The Codex Alimentarius Commission is the international body
responsible for the execution of the Joint FAO/WHO Food
Standards Programme. Created in 1962 by FAO and WHO the
Programme is aimed at protecting the health of consumers and
facilitating international trade in foods. The Codex
Alimentarius (Latin, meaning Food Law or Code) is a collection
of international food standards adopted by the Commission and
presented in a uniform manner. It includes standards for all the
principal foods, whether processed or semi-processed or raw.
Materials for further processing into foods are included to the
extent necessary to achieve the purposes of the Codex
Alimentarius as defined. The Codex Alimentarius includes
provisions in respect of the hygienic and nutritional quality of
food, including microbiological norms, provisions for food
additives, pesticide residues, contaminants, labelling and
presentations, and methods of analysis and sampling. It also
includes provisions of an advisory nature in the form of codes
of pr