ARS | Publication request: Nutrition issues in Codex: Health claims, nutrient reference values and WTO agreements: A conference report

Submitted to: European Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 12, 2012
Publication Date: February 15, 2012
Citation: Aggett, P.J., Hathcock, J., Jukes, D., Richardson, D.P., Calder, P.C., Bischoff-Ferrari, H., Nicklas, T.A., Muhlebach, S., Kwon, O., Lewis, J., Lugard, M.J., Prock, P. 2012. Nutrition issues in Codex: Health claims, nutrient reference values and WTO agreements: A conference report. European Journal of Nutrition. 51(Suppl 1): S1-S7.

Technical Abstract: A previous workshop had reviewed the development of the Codex Alimentarius (Codex) and its central role in protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in international food trade. This workshop further reviewed how Codex promotes harmonization and consensus by promoting the coordination of Food Standards established by governments and non-governmental organizations. Thus, although it has no statutory authority, it is the guardian of the culture and of the responsible and objective application of the best available science to risk analysis and other issues relating to food. Codex documents have important roles as templates for national regulations, or as the basis for international trade agreements, and they have a distinctive authority and credibility that is derived from their painstaking development of a consensus in a multistep procedure that may take many years.