Selma H. DoyranJoint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

Procedures Transparency in the standard-setting process

All Codex Committees and Task Forces are open to all members and observers

Comments are requested at all steps of the procedures standard development and prior to final adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Access to standards: publications and Codex website

Use of standards: no notification process in Codex, the use of standards – harmonisation of national standards with international standards is considered in the regional FAO/WHO Coordinating Committees

Several types of documents Standards and related texts, codes of

practice, guidelines..(adopted Codex texts) Working documents used in the

elaboration of Codex standards : Documents on which comments are requested Other working documents

Electronic distribution lists to Codex contact points and observers

Publication of printed documents is limited  Special Publications by thematic area: hygiene, labelling, inspection and certification, biotechnology,)

CD ROM Main media: Codex website:

www.codexalimentarius.org or through the FAO and WHO

websites : standards, data base of pesticide and veterinary drugs MRLs

Distribution of documents is mainly electronic since 2006

Codex website: www.codexalimentarius.org or through FAO and OMS www.fao.org or www.who.org All reports of Codex sessions Agendas and working documents for Codex

sessions Codex (drafts of standards under discussion)

Circular Letters asking for comments from governments

collection of standards, guidelines etc

General information on Codex Schedule of “meetings and events”

Links to relevant websites (FAO/WHO expert bodies, Codex Trust Fund etc.)

List of Committees Commission Members, Codex Contact

points in countries International Organisations Procedural Manual - Strategic Plan Sites of Regional Committees

JECFA JMPR JEMRA FAO/WHO consultations