"Every voice matters": Oman's new Codex chair on leading a Codex family

Oman is set to host the 12th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Near East (CCNE12), which will take place in Muscat from 28 September to 2 October 2025. This marks the first time in over a decade that the meetingwill be held in the region, with its new Chairperson, Intisar Al-Gharibi, at the helm. In this new role, Intisar Al-Gharibi aims to foster a new era of engagement and collaboration: her goal is to ensure the Near East becomes a more active and influential voice in Codex andin international food standards setting.  

Intisar, thank you for your time. This is your first time chairing a Codex committee. For those who may not be familiar with you, could you please introduce yourself? 

It is my great honour to introduce myself. My name is Intisar Al-Gharibi, from Oman. I currently serve as Director of the Department of Risk Assessment and Crisis Management at the Food Safety and Quality Center, within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. Over the course of my professional journey, I have been fortunate to contribute to advancing food safety in Oman through scientific assessments, evidence-based decision-making, and the development of food standards that protect consumers and support the food production sector in Oman and beyond. 

I consider it a great privilege to have been appointed by Oman as the Chairperson for CCNE. Codex is vital for our region, both to protect consumers and to strengthen fair food trade. My commitment during this tenure is to foster greater engagement of our Members and Observers, so that we contribute actively to Codex and benefit fully from its work. It is both an honour and a responsibility, and I will do my best to serve our region, building on my experience in food safety and food risk analysis. 

How are you preparing for CCNE12, and what are your expectations? 

Hosting CCNE12 here in Oman is especially meaningful, as it is the first time in more than a decade,since CCNE7,that our region itself has welcomed this Committee. This provides a real opportunity to see stronger participation from CCNE Member Countries and Observers, as well as from the intergovernmental organizations in our region that are active in food standards. My hope is that this meeting will mark the beginning of a new era, where the Near East becomes ever more anchored to Codex work and its outcomes.  

At a personal level, I also value the chance to meet in person so many leaders from Codex, international organizations, and food stakeholders. These exchanges will not only enrich our deliberations but also strengthen the networks that support food safety and fairpractices in the food trade across our region. 

The agenda for CCNE12 looks quite ambitious. What do you see as the key highlights or most important items for discussion? And why? 

Indeed, the agenda for CCNE12 is ambitious, but several items stand out as priorities. First, we hope to complete and support the recommendation foradoption of the Maamoul standard, which has been proposed and advanced by Saudi Arabia. This is a tangible outcome that reflects both the region’s cultural heritage and its commitment to Codex standardssetting. 

Second, we will engage Members in a discussion on new areas of work they would like the Committee to address, as well as on items currently under debate at Codex where stronger regional coordination is essential. This will help ensure that the Near East speaks with a more unified and impactful voice in global discussions. Finally, our review of the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031 will be critical. I expect this to lead to the identification of a clear regional work plan, so that our priorities are well aligned with Codex at the global level, while also directly serving the development of robust food control systems across our region. 

CCNE12 will close this round of Regional Coordinating Committee (RCCs) meetings. In your opinion, what crucial role do RCCs play in Codex? And in what ways does, in this case the CCNE region,benefit from these meetings and related work? 

RCCs play a truly unique role within Codex. They are not only a forum to advance standards that serve regional trade and support the valorization of food products of cultural and economic importance, but more importantly, they are the space where we ensure Codex remains relevant to groups of countries with shared priorities. 

Through RCCs, we work to maximize the impact of Codex standards on strengthening national and regional food control systems. For the Near East in particular, these meetings allow us to align our efforts, articulate a collective voice, and translate global Codex priorities into tangible regional objectives. This ensures that Codex is not just a global standards-setting body, but also a practical instrument that directly benefits our countries, our economies, and our consumers. 

Do you have any advice for delegates attending CCNE12, particularly those who may be new to Codex meetings? 

My advice to delegates, especially those new to Codex, is to see this meeting as both a learning journey and a chance to contribute. Do not hesitate to ask questions, share your perspectives, and engage activelyCodex thrives on inclusiveness and consensus, where every voice matters. 

Equally important: use this forum not only to work through the agenda, but also to connect with colleagues, build networks, and exchange informally on issues of common interest. The value of Codex is often touted as much for the relationships it fosters as for the standards it establishes, which is why we refer to it and to ourselves as the “Codex family”. Strengthening these personal ties creates the foundation for deeper cooperation and a stronger regional and global voice. 

Read more

CCNE12 webpage