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{{Short description|Collection of internationally recognized food standards}}
{{food safety}}
The {{langnf|la|'''Codex Alimentarius'''|Food Code|i=no}} is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations published by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) and [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) of the United Nations relating to [[food]], [[food production]], [[food labeling]], and [[food safety]].

==History and governance==
Its name is derived from the [[Codex Alimentarius Austriacus]].<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/v7700t/v7700t09.htm ''Codex Alimentarius'': how it all began] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations website. Accessed 6 September 2012.</ref> Its texts are developed and maintained by the '''Codex Alimentarius Commission''' (CAC), a body established in early November 1961 by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the [[United Nations]] (FAO). Joined by the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) in June 1962, the CAC held its first session in Rome in October 1963.<ref>[http://www.codexalimentarius.org/about-codex/the-foundation-history-of-codex/en/ Codex timeline from 1945 to the present]</ref>

The Commission's main goals are to [[consumer protection|protect the health of consumers]], to facilitate [[international trade]], and to ensure fair practices in the international food trade.<ref name=UnderstandingCodex>''[http://www.fao.org/3/CA1176EN/ca1176en.pdf Understanding Codex]'', World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (5th ed. Sept. 2018).</ref>

The CAC is an [[intergovernmental organization]]: the member states of the FAO and WHO send delegations to the CAC.<ref name="10.1080_19440049.2013.795293">{{cite journal | author =Bernadene Magnuson | author2 = Ian Munro | author3 = Peter Abbot | author4 =Nigel Baldwin | author5 = Rebeca Lopez-Garcia | author6 = Karen Ly | author7 = Larry McGirr | author8 = Ashley Roberts | author9 = Susan Socolovsky | title = Review of the regulation and safety assessment of food substances in various countries and jurisdictions | journal = Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A | issn = 1944-0049 | doi = 10.1080/19440049.2013.795293|volume = 30 | issue = 7 | year = 2013 | pages = 1214, 1248 | pmid = 23781843 | pmc = 3725665 |oclc = 8145766001}}</ref> As of 2021, there were 189 members of the CAC (188 member countries plus one member organization, the [[European Union]])<ref>[http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/about-codex/members/en/ Members]: Codex Alimentarius Commission</ref> and 239 Codex observers (59 intergovernmental organizations, 164 [[non-governmental organization]]s, and 16 [[United Nations System|United Nations organizations]]).<ref>[http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/about-codex/observers/observers/about/en/ Codex Observers], Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations (last accessed August 31, 2021).</ref>

The CAC develops food standards on scientific evidence furnished by the scientific committees of the FAO and WHO; the oldest of these, the [[Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives]] (JECFA), was established in 1956 and predates the establishment of the CAC itself.<ref name="10.1080_19440049.2013.795293"/> According to a 2013 study, the CAC's primary functions are  "establishing international food standards for approved food additives, providing maximum levels in foods; maximum limits for contaminants and toxins; maximum residue limits for pesticides and for veterinary drugs used in veterinary animals; and establishing hygiene and technological function practice codes".<ref name="10.1080_19440049.2013.795293"/>

The CAC does not have regulatory authority, and the ''Codex Alimentarius'' is a reference guide, not an enforceable standard on its own.<ref name="10.1080_19440049.2013.795293"/> However, several nations adopt the ''Codex Alimentarius'' in their own regulations, and the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), for purposes of food safety, refers to the ''Codex Alimentarius'' Sanitary and Phytosanitary practice codes in the [[Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures]] (SPS Agreement) for member countries.<ref name="10.1080_19440049.2013.795293"/> The ''Codex Alimentarius'' is thus an international reference point for the [[Dispute settlement in the World Trade Organization|resolution of international trade disputes]] concerning food safety and consumer protection.<ref name=UnderstandingCodex/><ref name="wto.org">[https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/spsund_e.htm Understanding the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures], World Trade Organization (May 1998).</ref> Many [[Bilateral trade agreements|bilateral]] and [[List of multilateral free-trade agreements|multilateral trade agreements]] refer to the ''Codex Alimentarius'', adopting it as a point of reference.<ref name=UnderstandingCodex/>

==Scope==
The Codex Alimentarius covers all foods, whether processed, semi-processed or [[raw food|raw]]. In addition to standards for specific foods, the Codex Alimentarius contains general standards covering matters such as [[Food labelling regulations|food labeling]], food [[hygiene]], [[food additives]] and [[pesticide]] residues, and procedures for assessing the safety of foods derived from modern [[biotechnology]].  It also contains guidelines for the management of official i.e. governmental [[import]] and [[export]] inspection and [[certification]] systems for foods.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

The Codex Alimentarius is published in the six [[official languages of the United Nations]]: [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Russian language|Russian]].<ref>{{cite web|title=CODEX Alimentarius: Understanding Codex|url=http://www.codexalimentarius.org/about-codex/understanding-codex/en/|publisher=FAO and WHO|access-date=6 September 2012|year=1999|quote=Understanding Codex is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian version.}}</ref>  Not all texts are available in all languages.

