Codex and OIE Cooperation: a regional perspective Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Production Food Safety, Belgrade, 15th 17th October, 2013 Krzysztof Kwiatek National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
Contents General introduction to CCEURO Region Structure Terms of reference CCEURO achievements and challenges CCEURO work relevant to the OIE: Strategic Plan for CCEURO CCGP work to promote collaboration CCEURO/OIE challenges to be considered and identified
CCEURO - General information FAO/WHO Coordinating Committe for Europe - CCEURO - Subsidiary body of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Membership of the Regional Committee: Open to all Member Governments of FAO and/or WHO within the Codex geographic area of Europe
CCEURO - General information CCEURO the most numerous region in Codex Alimentarius Commission: 50 member countries and European Union as the member organization (28 EU member states = members of Codex) Other Codex Regional Committees: Africa CCAFRICA (48), Asia CCASIA (23), Latin America and the Caribbean CCLAC (33), Near East CCNEA (18), North America and South-West Pacific CCNASWP (14) The number of members of CCURO is growing in the last years
New CCEURO Members for 2009-2012 Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Tajikistan Montenegro 2012 2011 2009 2009
CCEURO as Codex Region CCEURO is the most numerous region in Codex Alimentarius Commission: 50 member countries and European Union as the member organization 28 EU member states = members of Codex European Region comprises of so many countries in which there are a lot of diversity as concerns: food products, traditions, habits of eating, level of food safety and risk In European Region we take care more and more about food safety and quality and we need Codex and OIE standards as food for our life
CCEURO Region This explains the great need in capacity development to increase the level of participation and the technical quality of contributions to Codex and OIE works, as well as, to raise capacity for the utilization of Codex/OIE standards, recommendations and codes of practice for strengthening food safety control systems, and for ensuring efficient protection of consumers of both domestic food markets and those of importing countries.
CCEURO - General information Chairperson of the CCEURO is appointed by the FAO/WHO Coordinator for Europe Chairperson of each Regional Committe is a Member of the Executive Committee of CAC The second Member of the Executive Committee is elected on geographical basis from Europe France (2011-2013) Members elected on a geographic basis are expected to act within the Executive Committee in the interest of the Commission as a whole, Procedural Manual 21st edition
CCEURO - General information The last, former Coordinator for Europe - Poland (1st term 2009-2011, 2nd term 2011-2013) Present Coordinator for Europe The Netherlands All activities related to the regional coordination are exercised by: the Codex Contact Point with cooperation with the CCEURO Chairperson Duties of the CCEURO Chairperson - chairs the CCEURO sessions, - assists the Executive Committee and the Commission, - participates and represents the interests of the region in the Codex sessions including the Commission and Executive Committee
CCEURO - General information Regional Committee (CCEURO) meets once in two years 28 sessions of the CCEURO during 50 years of CAC (1965-2012) Next Session (29th) of the CCEURO will be organized in 2014 Sessions are hosted by countries of the region (Coordinators and Friends of the Coordinators co-hosting)
CCEURO - activities of Poland during the terms of the Regional Coordinator Pre-27 CCEURO Session Seminar on Codex Alimentarius (Warsaw, 2010), 50 participants from 25 member countries; Food Safety Risk Analysis 27 CCEURO Session (Warsaw, 2010), 80 delegates from 32 member countries, 1 member organization (EU), 1 observer country (USA) and 4 intergovernmental organizations; Pre-28 CCEURO Session Workshop on Codex Alimentarius (Batumi, 2012) 60 participants from 30 member countries; 28 CCEURO Session (Batumi, 2012), 94 delegates from 40 member countries, 1 member organization (EU), 2 observer countries and 2 intergovernmental organizations; During the Sessions Russian translation of the Codex working documents and simultaneous interpretations into Russian was provided.
Poland as the FAO/WHO Coordinator for Europe FAO/WHO Regional Workshop on the Codex Alimentarius in Warsaw, Poland 4 th October 2010
27 th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe held its 27 th Session in Warsaw, Poland, from 5 to 8 October 2010 at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Poland. The Session was attended by 80 delegates representing 32 member countries, one member organisation, one observer country and 4 international organizations.
28 th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe was held in Batumi, Georgia, from 25 28 September 2012 28 th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe
Attendance of CCEURO Sessions and Workshops 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012 CCEURO Workshop CCEURO Session
CCEURO Terms of reference Defines problems and needs of the region concerning food standards and food control regional positions on Ractopamine, GMO food labelling, future of the Codex standard for processed cheese, justification for technological need for use of food additives, new options for physical working groups, private standards, CTF etc.
