to further harmonize terminology, to improve readability. Download
An important step forward and a great gift for the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission! Jean-Luc Angot, France
Chairperson Codex Committee on General Principles
With the main objective of ‘reviewing the draft Guidelines for Strengthening Women’s Land Tenure Security in Africa’, the United Nations Economic Commission for... READ MORE Climate change remains a pressing global issue with far-reaching consequences that are profoundly impacting both life and land. At present, the global crisis lies at the... READ MORE In light of the first convening of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group in December 2024 in Nairobi, France and Kenya with support from UN-Habitat will... READ MORE This report analyses the land sector by looking at its legal and institutional set up, its stakeholders, and the key land administration functions: land tenure, land... READ MORE Each year increasing numbers of people are forcibly displaced from their homes because of conflict, violence, human rights abuses, natural disasters, climate change and... READ MORE The twenty-first century sees an unprecedented number of people on the move. Internal displacement has risen sharply over the past five years, with the number of... READ MORE This publication is third of the series In Defense of Land Rights which examines land conflicts in Asia that affect local communities. Using a common monitoring framework... READ MORE Despite the recognized importance of land rights for sustainable development, the land agenda has been overlooked in recent SDG reporting of governments. Official SDG... READ MORE This publication summarizes the discussions at the Asian regional workshop on “Monitoring of lands under conflict – incidence, drivers, and impacts” held on 26 to 27... READ MORE <style="margin-top:5px;"=""> </style="margin-top:5px;"=""> ABOUT US A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE ENJOYS SECURE LAND RIGHTS The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) is an alliance of international partners contributing to poverty alleviation through increased access to land and tenure security for all. We develop, disseminate and implement pro-poor. gender-responsive land tools that contribute to land reform, good land governance, inclusive land administration, sustainable land management, and functional land sector coordination.
Meet the Partner: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Grantmaking Areas Website
Meet the Partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO’s three main goals are: - the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition;
- the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and,
- the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
FAO’s beginnings started when forty-four governments in 1943 committed themselves to founding a permanent organization for food and agriculture, which was followed by the first session of FAO Conference in 1945 that established FAO as a specialized United Nations agency. In 1951, the FAO headquarters moved to Rome, Italy, from Washington, DC, the United States. FAO has been collaborating with the GLTN in the development of the Land Information Management System (LIMS) for Turkana County in Kenya. The project seeks to pilot the use and application of the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) in the context of a County Land Information System for managing tenure in an urban setting besides documenting the processes and build capacity on its use and capabilities, with the opportunity of scaling it up to also manage customary rights for communities within the county. STDM is a pro-poor, gender responsive and participatory land information system developed by the GLTN. STDM has been developed to bridge the gap between formally registered land and land that is not registered. It is a pro-poor, participatory and affordable land tool for representing a person-to-land relationship along the land rights continuum. The land tool has been developed by UN-Habitat through GLTN and other partners in recognition of the need for legal pluralism and a broader recognition of person-to-land relationships. Website
Meet the Partner : GIZ (German International Cooperation) GmbH The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH or GIZ in short, is a company that specializes in international development. GIZ is owned by the German Federal Government and operates in more than 130 countries. Its headquarters are located in Bonn and Eschborn, Germany. GIZ works in a variety of fields, namely: economic development and employment; government, democracy and poverty reduction; education, health and social security; environment and infrastructure; and agriculture, fisheries and food. GIZ works primarily with states, state agencies, and the private sector. GIZ mainly operates on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Further clients are other departments of the government, international donors like the European Union, World Bank or the United Nations, partner countries and the private sector. UN-Habitat through the GLTN together with the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have an ongoing collaboration project that is developing a more robust Tenure Responsive Land Use Planning (TR-LUP) tool, with special focus on applications in developing countries and incorporating experiences and good practices from other organizations. GIZ has launched a publication dealing with land “Land in German Development Cooperation: Guiding Principles, Challenges and Prospects for the Future”. This handbook discusses a number of principles, concrete tools and examples for dealing with land related problems. It makes reference to a number of pro-poor and gender responsive land tools and puts emphasis on the Continuum of land rights approach. The Continuum of Land Rights is being promoted and increasingly accepted worldwide. GLTN partners support the use of a continuum of land rights, or a range of rights, to make it possible for the majority of people, including the poor, to have security of tenure. Website
