Information Services

CODEX Contact Point

The Bureau of Standards is the national CODEX contact point for Saint Lucia. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), or Codex, was created in 1962 by two U.N. organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as an international mechanism for promoting the health and economic interests of consumers while encouraging fair international trade in food

The Codex Alimentarius Commission provides a forum where member countries and international organizations can meet and exchange information and ideas relative to food safety and trade issues. Its main purpose is to promote consumer protection and to facilitate world trade in foods through the development of food standards, codes of practice and other guidelines. Member countries can review and provide comments at several stages of the development process of a Codex standard. More than 150 countries are members of the CODEX Commision.

As the CODEX Contact Point the Bureau acts as the link between the Codex Secretariat and Saint Lucia and coordinates all relevant Codex activities in Saint Lucia. The Bureau has the responsibility for acting as the first point of contact on any matters relating to Codex and providing an overall policy co-ordination function on Codex matters at the national level. 

National CODEX Committee

The National CODEX Committee operates under the auspices of the  Bureau. The Committee is responsible for reviewing CODEX draft standards and related texts and for making recommendations concerning Saint Lucia’s participation in the CODEX Alimentarius Commission. As an international standards body, much of Codex work is technical in nature and requires specialist input therefore the  committee therefore comprises representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Tourism, the food industry, the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, the local Agri Business community and the Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture..

Terms of Reference: National CODEX Committee

To establish and co-ordinate a mechanism for the formulation of national responses/positions to the policies, proposals, and work programme of the CODEX Alimentarius Commission.

To provide advice to the Government on matters related to CODEX, including the implications of various food standardization, food quality and safety issues which have arisen and are related to the work undertaken by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission so that national and economic interest is taken into account, or at least considered, when international standards are discussed.

 To appoint technical sub-committees as may be necessary to facilitate national participation in the development of CODEX standards and submission of comments on draft standards.

To advise the relevant agencies on the nomination of delegates to represent the country at various CODEX and other international food organizations meetings.

To cooperate with other local, regional and international organizations dealing with activities relating to food standardization.

To monitor closely and provide input into the work of the Regional Coordinating Committee (CCLAC) in recommending the development of international standards for products of interest to the region, harmonization of standards, and promotion and stimulation of food control infrastructures in the region.

To facilitate promotion of public awareness and education of CODEX Alimentarius and the implications for adoption and implementation of such standards in the food industry.

To identify and pursue potential sources of funding to support the work of the committee.