Codex Standards in the WHO South-East Asia Region

Abstract

Food related outbreaks in the increasingly complex global food chain could involvemultiple countries across continents since sourcing of raw materials and manufacturingprocesses transcend national boundaries. Codex standards, guidelines andrecommendations are the benchmarks for national health and safety requirements forfood. Codex standards are recognized in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitaryand Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization. The standards,guidelines and recommendations adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commissionrepresent the international consensus regarding health and safety requirements forfood, which are critical for public health and well-being.As per Article 2 (‎U)‎ of its Constitution, the World Health Organization has the mandateto 'develop, establish and promote international standards with respect to food,biological, pharmaceutical and similar products'. Codex Standards in the WHO South-East Asia Region provides information on the standards for food safety in the food traderelating to existing Codex texts in Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region.