Engaging youth in Food Safety: Seminar on Poland's EU presidency and the role of CAC

On 17 February 2025, the Main Inspectorate of Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (MIAFQI) organized a seminar titled "Security, Europe! The Role of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission in ensuring food safety and Poland's EU presidency." The event, held at MIAFQI headquarters in Warsaw, was part of the initiatives under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The seminar was addressed to students at secondary agricultural schools supervised by the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the goal of educating future food technologists and young consumers about the activities of the public administration in the field of food safety and quality, including the development of standards at both European and global levels.

Poland assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2025. Under the motto "Security, Europe!", the Polish presidency will focus on seven key security areas, with a particular emphasis on food security. The choice of this seminar theme was aligned with the broader goals of the presidency and the mission of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

MIAFQI acts as the Codex Contact Point for Poland. As such, its experts, who are long-term Polish delegates to Codex sessions, were well positioned to share their insights during the event. They discussed the vital role of the Codex Alimentarius in shaping global food safety standards and indicated how it serves as a reference for national food regulations. They emphasized the role of Codex Alimentarius in establishing clear guidelines and standards that ensure food safety, quality, and fair practices in the food trade. Participants also gained insight into the history of CAC, its structure, approach, working procedures, and key achievements.

The interconnection of Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union and Codex Alimentarius output was highlighted, along with the role and responsibilities of the MIAFQI in this process. “During the Presidency, Poland will take on the responsibility for coordinating the development of joint European Union positions, so that they can be presented during the meetings of the subsidiary bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission,” said Przemyslaw Rzodkiewicz, Head of Inspection. The experts from MIAFQI play a key role in shaping these positions, ensuring a cohesive European stance to be presented at six sessions of the CAC committees scheduled for the first half of 2025. The seminar aimed to clarify these responsibilities for participants, while showcasing the wide range of topics and issues covered within the Codex forum.

The event included a screening of several educational films, including those on Codex Alimentarius, providing insights into international food standards, and were well received by the participants. Additionally, an interactive quiz was organized to test students’ knowledge in a fun and engaging way. This mix of informative films and interactive activities added a dynamic element to the seminar.

The event was considered a success by organizers. By engaging students from agricultural schools, the seminar aimed to inspire the next generation to take an active interest in international cooperation in food and agriculture, and to encourage them to seek further information in this field.

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Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Video report of the event (Polish with English subtitles)

Photo © MIAFQI