Meet the partner: International Land Coalition (ILC) International Land Coalition (ILC) is a coalition of 206 organisations representing 64 countries, working together to promote secure and equitable access to land for rural people, mainly through capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy. ILC was founded in 1995 – it was formerly called ‘The Popular Coalition to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty’ but was later renamed in 2003 in recognition of its strategic focus on land access issues). Over the past decades, the International Land Coalition (ILC) has advanced its mission by promoting secure access to land for rural people through capacity building, dialogue, and advocacy. The shared vision of its members is that secure and equitable access to land, and control over land, reduce poverty and contribute to identity, dignity, and inclusion. ILC strives to overcome any practices in its operations or those of its members that perpetuate the marginalisation of any section of society, and in particular of women. The ILC has supported its members to implement the Gender Evaluation Criteria (GEC) pilots in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The GEC is a flagship GLTN tool that addresses gender responsiveness in land tool development. The ILC has also facilitated capacity strengthening on the use of the GEC since 2012 througha series of Training of Trainers (ToT). ILC is also supporting their African members in Togo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria and Rwanda and links to ILC regional plan activities in Colombia and Indonesia. Website
Meet the Partner: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France supports the development of transparent, joint land governance, based on multi-stakeholder dialogue. Their aim is to promote land tenure systems that respect the variety of rights and sources of legitimacy, in order to foster equitable and sustainable development; through policies that seek to strike a balance between the rights and responsibilities of the various stakeholders and to take into account historical practices and changing local rights, as part of a long-term vision. As one of the member states supporting the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Land Tenure Guidelines proposed by the FAO Committee on World Food Security, France is now encouraging efforts to establish mechanisms to facilitate its application and improve the transparency of land transactions, in support of policies that aim to secure historic land rights, which are mainly held by rural families and communities and those living in the outskirts of urban areas. ( Source:‘Land Tenure and Development’ Technical Committee, 2015, Formalising Land rights in developing countries: moving from past controversies to future strategies, Paris, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement nternational (Maedi), Agence française de développement (AFD), 82 p ). Website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of International Development The main task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to secure and promote Norway’s interests internationally. Norway’s interests are determined by such factors as its geographical location in a strategically important area, its open economy, its position as a coastal state and steward of substantial marine resources, and its extensive exports of oil and gas. Strong international support for Palestine and the two-state solution at Global Alliance meeting in Oslo Press release 15/01/2025 ‘We need action, not just words. The international community must do more to ensure that the two-state solution becomes a reality. Today, I have urged everyone to think creatively about the concrete steps each of us can take to help build the Palestinian state. It is clear from our meeting that a vast majority of the world’s countries support a two-state solution. A just solution that safeguards the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is a prerequisite for lasting peace, and cannot be put off to a later date,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. Additional NOK 1 billion to Norwegian organisations for emergency relief efforts in Ukraine Press release 17/12/2024 Ukraine is in the midst of another cold winter of war. The Norwegian Government is now providing close to NOK 1 billion to seven Norwegian humanitarian organisations to support their emergency relief efforts in Ukraine. Latest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Contact E-mail: post@mfa.no
Phone: + 47 23 95 00 00
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THEMEN & DOSSIERS UKRAINE Massnahmen des Bundes zugunsten der Ukraine Am 24. Februar 2022 hat Russland die Ukraine militärisch angegriffen. Seitdem setzt der Bund in verschiedenen Bereichen Massnahmen um und hilft den vom Krieg betroffenen Menschen. Vom Nothilfepaket bis zum Wiederaufbauprozess - hier finden Sie alle Massnahmen des Bundes. EUROPA Beziehungen Schweiz-EU Die Schweiz und die Europäische Union haben die Verhandlungen auf Basis des Paketansatzes materiell abgeschlossen. Die Schweizer Delegation hat erreicht unter der Leitung von Chefunterhändler Patric Franzen die im Verhandlungsmandat des Bundesrates festgesetzten Ziele. UNO Die Schweiz im UNO-Sicherheitsrat Der Einsitz als nichtständiges Mitglied im UNO-Sicherheitsrat in den Jahren 2023/2024 setzt das Schweizer Engagement für Frieden und Sicherheit innerhalb der UNO und in der Welt fort. INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT IZA-Strategie 2021–2024 Im Zentrum der IZA-Strategie 2021–2024 stehen die Linderung von Not und Armut in der Welt sowie die die nachhaltige Entwicklung. SOZIALE MEDIEN Im Fokus des EDA Von Bern zu den rund 170 Schweizer Vertretungen in der Welt, von den Reisen und Auftritten von Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis zu den Kooperationsprojekten: Verfolgen Sie die tägliche Arbeit des EDA, indem Sie unsere verschiedenen Konten in den Sozialen Medien abonnieren. DEPARTEMENTSVORSTEHER Willkommen im EDA Gehen Sie mit Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis