Arab Codex Initiative

To enhance Codex capacity in the Arab region.

Introductory Video

Background

The Arab Codex Initiative is a capacity building project implemented by GFoRSS – the Global Food Regulatory Science Society – in collaboration with the Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Excellence Platform (PARERA) of Université Laval. It aims to enhance Codex competencies in the Arab region, to promote effective participation of the region’s delegations in international food standard setting activities; and, to, ultimately, maximize the reliance of Arab countries on Codex standards for the establishment of national food regulatory requirements. 

Funding for this activity was provided by the US Codex Office (US Department of Agriculture) upon its initiation and for the first several years. It is now funded through support from multiple public and private stakeholders, including members of the food and beverage industry, and non-governmental organizations, such as the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST).

The Arab Codex undertaking leverages and supports:

  • The coordination and leadership of the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE) Coordinator.
  • The sustainability of accomplishments of the Arab Codex Initiative implemented as part of the Arab Food Safety Initiative for Trade Facilitation (SAFE).

The Arab Codex collaboration promotes:

  • The development of communities of practice in targeted countries to facilitate effective preparation and contribution in Codex Technical Committees, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), and the Executive Committee, where relevant.
  • The enhancement of national Codex capacities.
  • The development of enablers for Codex work, availability of data and of information exchange tools, etc.

Expert Working Groups (EWGs)

The Arab Codex Project is establishing Expert Working Groups (EWGs) to facilitate the analysis of Codex Technical Committee documentation, in support of the preparation of participation by Arab Codex delegations in such committees, including the development of national positions.

An EWG will be setup for select Codex Committees and composed of experts from the Arab region, specialized in Food Regulatory Science; and, possessing relevant Committee-specific experience. EWG members will be identified:

  • From the pool of graduates of the Food Risk Assessment Initiative carried out under the auspices of SAFE.
  • Through a recommendation by the National Codex Contact Points or National Codex Committees of Arab region countries.
  • By direct application to GFoRSS / PARERA. Independent experts are welcome to apply.

Interested in becoming an EWG member?

ARAB Codex News and Future Events

For the latest news and upcoming events of the Arab Codex Initiative:

189

codex members

243

codex observers

20

codex committees

Codex coordination meetings

Arab and Gulf Countries.

The newly created Arab Codex Office of the Arab Industrial Development Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO) is leading the organization of coordination meetings of Arab Codex Contact points, primarily to support the preparation of participation by Arab Codex delegations in Codex proceedings. These meetings allow, among other objectives, the opportunity to review and analyze agenda items, contributing to more effective participation of Arab Delegations in Codex committee meetings.

Le bureau du Codex Arabe, nouvellement créé par L’organisation Arabe pour le Développement industriel, de normalisation et des mines (AIDSMO), se charge d’organiser des réunions de coordination des points de contact Codex des délégations arabes, dans le but d’une meilleure préparation de ces délégations aux rencontres du Codex. Ces réunions, permettent entre autres, d’examiner et d’analyser les éléments de l’ordre du jour des comités Codex en soutien à une participation plus efficace des délégations arabes à ces comités.

لقد تم حديثا إنشاء المكتب العربي للدستور الغذائي من قبل المنظمة العربية للتنمية الصناعية والتقييس والتعدين حيث سيتولى مهمة تنظيم اجتماعات تنسيقية لنقاط الاتصال العربية للدستور الغذائي، وذلك بهدف تمكين ممثلي الدول العربية للمشاركة في اجتماعات هيئة الدستور الغذائي والتحضير بشكل جيد وفعال لاجتماعات لجانها من خلال معالجة وتحليل بنود جداول أعمالها

Coordination Meetings • CAC48 • 2025

Coordination Meeting of Arab Codex Contact Points and CCNE Coordination Meeting • 20 Apr 2025

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCMAS44 Agenda Items:
    • Agenda Item 3. Endorsement of Methods of Analysis Provisions and Sampling Plans in Codex Standards: Presentation
      • 3.1 Methods of analysis and sampling submitted by Codex subsidiary bodies
    • Agenda Item 4. Matters pending from CCMAS43: Presentation
      • 4.1 Methods of analysis for protein in quinoa (Comments in reply to CL 2024/91–MAS) 
      • 4.2 Determination of moisture content in whey powder 
    • Agenda Item 5. Review of methods of analysis in CXS 234: Presentation
      • 5.1 Fruit juices workable package
      • 5.2 Cocoa products and chocolate workable package
    • Agenda Item 6. Sampling plans: Presentation 
      • 6.1 Information document: General guidelines on sampling (CXG 50-2004) – e-book with sampling plans applications
      • 6.2 Review of sampling plans in CXS 234 
    • Agenda Item 7. Numeric performance criteria for the determination of nitrate and nitrite ions in food matrices: Presentation 
    • Agenda Item 9. Harmonization of names and format for principles identified in CXS 234: Presentation 

