The use and impact of Codex texts

The Secretariat was mandated, through the Codex Alimentarius Commission Strategic Plan 2020–2025, to monitor use and impact of Codex texts. This work was confirmed in the Codex Alimentarius Commission Strategic Plan 2026–2031.

In 2021, in collaboration with FAO and WHO evaluation offices, the Secretariat began work on developing a mechanism to explore issues such as accessibility, relevance and credibility of Codex texts.

Codex survey

The Codex Secretariat conducts an annual survey of all Codex Members, to measure the use and impact of Codex texts.

This survey is one of the tools developed to support Members and Observers to better understand the impact, or potential for impact, of Codex texts.

In each survey, Members are asked to respond to a series of questions on up to four Codex texts adopted or revised by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the period 2015-2020

Codex in Action and Codex case studies

Codex in Action is a series of examples of how Codex texts are used and valued by Codex Members and Observers. They are developed in collaboration with those Members and Observers and offer a glimpse into how and why Codex work has bolstered trade, protected health and imbued trust into import/export partnerships.

Case studies are being developed to highlight the impact of Codex texts. They provide a “deep dive” into the background to, reasons for and impact of implementation of Codex texts. The studies provide concrete lessons for the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the relevant Codex committee(s) and the Codex Secretariat.