auf Entdeckungsreise durch das EDA. Er führt Sie in die Arbeit und die Rolle des Departements ein. Entdecken Sie auch sein Porträt und seine Reden. Schweizer Vertretungen im Ausland Afghanistan Ägypten Albanien Algerien Angola Antigua und Barbuda Äquatorialguinea Argentinien Armenien Aserbaidschan Äthiopien Australien Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesch Barbados Belarus Belgien Belize Benin Besetztes Palästinensisches Gebiet Bhutan Bolivien Bosnien und Herzegowina Botsuana Brasilien Brunei Darussalam Bulgarien Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Chile China Cookinseln Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Dänemark Deutschland Dominica Dominikanische Republik Dschibuti Ecuador El Salvador Eritrea Estland Eswatini Fidschi Finnland Frankreich Gabun Gambia Georgien Ghana Grenada Griechenland Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heiliger Stuhl (Vatikanstadt) Honduras Indien Indonesien Irak Iran Irland Island Israel Italien Jamaika Japan Jemen Jordanien Kambodscha Kamerun Kanada Kasachstan Katar Kenia Kirgisistan Kiribati Kolumbien Komoren Kongo (Kinshasa) Kongo (Brazzaville) Korea (Nord-) Korea (Süd-) Kosovo Kroatien Kuba Kuwait Laos Lesotho Lettland Libanon Liberia Libyen Liechtenstein Litauen Luxemburg Madagaskar Malawi Malaysia Malediven Mali Malta Marokko Marschallinseln Mauretanien Mauritius Mexiko Mikronesien Moldova Monaco Mongolei Montenegro Mosambik Myanmar Nauru Nepal Neuseeland Nicaragua Niederlande Niger Nigeria Nordmazedonien Norwegen Oman Österreich Pakistan Palau Panama Papua-Neuguinea Paraguay Peru Philippinen Polen Portugal Ruanda Rumänien Russland Salomoninseln Sambia Samoa San Marino São Tomé und Príncipe Saudi-Arabien Schweden Senegal Serbien Seychellen Sierra Leone Simbabwe Singapur Slowakei Slowenien Somalia Spanien Sri Lanka St. Kitts und Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent und die Grenadinen Südafrika Sudan Südsudan Suriname Syrien Tadschikistan Taiwan (Chinesisches Taipei) Tansania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad und Tobago Tschad Tschechische Republik Tunesien Türkei Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine Ungarn Uruguay Usbekistan Vanuatu Vatikan (Heiliger Stuhl) Venezuela Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate Vereinigtes Königreich Vereinigte Staaten Vietnam Zentralafrikanische Republik Zypern Mission bei der EU in Brüssel Mission bei der Nato in Brüssel (fr) Mission bei der UNO in New York (en) Mission bei der UNO in Genf (fr, en) Mission in Rom (en) Mission in Wien Delegation bei der OSZE in Wien Vertretung der Schweiz beim Europarat in Strassburg Delegation bei der OECD in Paris Bundesverwaltung im Web Schweizerische Bundeskanzlei BK Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA Eidgenössisches Departement des Innern EDI Eidgenössisches Justiz- und Polizeidepartement EJPD Eidgenössisches Departement für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport VBS Eidgenössisches Finanzdepartement EFD Eidgenössisches Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF Eidgenössisches Departement für Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation UVEK Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA
Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN’s five regional commissions, ECA’s mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. Made up of 54 member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. Projects: The Land Policy Initiative (LPI) The Land Policy Initiative(LPI) is a joint programme of the tripartite consortium consisting of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Its purpose is to enable the use of land to lend impetus to the process of African development. The programme is governed by a Steering Committee that meets periodically, while a joint secretariat implements day to day activities. The secretariat is assisted by an African Taskforce on Land. After having developed the Framework and Guidelines (F&G) on land policy in Africa, and received the mandate from the African Union (AU) to use it in support of national and regional land policy processes, the LPI is now moving towards assisting AU Member States in developing or reviewing their land policies as well as in implementing and evaluating these policies. Its purpose is to enable the use of land to lend impetus to the process of African development. Vision: A peaceful and prosperous Africa realized through equitable access, efficient and sustainable utilization of land. Mission : To ensure all land users have equitable access to land and security of all bundles of land rights, by facilitating effective partnerships, dialogue and capacity building for participatory and consultative land policy formulation and implementation, as well as efficient and transparent land administration in both customary and statutory jurisdictions. Goal : To assist Member States in the implementation of the declaration on land issues and challenges in Africa in accordance with the Framework and Guidelines on land policy in Africa in order to achieve socio-economic development, peace and security, and environmental sustainability. Current targets of the initiative include: Twenty Member States developing land policies and adopting implementation tools that enhance women’s secure access to land; and recognize the legitimacy of Africa’s customary based land rights and institutions by 2020. Ten Member States putting in place transparent, efficient and cost-effective Land administration systems which are reflective of Africa’s unique realities by 2020 More on the LPI
Meet the Partner : United Nations Human Settlements Programme – UNHABITAT The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development. It was established in 1978 as an outcome of the First UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat work focuses on seven areas: - Urban Legislation, Land and Governance;
- Urban Planning and Design;
- Urban Economy;
- Urban Basic Services;
- Housing and Slum Upgrading;
- Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation;
- Urban Research and Capacity Development.
