Ensuring safe food and drugs for Bhutan.
Updates Of Codex Activities In Bhutan
"Safe Food, Strong Standards, Global Trust: Bhutan’s Codex Commitment in Action!"
Nationaal CODEX Procedural Manual
The Procedural Manual for Codex Bhutan is intended to guide the National Codex Contact Point (NCCP), NCC, sub-Committees and Codex (Bhutan) Secretariat to:
- Contribute towards strengthening Bhutan’s national food control systems.
- Effectively manage the works of Codex in Bhutan; and
- Actively participate in the elaboration of international food standards to play a meaningful role as a member of the CAC.
The Manual is useful for Chairs and Members of the NCC to understand their roles and responsibilities for smooth and successful conduct of the Committee meetings.. It will also be useful to the Leader and Members of delegation from Bhutan to effectively present Bhutan’s position to the electronic and physical meetings of CAC and it’s Committees.
The Manual consists of four sections:
- Section I details the Codex structures in Bhutan along with their key roles and responsibilities. Section II outlines working procedures for Codex Committees, towards efficient and smooth operation of National Codex Committee and Codex sub-committee (s) of Bhutan to:
- formulate mandatory Food Standards (Technical Regulations) and
- formulate national positions on Codex Works.
- Section III defines the procedure for selection of the Leader and Members of Bhutanese delegation for participation to Codex meetings.
The manual can be downloaded from here
CODEX Structure in Bhutan
The Codex Standards and Texts have been referenced in the Food Act of Bhutan 2005 as one of the key references for establishment of national Standards and Technical Regulations on food quality and safety. The structures that have crucial role to play in promoting Codex related works in Bhutan are as described below and as depicted in the Figure 01:
- National Food Quality and Safety Commission (NFQSC): Highest decision-making body on food quality and safety.
- Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA)
- Head of BAFRA is the National Codex Contact Point (NCCP)
- Bhutan (Codex) Secretariat is established in BAFRA to manage the works of Codex in Bhutan.
- National Codex Committee (NCC): Comprises of national experts from relevant agencies to provide technical opinion on food safety, quality and standards.
- Codex Sub-committee (s): Comprises of national technical experts to assist works of NCC and function as shadow committees to Codex Committees of CAC.
National Food Quality And Safety Commission
National Food Quality and Safety Commission (NFQSC) is the highest policy level decision making body responsible to maximize industry development, protect consumers, foster trade and improve food control in the Kingdom.
National Codex Committee is required to provide technical opinion and recommendations related to food safety to NFQSC for decision making.
NFQSC is responsible for reviewing and approving the work of the National Codex Committee regarding:
- Development and acceptance of national Technical Regulations (mandatory food Standards) regarding food quality, food safety, ingredients, additives, adulterated food, weights and measures, laboratories and other technical issues.
- Preparation of standards, rules and regulations, orders, and notices under the Food Act of Bhutan 2005.
- Policy decisions related to all Codex activities and issues.
The composition of NFQSC, scheduling of its meetings shall be convened as per the provisions of the Food Act of Bhutan 2005.
National CODEX Committee And Sub-Committees
Serve as the advisory body for Codex and other food control matters within the Kingdom As per the Food Act of Bhutan 2005, the NCC is comprised of the members from relevant departments appointed upon nomination by their respective agencies or organizations:
The alternative members from each representative agencies/organization shall be appointed to maintain the consistency and continuity in the absence of permanent members. Any other expert who is not a regular member of the NCC but competent to contribute to the subject under consideration because of his professional expertise, may also be requested to attend the meeting as an observer.
The NCC appoints Codex sub-Committee (s) to provide advice of a technical nature to NCC, the NFQSC and/or the Minister and to assist in the study or consideration of technical matters on subject matters of importance to Bhutan and related to the corresponding Codex Committees.
In the composition of the Codex Sub-Committee, one of the members of the NCC is included as the member. Specialized experts in the relevant field may be nominated as members of these Codex Sub-Committees. These lists of experts may be reviewed from time to time to ensure that they meet the ongoing requirements of the NCC.
Formulation of Food Technical Regulations
To establish minimum safety standards for food, based on the directives of the NFQSC and NCC, the Codex (Bhutan) Secretariat should convene a NCC or sub-committee meeting to formulate mandatory food standards (technical regulations) following the process defined below:
CODEX Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA)
CCASIA is one of the 6 Regional Coordinating Committees established by Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 11th Meeting held in Rome, Italy in July 1976. Its first meeting was held in New Delhi (India) in January 1977 and now meets every two years. 24 countries of the Asian region, including Bhutan are the members of this Committee. The main objective of CCASIA is to promote mutual communication among the Asian members as well as to develop regional standards for certain food products.
China is the current Coordinator for CCASIA, originally being elected in September 2019 by the members of CCASIA and endorsed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2020.
More details on CCASIA can be found here (http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/committees/codex-regions/ccasia/about/en/)
CODEX Alimentarius Commission
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) of the United Nations in May 1963 with the objective of protecting consumer 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). Bhutan became a member of Codex Alimentarius in 1999.
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. [+]
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
- Committees, which prepare draft standards for submission to the Commission; may be either General Subject or Commodity specific
- Coordinating Committees , 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.
- Task Forces , 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.
CODEX TEXTS
“Voluntary in nature, Codex standards can be general or specific and are recognized 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.
The list of adopted standards and other texts can be available here
For more information, please visit http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/en/