The 88th Session of the Executive Committee meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88) was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy from July 14th to 18th, 2025.
- During the meeting, India’s leadership in formulating a group standard for whole millet grains received formal recognition.
- The Indian delegation, representing the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), played a key role in advocating national interests and promoting inclusive international standards.
Note: Codex Alimentarius (Food Code) is a globally acknowledged set of food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice designed to promote food safety and facilitate fair international trade.
Key People:
i.The session was inaugurated by Godfrey Magwenzi, Deputy Director General(DG) and Director of Cabinet, FAO, and Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant DG, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control, World Health Organisation (WHO).
ii.The event was attended by Dr. Allan Azegele, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Sarah Cahill, Secretary of the Commission, and other elected representatives from member countries.
Background:
i.At the 47th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC47) in 2024, India was officially acknowledged for spearheading the development of global millet grain standards, with support from Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal as co-chairs.
ii.The initiative was finalized during the 11th session of the Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CCCPL) in April 2025.
iii.The proposed standards are scheduled for review and potential adoption at the 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in November 2025.
Key Highlights:
i.The Executive Committee commended India’s leadership in advancing new international standards for fresh dates – a proposal stemming from the 23rd session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV23) held in February 2025.
- India will also serve as a co-chair in upcoming work proposals to develop Codex standards for fresh turmeric and fresh broccoli.
ii.India actively participated in discussions on the monitoring framework for the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, where SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were finalized for endorsement at CAC48.
- India highlighted its capacity building programme for neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste, which has been recognized by the FAO.
- Also, India has been chairing the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) since its inception in 2014.
iii.India also promoted the use of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF) for capacity building by the less active Codes member countries through mentorship programmes.
About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC):
Chairperson – Dr. Allan Azegele
Headquarters – Rome, Italy
Established – 1963.
