An international regulatory body that is part of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it is one of the three international SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) standard-setting organizations that is recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was created in 1962 by the UN’s FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). It has 147 member nations.
In the Latin language. Codex Alimentarius means “food law” or “food code.” The Codex Alimentarius Commission is responsible for execution of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program. The Codex Alimentarius standards are a set of international food mandates that have been adopted by the Commission. The Commission is composed of delegates from member country governmental agencies.
The Codex Secretariat is headquartered in Rome, Italy. The Commission periodically determines, then publishes a list of food ingredients and maximum allowable levels that it deems safe for human consumption (known as the Codex Alimentarius).