Besides being a GLTN Partner, UN-Habitat also plays host to the GLTN Secretariat, whose staff sit in the Land and GLTN Unit in the Urban Legislation, Land and Governance Branch of the agency. The Unit leader also serves as the leader of the GLTN Secretariat. Website
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Levels of Contaminants in Food and Feed Unique identifier / Notation CH0601 Synonyms Maximum residue limitsacceptable daily intaketolerable weekly intaketolerable weekly intaketolerance levelspermissible levelscontaminant limits Definition A contaminant in food and feed is defined as any substance not intentionally added but present in such food or feed as a result of the production, manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or storage, or as a result of environmental contamination, which can lead to major public hazards (FAO and WHO, 2019). Primary reference(s) FAO and WHO, 2019. Codex Alimentarius Commission – Procedural Manual twenty-seventh edition. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). Accessed 1 July 2024 Annotations GHS Classification GHS05 - Corrosives GHS06 - Acute Toxicity GHS07 - Irritant GHS08 - Health Hazard GHS09 - Environment Additional scientific description Food contaminants include toxins and bacteria, but do not include insect fragments, rodent hairs and other extraneous matter. With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health, food security, nutrition and economies globally. Ensuring food safety is a public health priority and an essential step to achieving food and nutrition security. Effective national food safety and quality control systems are key not only to safeguarding the health and well-being of people, but also to fostering economic development and improving livelihoods by promoting access to domestic, regional and international markets (FAO/WHO, 2020). Food poisoning is a form of contamination which can cause severe symptoms and illness, in some instances even becoming life-threatening. Common causes are harmful bacteria (bacillus cereus; campylobacter; cronobacter; E. coli; listeria; salmonella; vibrio bacteria; yersinia) and viruses (norovirus), with fungi, parasites, toxins (clostridium botulinum) and natural contaminants being less common causes. Symptoms of foodborne illnesses include nausea or vomiting; diarrhoea; allergic reactions; headache; stomach cramps or pains; fever or chills; muscle or joint aches. Metrics and numeric limits Maximum Level: The maximum level for a contaminant in a food or feed commodity is the maximum concentration of that substance recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in that commodity. There are also national regulations for maximum levels. Guideline Level: A guideline level is the maximum level of a substance in a food or feed commodity which is recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be acceptable for commodities moving in international trade. When the guideline level is exceeded, governments should decide whether and under what circumstances the food should be distributed within their territory or jurisdiction. Note: A contaminant in food or feed is considered a risk for human health when above the maximum/guideline level established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Common contaminants, including relevant Hazard Information Profiles and their limits (EU, 2006): -
Aflatoxins CH0201: EU: 2 µg/kg for aflatoxin B1 in nuts and dried fruits intended for direct human consumption; 4 µg/kg for total aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) in nuts and dried fruits. Codex Alimentarius: 10 µg/kg for total aflatoxins in peanuts intended for further processing; 15 µg/kg for total aflatoxins in other nuts intended for further processing. -
Lead CH0103 (ICSC 0052, 2019): EU: 0.10 mg/kg in milk; 0.20 mg/kg in fruits and vegetables. Codex Alimentarius: 0.01 mg/kg in milk; 0.1 mg/kg in fruits and vegetables. -
Mercury CH0104 (ICSC 0056, 2019): EU: 0.5 mg/kg in most fish; 1.0 mg/kg in predatory fish like swordfish and tuna. Codex Alimentarius: 0.5 mg/kg in most fish; 1.0 mg/kg in predatory fish. -
Cadmium CH0102 (ICSC 0020, 2005): EU: 0.05 mg/kg in cereals; 0.2 mg/kg in leafy vegetables. Codex Alimentarius: 0.1 mg/kg in cereals; 0.2 mg/kg in leafy vegetables. -
Pesticide Residues CH0501: EU: Varies by specific pesticide and food product (e.g., 0.01 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos in fruits). Codex Alimentarius: Varies by specific pesticide and food product (e.g., 0.01 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos in fruits). -
Dioxins and PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) CH0502: EU: 1.75 pg/g for dioxins in meat and meat products; 3.5 pg/g for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in fish and fish products. Codex Alimentarius: Similar limits as the EU for comparable products. Key relevant UN convention / multilateral treaty Codex Alimentarius International Food Standards, Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193- 1995) (FAO/WHO, 2023). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) (FAO/WHO, 2024). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (UNEP, 2011). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (UNEP, 2010). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (UNEP, 2019). Drivers Hazard Drivers include environmental sources such as contaminants from environmental pollution like heavy metals; or from industrial activities and agricultural run-off containing pesticides and herbicides., Contaminants may also arise during food processing, packaging, or storage, due to inadequate hygiene practices, chemical additives, or unintentional contamination during manufacturing. Some contaminants are naturally occurring, such as mycotoxins, due to fungal growth under specific environmental conditions (HIP CH0201). (EEA, 2024; WHO, 2023) Impacts Impacts include health risks, economic impact and regulatory compliance. Consumption of contaminated food and feed can lead to acute or chronic health effects, including cancer (e.g. from aflatoxins), neurological disorders (e.g. from heavy metals), and reproductive issues. Contamination incidents can result in economic losses due to recalls, market disruptions, and loss of consumer confidence in affected products and brands. Non-compliance with regulatory limits for contaminants can lead to legal consequences, trade restrictions, and sanctions affecting global market access for food and feed products. (CDC, 2024; EC, 2024) Multi-hazard context The figure below summarises common interactions between levels of contaminants in food and feed and other hazards. This information should be used with caution and not be solely relied upon in Disaster Risk Management, particularly as some interactions may not have been included. Note that hazardous events occurring together or locally in space or time may not necessarily cause, amplify or be otherwise related to each other. Specific examples of multi-hazard context can be found in the ‘Hazard drivers’ and ‘Impacts’ sections above. Multi-hazard diagram Risk Management A national legislation and food control system, including food import control, export control, and national monitoring programmes should be implemented. Establishing and monitoring Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADIs), and other regulatory standards to assess contaminant levels and potential risks. Implementing preventive controls at various stages of the food and feed production chain to minimise contamination risks, including sanitation practices and pest management. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) should also be applied. (DEFRA, 2009) Developing and implementing rapid response plans for contamination incidents, including product recalls and communication strategies, are examples of corrective actions to mitigate public health risks. Other measures of risk management include: - Science-based harmonised texts such as Codex standards, recommendations, guidelines, codes of practice, analytical monitoring, national and international monitoring networks, warning of consumers, and retraction from the market.
