Terezia Sinkova Secretariat of the Slovak Food Codex

Terezia Sinkova Secretariat of the Slovak Food Codex Committee Experience of the Slovak Republic in Codex Works WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 1

Why Codex works? n n n Codex Alimentarius is the official worldwide food standardization Slovak Republic became a member of Codex Alimentarius Commission /CAC/ of the FAO/WHO According rules of CAC, each member should have a National Codex Contact Point WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 2

Operation of Codex Contact Points n n No strict rules exist Operation can differ in each country depending on national legislation, government structures and practices WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 3

Core functions of Codex Contact Points n n n n n Act as the link between the Codex Secretariat and Member countries Coordinate all relevant Codex activities within the country Receive and circulate Codex texts and working documents Send comments to the CAC Cooperate with the national Codex Committee /if the Committee has been established/ Exchange information with other Codex Members Receive invitations to Codex sessions Maintain a library of Codex texts Promote Codex activities within the country WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 4

Codex Contact Point of the SR n n n Established officially It provides all tasks defined for the CCPs It acts as a Secretariat of the Slovak Food Codex Committee WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 5

Establishment of the Slovak Food Codex Committee /SFCC/ Decision of the SR Government No. 325/1996 WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works A statute of the SFCC approved by the Government 6

Statute of the SFCC n Approved by the SR Government n n n n WHO, Almaty 2002 Activity field of the SFCC Links to the Codex Alimentarius Commission Links to the SR Government Guarantors of the SFCC Composition of the SFCC and its board Working Groups Meetings and procedure rules Secretariat Experience of the SR in Codex works 7

Procedural manual of the SFCC Is closely linked to the CAC Procedural manual Approved by the SFCC WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 8

Members of the SFCC Representatives: n all related Ministries n National association of consumers n science 16 members WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 9

Information tools n n n Meetings of the SFCC Documents spread by the Secretariat (mainly by e-mail/ Library of the SFCC Journal „Food Industry Trends“ + its „Codex Annex“ Seminars aimed at special issues WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 10

Who studies and comments the Codex documents n n n n People from Ministries Scientists Food producers Tradors University teachers Students Consumers WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 11

Results of 6 -year Codex works in the SR n n Connection of actual food legislation with the international one Improved awareness of producers on food safety Intensive contacts with consumers Improved confidence of consumers WHO, Almaty 2002 Experience of the SR in Codex works 12