FAO member countries approved Resolution 12/61, creating the Codex Alimentarius Commission to develop internationally accepted food standards. The goal was to protect consumers and reduce trade barriers caused by conflicting national rules. This decision set the institutional base for a global, science-informed approach to food standards.
WHO formally joined the effort when the World Health Assembly approved the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. This made Codex a shared FAO–WHO initiative and reinforced its public-health mandate alongside trade and fair-practice goals. The joint program also cleared the way for the Commission to begin meeting.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission met for the first time in Rome, launching the practical work of drafting and agreeing international food standards. Early sessions focused on how the Commission would operate and how its committees would prepare detailed technical texts. This marked the start of Codex as an active intergovernmental standard-setting forum.
At its second session, the Commission documented how Codex committees and expert scientific groups would work together on food additives. It outlined a pathway from government submissions, to scientific evaluation (including safety levels), to Codex decisions. This helped make Codex standards more systematic and science-based.
Codex adopted the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969), a foundational code for preventing contamination across the food chain. It promoted practical controls like cleanliness, safe temperatures, and good handling practices. This helped shift Codex from single-product rules toward broader, preventive food safety guidance.
Codex adopted a draft General Standard for Irradiated Foods at Step 8, recognizing irradiation as a regulated processing method. The decision responded to requests for internationally accepted rules on a technology used to reduce pathogens and food losses. It also showed Codex’s role in addressing emerging industrial food technologies.
Codex revised The General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985), providing a widely used baseline for ingredient lists, date marking, and other consumer information. Clear labelling rules supported both consumer protection and fair trade. Over time, the standard also became a platform for updates like allergen-related declarations.
FAO and WHO convened a major conference on food standards, chemicals in food, and food trade in Rome. Participants discussed how Codex could respond to trade and safety pressures, including the needs of developing countries for stronger food control systems. The meeting helped set expectations for Codex as a central reference point for internationally recognized, science-informed standards.
Codex updated its procedures for developing standards, aiming for a more uniform and transparent process across different topics. This mattered because Codex texts cover many areas—additives, contaminants, hygiene, labelling—and governments needed predictable steps for review and decision-making. Stronger procedures also supported Codex’s credibility as a reference for international cooperation.
Codex adopted the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995). The standard set recommended principles and maximum levels for certain contaminants and toxins, supporting public health protections for foods moving in international trade. It also reinforced a risk-based approach: reducing contaminants through good practices and appropriate monitoring.
As the World Trade Organization’s rules came into force in the mid-1990s, governments increasingly relied on international standards to support food-safety measures and manage trade disputes. WTO guidance explains that food safety rules addressing risks like contamination or residue levels fall under the SPS Agreement, where international benchmarks matter. This elevated Codex’s practical influence beyond voluntary guidance into a widely referenced global baseline.
Codex approved guidelines for the production, processing, labelling, and marketing of organically produced foods. The guidelines helped define “organic” claims and aimed to prevent misleading labelling across borders. This closing milestone shows Codex expanding from classic safety topics (like contaminants) into standards that shape global markets and consumer trust.
Codex Alimentarius and the Development of Global Food Standards (1961-2000)