The EU and U.S. commit to safe food by celebrating Codex Alimentarius

 By the Codex Contact Points of the European Union, France, Germany and the United States of America

A high-level event titled “Celebrating Codex Alimentarius: A U.S.-EU Commitment to Safe Food” took place on 5th September at the French Embassy to the United States of America. The unprecedented gathering was jointly organized by the United States, the European Union, France, and Germany to provide a platform for the transatlantic partners to reflect on their collaboration and reaffirm their commitment to upholding international food safety standards.

Speakers, representing European and American risk assessors, risk managers, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its parent organizations, underscored the vital role the United States, the EU and its Member States play as major contributors to FAO and WHO’s joint food standards programme.

Both the United States and the EU have been at the forefront of the Codex Alimentarius initiative, contributing to the development of numerous international food standards that are now recognized and implemented worldwide, often co-leading the work with other Codex Members.

Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognized the contributions of the delegates and scientific and regulatory experts that represent the United States in Codex, highlighting that “The expertise provides the scientific foundation for Codex’s value and integrity as the premiere international food standards setting body”.

While the U.S. and EU food safety systems differ in structure and regulatory approaches, both sides stressed their strong commitment to scientific rigor and effectiveness of their consumer protection measures. United by their dedication to safe food and the creation of sound international standards, they also highlighted their efforts to engage with all Codex Members and contribute to build capacity.

“Sixty years of existence of Codex Alimentarius and twenty years of the EU’s membership in Codex give reason to celebrate, review past achievements and reflect on current and future challenges” said Sandra Gallina, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) at the European Commissionn.

In recent years, the partnership between the United States and EU has been crucial in addressing challenges related to food safety and trade, especially in a world increasingly concerned with public health issues and the transition towards more sustainable food systems. Their shared objectives have led to the creation of several key standards and guidelines, for example in the areas of food hygiene, contamination of food and feed and foodborne antimicrobial resistance which have become benchmarks for countries around the world.

The discussions focused on how both sides can continue to build upon their past successes and explore new pathways for collaboration, particularly in areas such as scientific advances in food safety, sustainable food systems, and adapting to threats like climate change.

Looking to the future, Sarah Cahill, Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, added that the convening power of Codex also provides a strong foundation to address emerging challenges, and events such as this showcase the positive outcomes of collaboration driven by the mutual goal of ensuring food safety.

As these transatlantic partners continue to forge ahead, their efforts will undoubtedly play an important part in shaping the future of international food standards for years to come. 

Photo © La Maison Française