As of 2017, the CAC had a total of 78 guidelines, 221 commodity standards, 53 codes of practice, and 106 maximum levels for contaminants of food (of which 18 covered contaminants).<ref name=UnderstandingCodex/>

In a 2018 publication, the CAC stated that: "Codex has at times been criticized as slow to complete its work, but developing food standards and compiling them as a code that is credible and authoritative requires extensive consultation. It also takes time for information to be collected and evaluated, for follow-up and verification and, at times, for consensus to be found
satisfying differing views. Overall, it takes an average of 4.2 years to develop a Codex standard – and significantly less for pesticide MRLs or food additive levels."<ref name=UnderstandingCodex/>

===General texts===
* [[Food labelling]] (general standard, guidelines on [[nutrition]] labelling, guidelines on labelling claims)
* [[Food additive]]s (general standard including authorized uses, specifications for food grade chemicals)
* [[Contaminant]]s in foods (general standard, tolerances for specific contaminants including [[radionuclide]]s, [[aflatoxin]]s and other [[mycotoxin]]s)
* [[Pesticide]] and veterinary chemical residues in foods (maximum residue limits)
* [[Risk assessment]] procedures for determining the safety of foods derived from biotechnology ([[DNA]]-modified plants, DNA-modified [[micro-organism]]s, [[allergens]])
* Food [[hygiene]] (general principles, codes of hygienic practice in specific industries or food handling establishments, guidelines for the use of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point or "[[HACCP]]" system)
* Methods of analysis and sampling

===Specific standards===
* [[Meat]] products (fresh, frozen, processed meats and [[poultry]])
* [[Fish]] and [[fishery]] products (marine, fresh water and [[aquaculture]])
* [[Milk]] and milk products
* Foods for special [[Diet (nutrition)|dietary]] uses (including [[infant formula]] and [[baby food]]s)
* Fresh and processed [[vegetable]]s, [[fruit]]s, and [[fruit juice]]s
* [[Cereal]]s and derived products, dried [[legume]]s
* Fats, oils and derived products such as [[margarine]]
* Miscellaneous food products ([[chocolate]], [[sugar]], [[honey]], [[mineral water]])

==Classification of supplements and additives==
In 1996 the German delegation, sponsored by three German pharmaceutical firms, put forward a proposal that no herb, vitamin or mineral should be sold for preventive or therapeutic reasons, and that supplements should be reclassified as drugs.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/sep/14/medicineandhealth.lifeandhealth 'Health supplements: R.I.P.'. The Guardian newspaper, UK.] Published 14 September 2002. Accessed 2 August 2008</ref> The proposal was agreed, but protests halted its implementation.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/> The 28th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission was subsequently held July 4–9, 2005.<ref>{{cite report |date=2005 |title=CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION, REPORT OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION, Rome, 4 – 9 July 2005 |url=https://www.fao.org/3/a0214e/A0214E00.htm |isbn=92-5-105405-3 |publisher=Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme |access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref> Among the many issues discussed were the ''Guidelines for [[Vitamin]] and Mineral [[Dietary supplement|Food Supplements]]'',<ref name="codexalimentarius.net">[http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/standards/10206/cxg_055e.pdf Codex Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements]</ref> which were adopted during the meeting as new global safety guidelines: The guidelines state that "people should...be encouraged to select a balanced diet from food before considering any vitamin and mineral supplement. In cases where the intake from the diet is insufficient or where consumers consider their diet requires supplementation, vitamin and mineral [[food supplement]]s serve to supplement the daily diet."<ref name="codexalimentarius.net"/><ref name="un2005">{{cite web|title=UN commission adopts safety guidelines for vitamin and food supplements|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=14974&Cr=codex&Cr1|publisher=United Nations News Centre|access-date=17 September 2012|date=11 July 2005}}</ref>

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has said that the Guidelines call "for labelling that contains information on maximum consumption levels of vitamin and mineral food supplements". The WHO has also said that the Guidelines "ensure that consumers receive beneficial health effects from vitamins and minerals".<ref name=un2005 />

In 2004, similarities were noted between the EU's [[Food Supplements Directive]] and the Codex Alimentarius draft guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplements.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nil by mouth|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/feb/29/health.shopping|publisher=The Observer, Guardian UK|access-date=17 September 2012|author=Rose Shepherd|date=29 February 2004}}</ref>

==Criticism==
The 2003 International Commission of the Future of Food and Agriculture, convened by Italian politician [[Claudio Martini]] and chaired by anti-globalization activist [[Vandana Shiva]], issued several manifestos,<ref>Janet McIntyre-Mills, ''Systemic Ethics and Non-Anthropocentric Stewardship: Implications for Transdisciplinary and Cosmopolitan Politics'' (Springer, 2014), p. 28.</ref> including the Manifesto on the Future of Food, which contended that "bureaucracies like the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the [[International Monetary Fund]], and the Codex Alimentarius have codified policies designed to serve the interests of global [[agribusiness]] above all others, while actively undermining the rights of farmers and consumers".<ref>{{cite web | title=Manifesto on the Future of Food | author=The International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture | date=July 15, 2003 | url=http://www.farmingsolutions.org/pdfdb/manifestoinglese.pdf | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050602203751/http://www.farmingsolutions.org/pdfdb/manifestoinglese.pdf | archive-date=June 2, 2005 }}</ref>

==Conspiracy theories==
The Codex Alimentarius has been the subject of various conspiracy theories. These theorize that it is an agenda for population control, an anti-supplement Big Brother initiative, actually establishes eugenics, or a process for World Government establishment.<ref name="Skeptoid">{{cite web|url=https://skeptoid.com/blog/2013/06/03/codex-alimentarius-book-of-food-or-book-of-death/|title=Codex Alimentarius: Book of Food or Book of Death?|date=3 June 2013|first=Mike|last=Rothschild|website=Skeptoid|access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[FDA Food Safety Modernization Act]]
* [[Food Chemicals Codex]]
* [[Food additive]] ([[International Numbering System for Food Additives|INS]] and E numbers)

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/en/ Official Codex Alimentarius Commission website]

{{ECOSOC}}
{{United States Department of Agriculture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Organizations established in 1961]]
[[Category:1961 establishments]]
[[Category:1963 establishments]]
[[Category:Food safety]]
[[Category:Food labelling]]
[[Category:Food science]]
[[Category:Food law]]
[[Category:International trade law]]
[[Category:Food and Agriculture Organization]]
[[Category:World Health Organization]]