Codex Alimentarius standards and related texts are voluntary in nature. However, these food related standards are adopted and utilized by industries and regulators worldwide to ensure that foods produced are safe and wholesome for consumption. To become enforceable, Codex standards need to be translated into national legislations or regulations.
The development process of all Codex standards is well defined, open and transparent; that is, all draft Codex standards are circulated via a Codex Online Commenting System (OCS) to member governments, observer organizations and other international Codex Committees for two rounds of comments before being finalized as a Codex Standard.
The OCS’s mission is to provide a simple, efficient, user-friendly online system that will allow ‘all’ Codex stakeholders to insert and share comments on draft Codex documents. The Codex Contact Points (in each member country) would compile the comments in an easy and efficient manner to provide data for analysis by the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is the Codex Contact Point for Guyana. The GNBS coordinates the work of Codex through the National Codex Committee (NCC). The National Codex Committee of Guyana was resuscitated in 2014 and today it comprises of members from governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, private sector, consumer association and academia. The National Committee acts as a consultative body that reviews draft Codex Alimentarius standards and related texts and formalize comments/country positions on draft Codex documents.
Commenting on draft Codex standards has now become very simple for Guyana. Comments from industry stakeholders, regulators and other interested parties can now be facilitated through the online commenting system formally introduced to the Codex Committee on September 11, 2018 through a training. This training was provided by the international Codex Secretariat under the theme, “The use of the Codex electronic systems and Codex tools.” The training provided a platform for the members of the NCC to become familiar with the use of the OCS.
To the economies of Codex member countries, Codex standards offer tremendous benefits including the use of these standards to ensure that food is safe and of good quality for their citizens. In addition, by introducing legislations and regulations that are consistent with Codex standards and guidelines Governments may reduce the risk of being brought before a World Trade Organisation Disputes Panel. If a government chooses a higher level of protection, in the event of a trade dispute, it may be required to justify the sanitary measure corresponding to its chosen level of protection on scientific, health, or other legitimate grounds, which can be supported by codex standards. In many countries, most food legislations are already consistent with Codex requirements. Additionally, harmonizing national requirements with Codex standards contributes to the protection of consumer health, and to the fullest possible level, facilitates international trade.
Draft Codex standards currently up for comments include the Proposed Draft Standard for Dried roots, rhizomes and bulbs – Specific requirements for dried or dehydrated ginger; Proposed draft definition for bio-fortification; and Proposed draft revision of the General Principles of Food Hygiene and its HACCP annex.