- Normative work to support ensuring safe levels of contaminants in food and feed.
- Setting up Food Safety and Quality Programmes (FAO, 2014, FAO, 2024)
- FAO Risk Based Imported Food Control Manual (FAO, 2016)
- Safety risk management
Monitoring The section and the table below offer an overview of monitoring levels of contaminants in food and feed. This information can be used for forecasting within a national early warning system (EWS). Since EWS capacities and processes differ across countries, the most current and specific information regarding EWS should be obtained from the appropriate national or regional agency/authority responsible for disaster management. Which institution(s) produce(s) Disaster Risk Data/Information? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); World Health Organization (WHO); food and hygiene agencies How is the Hazard Observed/Monitored/ Forecast? Monitoring and testing at various stages of production, processing, distribution and consumption; data collection and analysis; risk assessments and rapid response. References CDC, 2024. Food Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). July 2024. DEFRA, 2009. Protecting our Water, Soil and Air: A Code of Good Agricultural Practice for farmers, growers and land managers. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Accessed 4 July 2024. EC, 2024. General Food Law. European Commission (EC). Accessed 4 July 2024. EEA, 2024. Chemicals (2024). European Environment Agency (EEA). Accessed 4 July 2024. EU, 2006. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs (Text with EEA relevance) OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5–24 (ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, NL, PL, PT, SK, SL, FI, SV) OJ L 314M, 1.12.2007, p. 558–577 (MT). Accessed 1 July 2024. FAO, 2014. FAO’s Strategy for Improving Food Safety Globally. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO, 2016. Risk Based Imported Food Control Manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Accessed 16 October 2020. FAO, 2024. FAO’s Work on Food Safety and Quality. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Accessed 4 July 2024. FAO/WHO, 2014. State of the art on the initiatives and activities relevant to risk assessment and risk management of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Health Organization (WHO). Accessed 1 July 2024. FAO/WHO, 2020. The Future of Food Safety – Transforming Knowledge into Action for People, Economies and the Environment. Technical summary by FAO and WHO. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Health Organization (WHO). https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8386en. Accessed 1 July 2024. FAO/WHO, 2023. Codex Alimentarius International Food Standards. Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193- 1995). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Health Organization (WHO). Accessed 1 July 2024. FAO/WHO, 2024. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Health Organization (WHO). Accessed 1 July 2024. ICSC 2024. International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC). International Labour Organization (ILO). Accessed 29 Aug 2024. MPI, 2024. Food Poisoning: Symptoms and Causes. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Accessed 14 July 2024. WHO, 2023. Mycotoxins (2023). World Health Organisation (WHO). Accessed 4 July 2024. WHO, 2024. Food Safety. World Health Organisation (WHO). Accessed 1 July 2024. UNECE, 2023. Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (2023). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Accessed 11 May 2024. UNEP, 2010. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (2010). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Accessed 4 May 2024. UNEP, 2011. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (2011). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Accessed 4 May 2024. UNEP, 2019. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (2019). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). https://chm.pops.int/ Accessed 4 May 2024. Cite this United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), & International Science Council (ISC). (2025). UNDRR–ISC Hazard Information Profiles – 2025 Update: CH0601 Levels of Contaminants in Food and Feed United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; International Science Council. https://www.undrr.org/terms/hips/CH0601 [Copy citation]
COVID-19 A cluster of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019. The ensuing outbreak was soon identified as being caused by a novel coronavirus. The first case outside China was reported on 13 January 2020 and the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020. On 11 February 2020 WHO announced a name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID-19. WHO said on 11 March that they had made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. The threat to food safety The COVID-19 pandemic and the global response to it are presenting unprecedented challenges to the way we work and the mechanisms by which we ensure food safety, from global standard setting to operational oversight. Access to safe and nutritious food is at the forefront of consumers globally, with many people, irrespective of the state of development of their country, having to spend more time and effort planning and shopping for food. There is a much greater awareness of hygiene and the role it plays in disease transmission, and questions being asked as to whether food could play a role in the transmission of the virus causing COVID-19. Global trade Global food supply chains have also come under pressure with fears the complex interactions involving farmers, slaughterhouses, food processing plants, shipping, retailers and others would result in slowdowns due to port closures or disruptions in logistics and/or food supply caused by COVID-19 illness in workers along the long food chain. Keeping food safe COVID-19 is a respiratory illness primary transmitted through person-to-person contact and direct contact with respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. There is no evidence to date of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging. Coronaviruses cannot multiply in food; they need an animal or human host to multiply. It is highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging. The application of sound principles of environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and established food hygiene practices will reduce the likelihood that harmful microorganisms will threaten the safety of the food supply, regardless of whether the food is sourced from intensive agriculture, small stakeholders or the wild. The role of Food in COVID-19 The Food Code or Codex Alimentarius Commission has developed several international best practices to ensure food hygiene in general as well as when, handling meats and other foods, and to control viruses in foods. Countries are encouraged to implement these best practices. International risk-focused and science-based Codex texts set the benchmark for food safety in global food trade. They provide a framework for the broad management principles of food safety in a transparent rules-based trading environment and reduce risks for those operating in the increasingly complex international trading system while ensuring the protection of consumer health. Important