Codex Alimentarius Commission - Procedural Manual - Twelfth Edition

Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme

ISSN 1020-8070

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For further information on the activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please contact:

Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla

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Issued by the Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Rome

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations or of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

ISBN 92-5-104655-7

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to the Chief, Publishing and Multimedia Service, Information Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy or by e-mail to [email protected]

© FAO and WHO 2001

The Procedural manual of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is intended to help Member Governments participate effectively in the work of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The manual is particularly useful for national delegations attending Codex meetings and for international organizations attending Codex meetings and for international organizations attending as observers. It sets out the basic Rules of Procedure, procedures for the elaboration of Codex standards and related texts, general principles and guidelines for the acceptance of Codex standards by governments, basic definitions and guidelines for the operation of Codex committees. It also gives the membership of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the addresses of Codex contact points.

Introduction

Statutes of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Rules of Procedure of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Procedures for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts

General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius

Guidelines for the Acceptance Procedure for Codex Standards

Definitions for the Purposes of the Codex Alimentarius

Guidelines for Codex Committees and Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

Principles Concerning the Participation of International Non-Governmental Organizations in the Work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities

Criteria for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Guidelines for the Inclusion of Specific Provisions in Codex Standards and Related Texts