A member survey has revealed good support for Codex standards, but concerns have been raised again about timeliness.
The Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code” is a collection of international standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission, also known as CAC, was established to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. It held its first meeting in 1963.
A report has been released on the 2024 survey, which helps Codex understand how members apply standards, guidelines, and codes of practice.
A total of 134 Codex members took part, representing a 71 percent response rate – up from 69 percent in 2023. All 17 members in the Near East region participated but only eight of 14 in the North America and Southwest Pacific provided input. This was attributed to survey fatigue and a poor understanding of the goals.
More than 80 percent of respondents from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) said Codex texts mostly or completely meet their key food safety and quality needs. LMICs rely on the texts as key reference materials in regulatory development, institutional capacity building, and education.
Regional differences
Satisfaction with the format and structure of the texts is strong. However, responses from HICs show a desire for improved efforts to achieve a wider reach.
Codex texts are recognized as authoritative and credible but HIC respondents are less satisfied with the timeliness of their development. Most respondents reported gaining new knowledge from the texts. Knowledge acquisition was higher among LMICs.
Barriers to the uptake of texts are the lack of local implementation capacity, their voluntary nature, resource constraints, technical complexity, and duration of development.
Allan Azegele, chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, said findings reflect the commitment to ensuring that Codex standards remain relevant, authoritative and impactful in protecting consumer health and facilitating fair food trade practices.
“The data collected not only informs our strategic direction but also strengthens our accountability to members and partners. It is through such evidence-based approaches that we can better align our work with the evolving needs of the global food safety community,” he said.
According to respondents in LMICs, Codex texts mostly or completely support domestic food trade standards and international market access. LMICs also reported higher levels of text use, while HICs use them selectively, often as secondary references rather than primary sources.
Farid El Haffar, a technical officer, said: “The findings of the 2024 survey reaffirm the central role of Codex texts in shaping national food safety systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. They also highlight the continued need for timely development, effective dissemination and broader stakeholder engagement to maximize the utility of Codex standards.”
FAO and WHO updates
Ahead of the Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting in November, the executive committee met in July.
Attendees heard adjustments to the FAO budget will be presented at the FAO Council in December 2025. A WHO representative said the agency was undergoing major restructuring, which included significant budget cuts. However, Codex work remained a high priority and was part of WHO’s core functions. Work on providing scientific advice on food safety and nutrition would continue to rely heavily on voluntary contributions.
An investment case on the surveillance of foodborne diseases was produced by WHO and is in the pipeline for publication. Reports of meetings on prevention of viruses in foods and risk assessment models for Listeria monocytogenes are expected to be available shortly. A full meeting report on water quality in agrifood systems and food safety is also due for publication.
In 2024, the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was involved in 195 food safety incidents, and 179 alerts up to September 2025.
FAO and IAEA have produced a report on tools to combat food fraud in the aquatic sector. It is anticipated for publication in late 2025. Other pending reports are on cell-based foods and precision fermentation as well as artificial intelligence in food safety.
FAO, IAEA and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) held an expert meeting on marine biotoxins and harmful algal blooms (HABs) earlier this month in Rome, Italy. The event aimed to develop new technical guidance on marine biotoxins and HABs, including aspects like classification, monitoring, and management of production areas, as well as sampling and testing.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)
