CodexRegulatory IntelligenceGuideline
Codex CXC 1-1969

General Principles of Food Hygiene

The foundational Codex Alimentarius code underpinning food-safety systems worldwide. The 2020 revision restructured it into Chapter One (Good Hygiene Practices) and Chapter Two (the HACCP system and its seven principles), making the prerequisite-programme + HACCP model the international baseline national food laws build on.

LAST REVISED
September 2020
PRODUCT AREAS
Food
SCOPE & APPLICABILITY

The whole food chain from primary production to the consumer; a reference framework adopted or adapted by national food-safety authorities globally.

KEY REQUIREMENTS
  • 01Implement Good Hygiene Practices as the foundation for all food operations
  • 02Apply HACCP to identify, evaluate, and control significant hazards
  • 03Determine critical control points and establish validated critical limits
  • 04Monitor CCPs and define corrective actions when limits are breached
  • 05Verify the system and keep documentation and records
IMPLEMENTATION TIPS
Get prerequisite programmes solid before HACCP — HACCP relies on GHPs to work
Reserve CCPs for genuinely significant hazards; over-designating CCPs dilutes control
Map your national food GMP (e.g. 21 CFR 117, ISO 22000) back to Codex — they share this DNA
REVISION NOTES

Revised in 2020 (from the long-standing 1969 code) to integrate HACCP into the main text and modernise the GHP framework.

Codex CXC 1-1969: frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about Codex CXC 1-1969.

What is Codex CXC 1-1969?

Codex CXC 1-1969 — General Principles of Food Hygiene — is a guideline issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (International (FAO / WHO)). The foundational Codex Alimentarius code underpinning food-safety systems worldwide. The 2020 revision restructured it into Chapter One (Good Hygiene Practices) and Chapter Two (the HACCP system and its seven principles), making the prerequisite-programme + HACCP model the international baseline national food laws build on.

Who does Codex CXC 1-1969 apply to?

The whole food chain from primary production to the consumer; a reference framework adopted or adapted by national food-safety authorities globally.

What are the key requirements of Codex CXC 1-1969?

Codex CXC 1-1969 requires, among other things: Implement Good Hygiene Practices as the foundation for all food operations; Apply HACCP to identify, evaluate, and control significant hazards; Determine critical control points and establish validated critical limits; Monitor CCPs and define corrective actions when limits are breached.

When was Codex CXC 1-1969 last updated?

The current version of Codex CXC 1-1969 dates from September 2020. Revised in 2020 (from the long-standing 1969 code) to integrate HACCP into the main text and modernise the GHP framework.

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