FAO-WHO Food Safety Standards Committees Title: General Principles of Food Hygiene Committee: CCFH Last Modified: 2022 Reference: CXC 58-2005 Title: Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat Committee: CCMPH Last Modified: 2005 Reference: CXG 20-1995 Title: Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Committee: CCFICS Last Modified: 1995 Reference: CXG 26-1997 Title: Guidelines for the Design, Operation, Assessment and Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems Committee: CCFICS Last Modified: 2010 Reference: CXG 38-2001 Title: Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates Committee: CCFICS Last Modified: 2021 Reference: CXG 47-2003 Title: Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems Committee: CCFICS Last Modified: 2006 Reference: CXG 79-2012 Title: Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food Committee: CCFH Last Modified: 2012 Reference: CXG 89-2016 Title: Principles and guidelines for the exchange of information between importing and exporting countries to support the trade in food Committee: CCFICS Impact on Codex work The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the schedule of Codex sessions for 2020 and forced us to explore different ways of maintaining the momentum of the Codex standard setting work. General Subject and Commodity Committees however remain active through their electronic working groups (EWGs). Other organs of Codex such as the Executive Committee, and Coordinating Committees are holding informal virtual meetings to exchange views on Codex business continuity taking into account the core values of Codex – inclusiveness, collaboration, consensus building and ,transparency, as well as experiences of other international organisations. Regular updates are provided on the committee web pages - click on the abbreviation of the committee name for details. Meetings rescheduled due to COVID-19 To strengthen capacity for better and more effective participation in Codex work for selected Asian countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), organized a virtual regional workshop on “Enhancing Effective Participation in Codex Activities” from 20 to 22 September 2022. The workshop is part of a wider five-year programme sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) which enhances Capacity in Codex for Effective Participation and Contribution of Selected Countries in Asia. A [...] A live event held online for Codex Members and Observers on 29 July 2022 provided the first details of what the 45th Codex Alimentarius Commission will look like as a physical session scheduled for Rome beginning 21 November. In opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom, said “we have to continue to adapt and continue to address new challenges … and uppermost in my mind is the need to maintain the level of participation we’ve [...] The 82nd meeting of the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) is being held virtually from 20 to 30 June 2022. However, representatives from the South West Pacific region met in person ahead of the meeting to prepare for and participate in the meeting from a single location. The Regional Coordinator for CCNASWP, Vinesh Kumar from Fiji, accompanied by Fiji’s Codex Contact Point, Susana Levula, travelled to Canberra, Australia, to join the Member for the South West Pacific, Tekon Timothy Tumukon of Vanuatu [...] by CCAFRICA coordinator On 21 March 2022, during a hybrid meeting hosted in Entebbe, Uganda officially took over from Kenya as the new Regional Coordinator for the African region (CCAFRICA). This follows the appointment of Uganda for the period 2020 to 2022 by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) during its 43rd meeting held virtually in November 2020. Uganda has been a member of CODEX since 1964 and this is the second time Codex Alimentarius Commission has appointed Uganda to coordinate Codex activities [...] It is true to say Codex never stops and although all committee sessions have finished for 2021, a training course on international standard setting and the Codex Alimentarius, part of a Codex Trust Fund (CTF) group project involving India, Bhutan and Nepal took place from 21 to 23 December 20221 in Dhulikhel, Nepal with participants from Bhutan joining virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. The three-day meeting included a simulation exercise where participants gained insight into the management and process of a [...] The Codex Trust Fund (CTF) supports countries to build strong, solid and sustainable national capacity to engage in Codex work. The Codex Trust Fund Advisory Group annual meeting took place online on 16 December 2021, hosted for the first time by the newly-elected Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Steve Wearne, United Kingdom. The Advisory Group is part of the Codex governance mechanism and brings together FAO/WHO, donor countries other key stakeholders including the Codex Regional Coordinators. It serves as a forum [...] Resources
Why improving food safety is important Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and often invisible to the plain eye, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water. Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain - from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption. With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants. An estimated 420 000 people around the world die every year after eating contaminated food and children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125 000 deaths every year. World Food Safety Day on 7 June aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. This international day is an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe, mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. Get involved! Whether you grow, process, transport, store, distribute, sell, prepare, serve or consume food, you have a role to play in keeping it safe. Take part in the celebration!
For inspiration check the World Food Safety Day ‘How to participate’ pages or news items on past events. Food safety is everyone’s business Under the slogan “Food safety, everyone’s business”, the action-oriented campaign promotes global food safety awareness and calls upon countries and decision makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and the general public to take action. The way in which food is produced, stored, handled and consumed affects the safety of our food. Complying with Global food standards, establishing effective regulatory food control systems including emergency preparedness and response, providing access to clean water, applying good agriculture practices (terrestrial, aquatic, livestock, horticulture), strengthening the use of food safety management systems by food business operators, and building capacities of consumers to make healthy food choices are some ways in which governments, international organizations, scientists, the private sector and civil society work to ensure food safety. Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Everybody has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and will not damage our health. Through World Food Safety Day, WHO and FAO pursue efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. #WorldFoodSafetyDay #FoodSafety #SafeFood Did you know? - Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases.