Coordination Meeting of Arab Codex Contact Points and CCNE Coordination Meeting • 18 Mar 2025

Coordination Meeting of Arab Codex Contact Points and CCNE Coordination Meeting • 04 Mar 2025

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCFA55 Agenda Items:
    • Agenda Items 3a, 3b, 4a: Presentation • Video 
      • 3a. Matters of Interest Arising from FAO/WHO and from the 99th Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
      • 3b. Proposed Draft Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives Arising from the 99th JECFA Meetings
      • 4a. Endorsement and/or revision of maximum levels for food additives and processing aids in Codex standards
    • Agenda Items 4b, 9: Presentation • Video 
      • 4b. Alignment of the food additive provisions of commodity standards Report of the Electronic Working Group on Alignment
      • 9. Discussion paper on the working practices and the engagement plan to avoid divergence between the GSFA, commodity standards and other related Codex texts
    • Agenda Items 5, 6: Presentation • Video 
      • 5a. General Standard for Food Additives (Report of the Electronic Working Group on the GSFA)
      • 5b. GSFA: Proposals for new and/or revision of food additive provisions
      • 6. Proposed draft revision to the Class names and the international numbering system for food additives (CXG 36 1989)
    • Agenda Items 7, 8: Presentation • Video 
      • 7. Proposals for additions and changes to the Priority List of Substances proposed for evaluation by JECFA (replies to CL 2024 59 FA)
      • 8. Standard for baker’s yeast (Step 4)
  • Meeting Report: English • Français • العربي
  • Meeting Video: Live Recording
  • EWG Analysis of Relevant CCFA55 Agenda Items

CCNE Coordination Meeting • 10 Feb 2025 • Coordination Meeting with the Chair and co-Chair of the EWG on Fresh Dates Reporting to CCFFV

Coordination Meeting of Arab Codex Contact Points and CCNE Coordination Meeting • 04 Feb 2025

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFFV23 • 22 January 2025 

Coordination Meetings • CAC47 • 2024

31st Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 20 Nov 2024

30th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 13 Nov 2024

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CAC47 • 07 November 2024 

29th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 31 Oct 2024

28th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 21 Oct 2024

27th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 10 Oct 2024

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFL48 • 09 October 2024 

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCRVDF27 • 01 October 2024 

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFFP36 • 24 September 2024 

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCNFSDU44 • 9 September 2024 

26th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 5 Sep 2024

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFICS27 • 3 September 2024 

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCEXEC86 • 21 June 2024 

3rd Arab Codex Colloquium  • 11-13 June 2024 • Amman, Jordan

25th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 27 May 2024

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCPR55 Agenda Items: Video
    • 6: MRLs for pesticides in food and feed (at Steps 7 and 4)
    • 8: Management of unsupported compounds without public health concern scheduled for periodic review
    • 10: Establishment of Codex schedules and priority lists of pesticides for evaluation/re-evaluation by JMPR
    • 13: Analysis of previous decisions by CCPR to establish MRLs for tomato and pepper to establish corresponding MRLs in eggplant
  • Reviewing Best Practices in Preparing to Codex Committee of Pesticide Residues (CCPR55): Presentation • Video
  • Developing Procedures Related to Guidelines for Effective Participation in the Activities of the Arab Codex Initiative: Video
  • The Third Arab Codex Colloquium – 2024: Video
  • Meeting Report: English | Français | العربي
  • Meeting Video: Live Recording
  • EWG Analysis of Relevant CCPR55 Agenda Items

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCPR55 • 20 May 2024 

24th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 18 April 2024

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCFA54 Agenda Items:
    • CCFA54 Introduction: Presentation • Video
    • 3.11: Matters related to azodicarbonamide (INS 927a): Presentation • Video
    • 4.1: Endorsement and/or revision of maximum levels for food additives and processing aids in Codex standards: Presentation • Video
    • 4.2: Alignment of the food additive provisions of commodity standards – Report of the Electronic Working Group on Alignment: Presentation • Video
    • 5.1: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA): Report of the Electronic Working Group on the GSFA: Presentation • Video
    • 5.2: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA): Proposals for new and/or revision of food additive provisions (replies to CL 2023/46-FA): Presentation • Video
    • 6.1 and 6.2: Proposed draft revision to the class names and the international numbering system (ins) for food additives: Presentation • Video
    • 7: Proposals for additions and changes to the priority list of substances proposed for evaluation by JECFA (replies to CL 2023/47-FA): Presentation • Video
    • 8: Discussion paper on divergence between the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), Codex commodity standards and other texts – Identification of outstanding issues: Presentation • Video
    • 9: Discussion paper on the development of a standard for baker’s yeast: Presentation • Video
  • Meeting Report: English | Français | العربي
  • Meeting Video: Live Recording
  • EWG Analysis of Relevant CCFA54 Agenda Items

