Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Established: 1963
• Founding Organizations: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) & World Health Organization (WHO)
• The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an international food standards body that develops globally accepted food safety standards, guidelines, and codes of practice.
• Objectives:
  • Protecting consumer health by ensuring food safety.
  • Ensuring fair practices in the international food trade.
  • Harmonizing food standards among countries.

Codex Alimentarius (CA) – The Food Code

• A collection of international food safety standards, guidelines, and best practices to safeguard consumers.
• Helps regulate food additives, contaminants, labeling, hygiene, and food import/export policies.
• Nature: Voluntary (but widely followed in global trade).

CAC & WTO SPS Agreement

• The WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) encourages countries to align national food safety regulations with Codex standards.
• Helps resolve trade disputes related to food safety.

Membership

• Total Members: 189
• 188 Member Countries
• 1 Member Organization (European Union - EU)

Functions of CAC

• Develops food safety and quality standards for international trade.
• Sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, veterinary drugs, and contaminants.
• Provides guidelines on food labelling, hygiene, and food processing.
• Helps developing countries strengthen food safety laws.

Why is CAC Important for India?

• India is a CAC member and aligns its food standards with Codex through:
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – Ensures food safety compliance.
• Export Inspection Council (EIC) – Certifies exports for Codex standards.