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November 22, 2000

FAQ About Codex Alimentarius

What is Codex Alimentarius?
Why is it important?
How is it different from WTO and other trade pacts and organizations?
Good background article from 1999

What is Codex Alimentarius?

Here is one definition: The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was established in 1962 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Codex is the major international organization for encouraging fair international trade in food and protecting the health and economic interests of consumers. Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex [supposedly] seeks to ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from adulteration, and correctly labeled.

Here is another definition, from Codex itself: The Codex Alimentarius Commission implements the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program, the purpose of which is to protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. The Codex Alimentarius (Latin, meaning Food Law or Code) is a collection of internationally adopted food standards presented in a uniform manner. It also includes provisions of an advisory nature in the form of codes of practice, guidelines and other recommended measures to assist in achieving the purposes of the Codex Alimentarius. The publication of the Codex Alimentarius is intended to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions and requirements for foods, to assist in their harmonization and, in doing so, to facilitate international trade.

To summarize, Codex is the vehicle for harmonizing international rules for trade in food. That means, Codex is responsible for making it easy for countries and companies to import and export food. Which means that it is by definition opposed to national and local restrictions, labeling, and preferences. If a country or state wants to label GE food or irradiated food, too bad. Companies headquartered in that country probably have already gotten themselves appointed to the national Codex committee, where they work to make trade easier for them, regardless of the effect on and wishes of local populations.

Codex decisions are made by the few, for the few. The public is not invited, and often non-governmental organizations are not permitted to observe.

Codex is headed by Tom Billy, Chief of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the man in charge of deregulating the meat industry.

Why is it important?

Under the World Trade Organization rules, Codex decisions override national and local decisions. So if, for example, Codex decided that no dose limits are required for irradiated food, the USA would not be able to stop the importation of foods irradiated at doses higher than the doses approved by the FDA.

How is Codex different from WTO and other trade pacts and organizations?

In the US, the FDA sets standards, but Congress may decide that the products that meet those standards can't be sold to another country. Similarly, the Codex sets the standards, the World Trade Organization (like Congress) creates and implements policy. WTO was set up by GATT, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. GATT is the international trade agreement that requires a "race to the bottom" on health, environmental and labor standards. WTO policy requires countries to compensate companies whose products are rejected. The US is paying hundreds of millions to a Canadian manufacturer of a carcinogenic fuel additive banned in California. The US is engaging in a trade war with Europe, which has rejected US beef because it has banned hormones. And so on. Codex has nothing to do with trade policy; it applies to the manufacture and labeling of products before they are traded.