Understanding codex

Understanding Codex, now in its 5th edition, is a useful tool to introduce the Codex Alimentarius and its collection of international food standards to the public. The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission that cover all the main foods as well as material used in the further processing of food. Codex provisions concern the hygienic and nutritional quality of food, including microbiological norms, food additives, pesticides and veterinary drug residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, and methods of sampling and risk analysis. The Codex Alimentarius can safely claim to be the most important international reference point in matters concerning food quality. It plays an important role for food-related scientific research and in increasing awareness of the vital issues at stake regarding food quality, safety and public health.