Regional workshop strengthens use of the Codex online commenting system in Asia

Building on the positive momentum following the 23rd Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA23), the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP) under the regional project Enhancing Capacity in Codex for Effective Participation and Contribution of Selected Countries in Asia (GCP/RAS/278/JPN), in collaboration with the Codex Secretariat, virtually organized a Regional Workshop on the Codex Online Commenting System (OCS) on 22 October 2025.

The workshop brought together over 40 participants from 15 countries across Asia, including Codex Contact Points (CCPs) and members of national Codex teams, to enhance understanding and practical use of the OCS—a key digital platform that facilitates the submission of national comments on Codex draft standards.

The session began with welcome remarks by Sridhar Dharmapuri, FAO RAP and opening remarks by Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary (delivered via a recorded message), followed by remarks from Aya Orito Nozawa Japan, as the Coordinator for Asia, who underscored the importance of timely and active participation of Asian countries in Codex work.

The workshop featured a dynamic and interactive programme, including a brainstorming session on ways to strengthen Codex participation in the region, a live demonstration of the OCS, and hands-on exercises that allowed participants to log in, navigate the platform, and practice submitting written comments through their national accounts.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many noted that the practical sessions helped them gain confidence in using the system and better understand how the OCS can be applied in the internal consultation process. As Khalisa Mohamed, participant from the Maldives shared “As a country that has not been very active on the OCS platform, this workshop provided Maldives with an excellent opportunity to better understand the system and build confidence to engage more effectively in the commenting process. The friendly and supportive environment created by the Codex Secretariat team, along with the practical exercise, made the session both valuable and motivating for us. We look forward to continuing our active participation in Codex work through the OCS with greater confidence and collaboration”.

The workshop marks another important step in strengthening the capacity of Codex Contact Points in Asia to participate more effectively in Codex work and ensure that the region’s perspectives are well represented in international food standard-setting.