Codex Alimentarius Commission
Joint FAO/WHO body setting international food standards — the General Principles of Food Hygiene and HACCP underpin food-safety GMP worldwide.
What this page does not claim
SPEQ curates and cross-references these bodies. It is not affiliated with, accredited by, or endorsed by any of them, and a count of decoded standards is a measure of SPEQ’s coverage, not of a body’s importance.
WHAT Codex COVERS
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, established jointly by FAO and WHO, develops international food standards, codes of practice, and guidelines. Its output covers food hygiene, additives, contaminants, labelling, and residue limits, and it is the reference point for food safety across most national frameworks.
WHAT Codex PUBLISHES
- 01CXC 1-1969 — General Principles of Food Hygiene, including the HACCP annex
- 02Commodity standards and codes of practice for specific foods
- 03Maximum residue limits and contaminant standards
- 04Guidelines on labelling, import and export inspection, and certification
- 05The Codex Alimentarius as a consolidated body of standards
HOW ITS REQUIREMENTS BITE
Codex standards are voluntary, but they carry unusual weight: the WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and on Technical Barriers to Trade reference Codex as the benchmark for food-safety measures in international trade. A national measure aligned with Codex is presumed justified; one that diverges may need to be defended.
What practitioners get wrong
- CXC 1-1969 is the origin of the seven HACCP principles that national food regulations implement.
- Codex is voluntary in itself but functions as the WTO trade benchmark, which gives it real force.
- The 2020 revision restructured CXC 1-1969 into Good Hygiene Practices and the HACCP system.
- National rules such as 21 CFR 117 or ISO 22000 implement the same logic in binding or certifiable form.
WHERE IT SITS INTERNATIONALLY
Codex underpins food-safety regulation worldwide and is the common reference behind FSMA preventive controls, EU food hygiene law, and ISO 22000.
Codex STANDARDS SPEQ DECODES · 1
DISCIPLINES IN Codex’S REMIT
Codex: frequently asked questions
Reference answers on Codex Alimentarius Commission’s mandate, what it publishes, and how its requirements acquire force.
What is the Codex Alimentarius?
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, established jointly by FAO and WHO, develops international food standards, codes of practice, and guidelines covering food hygiene, additives, contaminants, labelling, and residue limits. It is the reference point for food safety across most national frameworks.
Are Codex standards mandatory?
No, Codex standards are voluntary — but they carry unusual weight because the WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and on Technical Barriers to Trade reference Codex as the benchmark for food-safety measures in trade. A measure aligned with Codex is presumed justified.
What is CXC 1-1969?
CXC 1-1969, the General Principles of Food Hygiene, is the origin of the seven HACCP principles that national food regulations implement. Its 2020 revision restructured it into Good Hygiene Practices and the HACCP system. Rules such as 21 CFR 117 and ISO 22000 implement the same logic.