- Recent estimates indicate that the impact of unsafe food costs low- and middle-income economies around US$ 95 billion in lost productivity each year.
- Good hygiene practices in the food and agricultural sectors help to reduce the emergence and spread of foodborne diseases.
Source: WHO 2020 Related Links Watch Even though today's global food production is enough to feed everyone on the planet, hunger continues to increase in some parts of the world. Despite some recent progress in reducing hunger in Asia and Latin America, the world is still facing food crises in many regions, especially in Africa, where the situation is dire. This toolkit was developed by FAO and WHO to present information about the World Food Safety Day, and to share ideas on how to take part in the celebrations. Visuals and messages available on Trello. International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.
Secure Access to Land and Resources Background After decades of steady decline, the number of people who suffer from hunger began to slowly increase again in 2015. As a result, more than 820 million people in the world were hungry in 2018. The worrying trends in developing countries are reflected in the Sustainable Development Goal 2: to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. Given that land plays an important role in the livelihoods of most people in developing countries, food security cannot be achieved unless issues of access to land, security of tenure and the capacity to use land productively and in a sustainable manner are addressed. Secure land tenure and resource rights are also fundamental to shelter and livelihoods, poverty reduction, economic prosperity, realization of human rights, and sustainable development (UN-Habitat Agenda, 1996). Findings from GLTN scoping missions in 2017 in Laos PDR, the Philippines and Uganda revealed that these countries are faced with considerable land related challenges including inequitable access to land and natural resources, land conflicts, tenure insecurity and weak institutions for land management and administration. GLTN facilitated by UN-Habitat is addressing these issues through the ‘Secure Access to Land and Resources’ project. The Project will be implemented for a period of three (3) years. Project Goal – Improved land and natural resources tenure security for 30,000 households comprising of rural smallholder farmers, majority of which are poor women, men and vulnerable groups in Uganda, the Philippines and Laos PDR. Beneficiaries Approximately 30,000 households comprising of rural smallholder farmers, majority of which are poor women, men and vulnerable groups in Laos PDR, the Philippines and Uganda. Objectives - To increase uptake of land tools, approaches, frameworks and policy guidelines that are pro-poor, fit-for-purpose, and gender responsive.
- To strengthen capacity of change agents and rural poor women, men and vulnerable groups to implement pro-poor, fit-for-purpose and gender responsive land tools and approaches.
- To improve awareness among stakeholders on issues and measures for improving land and natural resource tenure security for poor women, men and vulnerable groups.
Implementing partners
Laos: Department of Agricultural Land and Management (DALaM), The Agro-Biodiversity Initiative (TABI), and Village Focus International (VFI)
The Philippines: Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), and Xavier Science Foundation (XSF)
Uganda: ACTogether Uganda, Makerere University, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR-Uganda), and Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare (UCOBAC) In close collaboration with: GIZ-supported country programmes, national government authorities or ministries, UN-Habitat regional and country offices, local governments, and target communities. Funding Partners
German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Special Initiative “One World-No Hunger” ABOUT US A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE ENJOYS SECURE LAND RIGHTS The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) is an alliance of international partners contributing to poverty alleviation through increased access to land and tenure security for all. We develop, disseminate and implement pro-poor. gender-responsive land tools that contribute to land reform, good land governance, inclusive land administration, sustainable land management, and functional land sector coordination.
Meet the Partner: Cities Alliance Website The Cities Alliance is a global partnership for urban poverty reduction and the promotion of the role of cities in sustainable development. The Cities Alliance partnership features a broad range of members, including: local authorities, national governments, non-governmental organisations, multi-lateral organisations, and Associate Members. For our current membership, please see Our Members. The Cities Alliance’s overall strategic objectives are to support cities in providing effective local government, an active citizenship and an economy characterized by both public and private investment. The Cities Alliance seeks to realize this goal by: - Developing and/or enhancing national policy frameworks to address urban development needs
- Developing and implementing local inclusive strategies and plans
- Strengthening the capacity of cities to provide improved services to the urban poor
- Developing mechanisms to engage citizens in city or urban governance
The Cities Alliance partnership works through four business lines: - Catalytic Fund
- Communications and Advocacy
- Country Programmes
- Joint Work Programmes
Projects: Promoting Land Rights for the Urban Poor with the Social Tenure Domain Model
Meet the Partner : German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Founded in 1961, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development “Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung” (BMZ) works to promote Economic Development within Germany and in other countries through international cooperation and development. BMZ is very involved in fighting poverty, eradicating hunger and disease, improving education, fostering democracy and peace, realizing human rights and equal opportunities, preserving the environment and its natural resources among others. Through the special initiative One world, No hunger “Eine Welt ohne Hunger” , the BMZ is making the fight against hunger and malnutrition one if its key concerns. One of the six key pillars of this initiative is “Secure and fair access to resources and land”. GLTN therefore recognizes this new partnership with BMZ as an added value to the GLTN, given the latter’s broad objective of securing land and property rights for all. Website
Meet the Partner: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Since 1977, IFAD has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives. The Fund has designed and implemented projects in very different natural, socio-economic and cultural environments. Many IFAD-supported projects and programmes have been in remote areas, and have targeted some of the poorest and most deprived segments of the rural population. IFAD has recognized that vulnerable groups can and do contribute to economic growth. These groups have shown that they can join the mainstream of social and economic development, provided the causes of their poverty are understood and enabling conditions for development are created. Projects: TSLI-ESA Initiative
Meet the Partner: Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, MCC is changing the conversation on how best to deliver smart U.S. foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership, and results. MCC is a prime example of smart U.S. Government assistance in action, benefiting both developing countries and U.S. taxpayers through Competitive selection, Country-led solutions Country-led implementation MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to: - good governance,
- economic freedom.and
- investments in their citizens.
