International food standards, guidelines and codes of practice contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of this international food trade. The reference made to Codex food safety standards in the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) means that Codex has far reaching implications for resolving trade disputes.  Click here to learn more.

 FAO supports and adheres to a number of conventions, agreements and treaties that relate to food and agriculture. We also work to assist Member Countries to develop and implement standards and guidelines, including the FAO/WHO managed Codex Alimentarius which protects consumer health and promotes fair practices in food trade. They have an extensive legislative database to give users quick access to national laws, regulations and policies on food, agriculture and natural resource management. Click here to learn more.

 To provide a better guarantee of food of animal origin and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach. The OIE Member Countries have decided to provide a better guarantee of the safety of food of animal origin by creating greater synergy between the activities of the OIE and those of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The OIE’s standard-setting activities in this field focus on eliminating potential hazards existing prior to the slaughter of animals or the primary processing of their products (meat, milk, eggs, etc.) that could be a source of risk for consumers. Click here to learn more.

Article 20 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) allows governments to act on trade in order to protect human, animal or plant life or health, provided they do not discriminate or use this as disguised protectionism. In addition, there are two specific WTO agreements dealing with food safety and animal and plant health and safety, and with product standards in general. Both try to identify how to meet the need to apply standards and at the same time avoid protectionism in disguise. These issues are becoming more important as tariff barriers fall — some compare this to seabed rocks appearing when the tide goes down. In both cases, if a country applies international standards, it is less likely to be challenged legally in the WTO than if it sets its own standards. Click here to learn more.

The ICMSF functions as a small “working group” of elected members and invited consultants. The Commission has performed in-depth studies on all essential aspects relating to microbiological specifications for foods, recommending sampling plans and microbiological criteria, and defining and promoting the use of GHP, HACCP and other systems of managing food safety. Click here to learn more.

 The USA Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. Click here to learn more.

 USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management. They have a vision to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands. Click here to learn more.

EFSA’s work is undertaken in response to requests for scientific advice from the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States. They examine emerging issues and new hazards and update assessment methods and approaches. EFSA’s scientific advice is mostly provided by its Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee, members of which are appointed through an open selection procedure. EFSA staff also monitor and analyze information and data on biological hazards, chemical contaminants, food consumption and emerging risks. Click here to learn more.

Established in 2000 following several high-profile outbreaks of foodborne illness, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the independent government department working to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The mission is food you can trust. Their work not only protects people but also reduces the economic burden of foodborne illness and supports the UK economy and trade by ensuring that the food has a strong reputation for safety and authenticity in the UK and abroad. They are responsible for the systems that regulate food businesses and we are at the forefront of tackling food crime. Click here to learn more.

It brings together food safety and food control institutions in Africa. It includes food and veterinary laboratories, food inspectorates and other stakeholders, uniting to strengthen food safety control systems. Participants collaborate and share information on food matters and on analytical techniques. Analytical methods, such as Standard Operating Procedures, are shared through its web platform. Click here to learn more.

 Food safety is an essential element of food security, especially in the UAE, which depends on imports for meeting a large part of its food needs. The UAE took the following measures to ensure food safety; Passed a law on food safety, Introduced National Food Accreditation and Registration System, Launched the National Rapid Alert System for Food and Applied control of imported food for non-trading purposes. Click here to learn more.

It is responsible for executing the national policies regarding animal and plant quality and safety, as well as food safety. It also verifies the respect and implementation of the current legislation on the matter. Click here to learn more.

It is responsible for assessing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s activities related to food safety. The Department also evaluates the safety of veterinary drugs used in food-producing animals. The CFIA is responsible for enforcing the food safety policies and standards that Health Canada sets.  Click here to learn more.

The principal of equivalence in food safety is based on the recognition that the same level of food safety can be achieved by applying alternative hazard control measures. The objective is to determine if these measures, when applied to food, achieve the same level of food safety as that achieved by applying specified measures. Click here to learn more.

 (formerly the China Food and Drug Administration, or CFDA) was founded on the basis of the former State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). In 2018, as part of China’s 2018 government administration overhaul, the name was changed to ‘National Medical Products Administration’ and merged into the newly-created State Administration for Market Regulation., elevating it to a ministerial-level agency. 

The ICMSF functions as a small “working group” of elected members and invited consultants. The Commission has performed in-depth studies on all essential aspects relating to microbiological specifications for foods, recommending sampling plans and microbiological criteria, and defining and promoting the use of GHP, HACCP and other systems of managing food safety. Click here to learn more.