CCEURO Terms of reference Promotes within the region contacts for the mutual exchange of information and stimulates the strengthening of food control infrastructures workshops, pre-session CCEURO seminars, study visits, CCEURO website, presentations on new developments on food control systems, nutritional issues in the region during CCEURO sessions;
CCEURO Terms of reference Draws the attention of the Commission to any aspects of Codex work of particular significance to the region such as: Ractopamine, GMO food labelling, processed cheese, technological justification for use of food additives, private standards, CTF, revision of the Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food, Draft Codex Strategic Plan for 2014-2019, elections of the Codex Board etc.; Promotes coordination of all regional food standards works undertaken by international governmental and intergovernmental organizations within the region;
CCEURO Terms of reference Exercises a general coordinating role for the region and such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission, for example: Coordinating letters of the CCEURO Chair, Coordination meetings on the spot before the Codex sessions, informal coordination activities, CCEURO website potentially to be used in the future; Promotes the use of Codex Standards and related texts by members of the region (workshops, pre-session CCEURO seminars, study visits).
CCEURO achievements and challenges Under auspices of the Coordinator for Europe with financial support from FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund Codex, EU and European countries, a series of Codex workshops/projects with a significant participation of the European Region Members were organized. Total number of Workshops/Seminars/Training courses for European Region in the period 2008-2012 - 46 events Projects/Direct Assistance to European Countries 2008-2012 more than 16 tasks European Union helped in capacity building in the frame of BTSF based on Codex standards with the participation FAO/WHO and Codex Secretariat
CCEURO achievements and challenges Process of encouraging new Member Countries and Member Countries in transition to be more active in the frame of Codex works. Some countries from European Region supported/helped succesfully FAO/WHO projects or trainings for European Region: Norway, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Ukraine, Lituania, and Poland CCEURO Members contribute to CTF 73,5% of the total budget
CCEURO achievements and challenges After multi year gap CCEURO has undertaken new works on regional standards We have successfully revised The Regional Standard for Chanterelle which was adopted by the 36 th Session of the Commission - July 2013 The Committee also progressed the discussion on the new Regional Standard for Ayran, which will be continued in the nearest future.
CCEURO challenges for consideration to focus on enhancing communication both between Member Countries within the region taking into account Codex Contact Points and National Focal Points to encourage new CCEURO Members to be more active in the frame of Codex and OIE works
Draft Strategic Plan for CCEURO 2014-2019 The goal of this Strategic Plan is to: enhance the effectiveness of the FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Europe in achieving its responsibilities to its Member countries and the Region s contribution to the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Draft Strategic Plan for CCEURO 2014-2019 Objective 1: To develop and strengthen Codex Contact Points/National Codex Committees (taking into account collaboration with NFP/OIE to be disccused) Objective 2: To strengthen communication and coordination amongst CCEURO members, with other regions and the Codex Secretariat
Strategic Plan for CCEURO 2014-2019 Objective 3: To strengthen the exchange of scientific and technical expertise amongst experienced and less experienced countries in the region (CCEURO and OIE) Objective 4: To promote use of Codex standards as a basis for national legislation and regulations Objective 5: To develop and/or review Codex standards taking into account regional interests
Proposed Draft Guidance Document for Codex/OIE Cooperation - Codex Committe on General Principles (CCGP) Recommended Measures to promote collaboration between Codex Alimentarius Commission and OIE Introduction/preamble - declaration The members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognize the need for continuous collaboration with each other as both organizations address areas that are of mutual interests. These guidelines establish mechanisms that may be utilized to foster on-going collaboration between the two organizations and their members at the national and regional level.
Proposed Draft Guidance Document for Codex/OIE Cooperation CCGP Recommended Measures The following measures are recommended to promote collaboration between the CAC and OIE. The measures have been grouped under three themes. Once implemented, these measures should support strengthened collaboration between the two organizations. Theme A Adoption of Systematic Procedures for Cross- Referencing to Increase Consistency Theme B Improving transparency through sharing of information and recognizing best practices in communication and collaboration Theme C Strengthen Collaboration at the National and Regional Level
Some challenges to be considered and identified together with OIE Prioritisation of work in order to ensure that Codex Committees address the most relevant/urgent issues at stake (with help of OIE); Difficulty to reach consensus on controversial issues (ractopamine issue?); In the field of food hygiene, Codex needs to work with OIE to clearly develop standards that complement each other and which do not overlap; Strengthening national Codex structures including Codex Contact Points/National Codex Committees/OIE National Focal Points; More collaboration between Codex CCP/NCC and OIE National Focal Points
Promotion of Codex and OIE at the national level lets do it Internal workshops and national conferences (with honourable auspices of relevant minister, FAO/WHO CTF support); Lectures on Codex and OIE at the food quality and safety conferences, trainings and food fair etc. Articles in scientific journals and technical magazines; Brochures and Codex, and OIE promotion materials; Websites
CCEURO website www.cceuro.pl + www.cceuro.nl providing general information and background on the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe channel for providing and exchange of any necessary information on Codex related matters of interests for the Region (events and activities); potential tool for coordination of the European regional positions on important Codex and OIE issues;