A $40 million Trust Fund to help the world’s least developed countries participate in Codex Alimentarius was launched in Geneva on the 13 February by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Codex Alimentarius sets food standards that protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade, so it is equally important to developed and developing countries. However, many developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, have not fully participated in the work of the CAC because of the cost involved in attending meetings and working groups.
The new Trust Fund will help some 120 developing countries and countries in transition increase their participation in the work of the Commission. The fund will also help regulators and food experts from all areas of the world to participate in setting international standards and enhance their capacity to develop effective food safety and quality standards, both within the framework of the Codex Alimentarius and national food safety systems in their own countries.
Report of the 25th (Extraordinary) Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, via FTP