Website
About the Ministry The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the channel through which the Dutch Government communicates with foreign governments and international organisations. It coordinates and carries out Dutch foreign policy. The Ministry has two halves: its headquarters in The Hague and its missions abroad (embassies, consulates, and permanent representations). Who runs the Ministry? The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for Dutch foreign policy as well as policy regarding the Netherlands’ cooperation with Europe and is accountable to Parliament. His civil servants help him prepare and deliver that policy. The Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation is responsible for policy on trade, development cooperation and foreign aid. The Ministry's most senior civil servant is the Secretary-General. Working for the Netherlands, worldwide The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works hard for Dutch nationals and for Dutch interests and values around the world. Together with other countries, we work to tackle global challenges. The ministry works to ensure: - Prosperity and fairness: We promote international trade, help Dutch businesses do business with and in other countries, and promote sustainable trade and shared prosperity.
- Security and stability: We offer help and mediation to countries affected by conflict and violence, and enhance stability in vulnerable countries by working to improve living conditions.
- Justice and freedom: We contribute to a well-functioning international legal order and promote international agreements in order to tackle global issues.
- Dutch nationals abroad: We give support to Dutch nationals in difficulties abroad and try to prevent such situations from occurring by providing information and advice.
The Ministry's activities The Ministry's activities are based on the above objectives. They are: - to maintain relations with other countries and international organisations;
- to promote cooperation with other countries;
- to help developing countries accelerate their social and economic development through international cooperation;
- to promote the interests of Dutch nationals and the Netherlands abroad;
- to collect information on other countries and international developments for the Government and other interested parties;
- to provide information on Dutch policy and the Netherlands' position on international issues and developments;
- to present the Netherlands to the world;
- to deal with applications from and the problems of foreigners living in the Netherlands or seeking to enter or leave the country.
Structure The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its headquarters in The Hague and a network of missions around the world. For detailed information see: Organisational Structure. The Netherlands The headquarters in The Hague has four main parts, each with an array of responsibilities: - the advisors, departments, and central services falling directly under the Secretary-General, including Consular Affairs (DGCB);
- the Directorate-General for Political Affairs (DGPZ);
- the Directorate-General for European Cooperation (DGES), responsible for matters relating to European economic cooperation and integration;
- the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), responsible for development cooperation.
Missions abroad Ministry staff are employed at: - 114 embassies;
- 24 consulates-general;
- 345 consulates
- 12 permanent representations to international organisations, including the UN, the EU, NATO, the OECD, the OPCW, and the OSCE;
- 2 Embassy Offices (Almaty and Pristina);
- 1 Representative Office (Palestinian Authority, Ramallah)
- 22 Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO)
- 2 Netherlands Agri-Business Support Offices (NABSO)
Consulates are missions headed by unpaid honorary consuls that assist the Netherlands' other diplomatic missions in the same country. The Ministry's headquarters also houses the Permanent Representation to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is based in The Hague. This website in other languages:
Meet the Partner: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Swedish International Development Cooperation Swedish development cooperation helps reduce poverty in the world. Our support contributes to economic and political development in poor countries. This strengthens their democracy and creates conditions for people to lift themselves out of poverty. The objective of Swedish development cooperation is to create opportunities for people living in poverty and under oppression to improve their living conditions. Everyone living in Sweden and paying taxes is contributing to this. The government decides about how much money is allocated to development in the annual budget. It has long been about one per cent of Sweden’s GDP. The Swedish state authority for development cooperation, Sida, has the power to decide about a half of the Swedish aid budget and is subject to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Website
Meet the Partner: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. Made up of 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members, with a geographical scope that stretches from Turkey in the west to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati in the east, and from the Russian Federation in the north to New Zealand in the south, the region is home to 4.1 billion people, or two thirds of the world’s population. This makes ESCAP the most comprehensive of the United Nations five regional commissions, and the largest United Nations body serving the Asia-Pacific. Established in 1947 in Shanghai, China, as the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) to assist in post-war economic reconstruction, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) moved its headquarters to Bangkok in January 1949. The name was changed in 1974 to reflect both the economic and social aspects of development and the geographic location of its member countries. ESCAP works to overcome some of the region’s greatest challenges by providing results oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member States in the following areas: - Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development
- Trade and Investment
- Transport
- Environment and Development
- Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction
- Social Development
- Statistics
- Subregional activities for development
- Energy
Website
Meet the Partner : United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) coordinates its environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. UNEP was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in June 1972. UNEP sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP work encompasses: - Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
- Developing international and national environmental instruments
- Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
UNEP’s main activities are related to climate change, including the Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC); disasters and conflicts; ecosystem management; environmental governance; environment under review; harmful substances and resource efficiency. Website
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