ABOUT CODEX
The Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC)is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)in May 1963 with the objective of protecting consumer’s health and ensuring fair practices in food trade.
The Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations as reference standards for international trade and trade dispute settlement
Currently the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union). India became the member of Codex Alimentarius in 1964.,
Organizational structure [+]
CODEX COMMITTEES
The food standards development work of the Commission is assisted by its Executive Committee and subsidiary bodies –General subject/Commodity Committees, Coordinating Committees and Task Forces. [+]
Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC) 
The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Commission as its executive organ and assists in the management of its programme of standards development, mainly by conducting a critical review of its work programme, making proposals regarding general orientation and strategic planning.
India, as the Regional Coordinator for FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA) is a member of the CCEXEC”
Subsidiary bodies
or Commodity specific , through which regions or groups of countries coordinate food standards activities in the region, including the development of regional standards. Currently there are six Codex regions., ad hoc Intergovernmental Task force with very limited terms of reference established for a fixed period of time.
Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance with an objective of developing guidance on the management of foodborne antimicrobial resistance is currently active.
“India is the host secretariat for the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs”
CODEX STANDARDS/TEXTS
“Voluntary in nature, Codex standards can be general or specific and are recognised by WTO Agreements as reference standards”
General Standards, Guidelines and Codes of Practice
These core Codex texts, typically deal with hygienic practice, labelling, contaminants, additives, inspection & certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides and apply horizontally to products and product categories.
Commodity standards
Codex commodity standards refer to a specific product although increasingly Codex now develops standards for food groups.
Regional standards
Standards developed by the respective Regional Coordinating Committees, applicable to the respective regions.
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Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling  size:( 0.3 MB) |
Standard for Cumin size:( 0.27 MB) |
Regional Code of Hygienic Practice for Street-Vended Foods in Asia size:( 0.3 MB) |
The list of adopted standards and other texts can be available here
Working procedural manual of Codex Alimentarius size:( 3.04 MB)
