C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Codex Information Tools

Codex Secretariat

CODEX TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFICDenpasar , Indonesia13-15 November 2008

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Structure of the presentation

• Codex Alimentarius (what it is – where to find it)

• Codex website

• Electronic distribution lists

• CD-rom and printed publications

• What next?

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Codex Alimentarius

• is a collection of international standards, guidelines and codes of practice

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Codex standards include.....

• Over 100 Codex food safety standards, guidelines and codes of practice;

- labelling of prepackaged foods, milk and milk products, eggs and egg products, guidelines on food import systems, good animal feeding, etc.

• 1, 777 food additive provisions;

• 3, 068 MRLs for pesticides;

• 481 MLs for veterinary drug residues;

• 200 commodity standards (e.g. butter, mozzarella cheese);

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Where to find Codex texts?

• Codex website www.codexalimentarius.net

• Standards: Codex CD ROM/ GSFA CD ROM

• Standards: Published in paper

• International Portal on Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health (IPFSAPH).

• Electronic Distribution Lists: Codex Secretariat sends all Codex texts and related documents to official Codex Contact Points

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S Codex website – Content

www.codexalimentarius.net

• General information on Codex

• Schedule of “meetings and events”

• All adopted Codex texts (standards, guidelines and codes of practice)

• Announcements

• Links to relevant websites (FAO/WHO expert bodies, Codex Trust Fund, e-learning course on Codex, etc.)

• Ftp server: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/

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Codex website: General information on Codex

• What is Codex

• Lists Committees/Task Forces and special groups

• Members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

• International Organizations

• Latest version of Codex Procedural Manual

• Standards Management

• Strategic Planning

• Codex Evaluation [2002]

• Contacts

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Codex website: Meetings and Events

• Forthcoming Codex meetings

• Meeting reports

• Circular Letters

• Audio recordings

• Information for delegates

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Codex website: Official Standards

• Official Codex standards

• Pesticide MRLs

• Veterinary Drug Residues MRL

• GSFA online (Food Additives)

• Special Publications

• Sales and Marketing

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Codex website: Useful links

• JECFA

• JMPR

• JEMRA

• Biotechnology safety assessment

• FAO/WHO expert consultations (includes adhoc consultations)

• FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund

• FAO/WHO e-learning course on Codex

• Guide on conduct of plenary meetings

• FAO General Rules

• WTO, OIE, IPPC,IPFSAPH (Portal), STDF

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FTP Server

ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/

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Electronic Distribution Lists

• Codex L/ Codex Direct L

• Non-selective – send all information to all (links or pdf documents)

• Possible to apply a filter if all topics are named in harmonized manner: /CCEURO/26/EN/ ….

• Codex Contact Point – email address generic and up to date!!!!

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Standards: Codex CD ROM/GSFA CD ROM

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Standards: Printed publications

• Previously: Publications in A4

• Since 2007: 5 special publications

• Today: Thematic Publications

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Other publications

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Training Tools

• E-learning course on Codex– online– CD Rom

• Class Room materials – Visual aids, teachers notes, and handout for trainees (English, Russian)

• Training Manual (En, Fr, Sp, Russian)

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S Sending information – important task of

Codex Contact Point

• Replying to circular letters, written comments, …

• Through e-mail– By fax– By normal letter

• Important: – use a generic email address – use a neutral and clear address:

/CCP/Indonesia/…

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The future ... what next ...

• Specific webpages for each committee

• Old meeting reports in all languages on the website

• Advanced searches in meeting reports (ALINORMs)

• Messages advising on updates to the website

• …

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Through Codex, we...• access to science-based international

food standards

• contribute to international discussions and standards setting on relevant and emerging food safety and quality issues

Effective receipht and exchange information crucial to the process

C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S

Thank youThank you

Any Any questionsquestions

??

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The future ... what next ... your inputs

• Which difficulties have you experienced with the Codex website?

• How to make the website more user-friendly?

• What would you add to the website?

• Which printed publication would you like?

• Any other suggestions