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCMAS43 • 9 April 2024 

23rd Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 4 April 2024

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCCF17 Agenda Items:
    • 3: Matters of interest arising from FAO and WHO including the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives: Video
    • 5.1: Maximum levels for lead in certain food categories (at Step 4): Presentation • Video
    • 6.1: Sampling plans for methylmercury in fish (at Step 4): Presentation • Video
    • 7: Definition for ready-to-eat peanuts for the establishment of a maximum level for total aflatoxins in this product: Presentation • Video
    • 9.1: Code of practice/guidelines for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning (At Step 4): Presentation • Video
    • 13: Discussion paper on Lead and Cadmium in Quinoa: Presentation • Video
    • 14: Discussion Paper on the Review of the Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination in Peanuts: Presentation • Video
    • 15: Discussion Paper on Review of the Code of Practice for the Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 in Raw Materials and Supplemental Feedingstuffs for Milk-producing Animals: Presentation • Video
    • 16.1: Development of a Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of cadmium contamination in foods: Presentation • Video
  • Meeting Report: English | Français | العربي
  • Meeting Video: Live Recording
  • EWG Analysis of Relevant CCCF17 Agenda Items

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFA54 • 2 April 2024 

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCCF17 • 19 March 2024 

22nd Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 26 February 2024

  • Meeting Agenda
  • Reviewing Relevant CCFH54 Agenda Items:
    • 5: Guidelines for the control of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in raw beef, fresh leafy vegetables, raw milk and raw milk cheeses, and sprouts – Proposed draft Annex II on fresh leafy vegetables and Annex VI on sprouts: Presentation • Video
    • 6: Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing (Annex II on fishery products at Step 4 and Annex III on dairy products at Step 4): Presentation • Video
    • 8: Proposed draft Guidelines for food hygiene control measures traditional markets for food at Step 4: Presentation • Video
    • 9: Alignment of Codex texts developed by CCFH with the revised General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969): Presentation • Video
  • Meeting Report: English | Français | العربي
  • Meeting Video: Live Recording
  • EWG Analysis of Relevant CCFH54 Agenda Items

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCFH54 • 21 February 2024 

21st Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 5 February 2024

CCAFRICA-CCLAC-CCNE-US Interregional Colloquium • CCSCH7 • 16 January 2024 

20th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points  • 15 January 2024

Coordination Meetings • CAC46 • 2023

19th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 21 November 2023

18th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 26 September 2023

17th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 13 September 2023

16th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 12 July 2023

15th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 21 June 2023

Second Codex Colloquium | 10 – 11 June 2023, Muscat, Oman

14th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 10 May 2023

13th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 27 April 2023

12th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 4 April 2023

11th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 23 March 2023

10th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 1 March 2023

9th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 2 February 2023

Coordination Meetings • CAC45 • 2022

8th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 24 January 2023​​

7th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 15 November 2022​

6th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 12 September 2022

5th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 25 August 2022

Exceptional Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points on Zilpaterol | 3 August 2022

4th Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 30 June 2022

3rd Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 15 June 2022

1st Codex Public Meeting of the National Contact Points and Stakeholders from the Arab Region | 26 April 2022

2nd Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 19 April 2022

Inaugural Codex Coordination Meeting of the Arab National Contact Points | 4 April 2022

Codex Colloquium | 12 – 14 September 2021, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

237

codex standards

87

codex guidelines

57

codex codes of practice

Codex resources

A repository of proposed resources prepared by the ARAB Codex Expert Working Group (EWG), for use by Codex partners and stakeholders in the region
to support their preparation and participation in Codex proceedings.

Disclaimer and Disclosure of Interest
It is important to note that the proposed analysis and associated conclusions and recommendations stem from the work of independent food regulatory experts. The analysis and associated recommendations or positions are presented as mere suggestions and should not be considered as a direction or final recommendation to the competent authority empowered to develop and endorse Codex positions. Disclosure of Interest: Experts involved in the development of this analysis contribute to various food safety and nutrition regulatory capacity building initiatives funded by other Governments, aid agencies, industry and international organizations.

The documentation is intended for possible use by the Codex communities of practice promoted by the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), as part of their contribution to enhancing awareness and supporting effective participation in international standard setting meetings (Codex meetings), by representatives from member countries and observers.

The documentation offers an analysis of select key agenda items to support the development of positions at the national and regional level. This analysis is indicative in nature and does not represent an official position of the organization, its membership or its management.

This review is prepared as part of the ARAB Codex Initiative.

 

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC)

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)

Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA)

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV)

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH)

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS)

Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL)

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (CCFO)

Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP)

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF)

Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)