management of codex work at the national level - how india...

Management of Codex work at the National Level

- how India made progress -

S Dave

IC, FAO

Structure of this Presentation (a case study on India)

India’s food security situation

India’s trade in food products

Commitment under the WTO

Action Points

2

India’s Food Production

World No. 1 – Milk, Meat, Millets, Pigeon/Chick peas,

Spices, Mangoes, Bananas, Okra

World No. 2 – Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Tea, Sugarcane,

Groundnuts, Onion, Garlic, Potatoes,

Tomatoes, Peas, Green vegetables

World No. 3 – Hen eggs, Rapeseed, Coconut,

Cashew nuts

World No. 4 – Sorghum, Oranges

Source: FAO 3

Food Security situation in India (6-8 years ago)

4

STILL….

Had 35% of world’s malnourished children

About 80% children <3 years; 60% pregnant women;

24% men were anaemic

40% children; 33% women; 28% men were

underweight

Still has 33% of world’s hungry people

About 26% of population was food insecure (consumed less than 80% of energy requirements)

India’s Agri. Business (6-8 years ago)

Total Food Exports = US $ 22 b

Total Food Imports = US $ 24 b

Contributed to 14% of GDP

Global share was <1%

Share in merchandise exports was 10.7%

Export to developed markets was 14% 5

Why so…?

WHY EXPORTS DECREASED

Non-compliance to standards of importing countries

Lack of Implementation of GAP, GMP, GHP

Lack of traceability in all food products

Lack of cold chain infrastructure

Lack of negotiating power for market access

Lack of commitment to food safety

Lack of awareness about international standards

Lack of training Contd… 6

Why so…?

WHY IMPORTS INCREASED

Better spending power

Changing life-styles

New products in the global market

Need for better nutrition supplements

Sub-standard products also getting imported


Lack of awareness about international standards

Lack of training

7

The Common Denominator


Lack of awareness about international

standards

Lack of training

8

What was the Result…?

PROBLEMS IN DOMESTIC MARKET

Imbalance in food prices

Loss of investments

Drain on foreign exchange (negative trade balance)

Decrease in overall development

Static or decline in GDP

Tourism did not match its true potential

Decline in business interests

Sub-standard food production and marketing

Increase in hunger and poverty

9

India took a Strategic Approach

10

Set up a Food Safety and Standards Authority

Harmonized India’s Food Standards

Participate in Codex Discussions

Implement FSMS (GAP, GMP etc.)

Upgrade laboratory infrastructure

- Modernize Laboratories

- Set-up network of Referral Labs.

- Training of Inspectors and Lab. Analysts

- Introduce food safety education

We agreed…?

that Codex is the reference standard under WTO

that Codex standards are the international standards

that we need to harmonize standards with Codex

for compliance with WTO

that to improve domestic market, we need to upgrade

to international standards (Codex)

that to enhance exports, we need to make use of

international standards (Codex)

11

Participation in Codex

The Steps taken

(1) Policy Level

Different Ministries agreed to Work Together

Different Ministries agreed to pool and create a ‘Fund’

Codex Participation based on Prioritization

- Prioritization based on Food Produced and Imported

- Prioritization based on Food Safety Objectives & Criteria

(2) Action Level

Set-up National Codex and Mirror Committees

Hired 3 young food technologists for Codex Contact Point

Identified stakeholders from Govt., Academia, Industry

Framed Rules and Procedures for ALL participants

And….. moved ahead….. 12 12

What were the pre-requisites..?

We needed to prioritize

We needed a National Codex structure

We needed a strong team-work

We needed rules and procedures

We needed budget

13

Pre-requisite 1


14

Prioritization

Based on FSO and Criteria

Food produced

Food exported

Food imported

Safety issues of concern

Decide from:

-- Commodities

-- Horizontal issues

15



16

Pre-requisite 2

17

National Codex

Structure

Codex Contact Point

National Codex Committee

and

Mirror Committees

CCP is the Central Point for all Codex work

Codex Secretariat

Regional Coordinator,

CCPs in other countries Codex Trust Fund

NCC, Mirror Committees (relevant Govt. Agencies, Ministries,

Industry, Scientists, Academia, NGOs)

Codex

Contact

Point

18 Courtesy FAO

Codex Contact Point

19

-

- Neutral, Accessible, Capable, Hard-working

- Links with Codex Secretariat and NCC

- Links with Codex Trust Fund

- Set up NCC, mirror committees

- Frame rules and procedures

- Receive agenda and circulate

- Coordinate consultations and approvals

- Send written comments to Codex Sectt.

- Promote Codex awareness

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National Codex Committee and Mirror

Committees

National Codex Committee

Chair – Senior Official (e.g. from Health Ministry) – CAC, CC-Africa

Members – Chairs of mirror committees and key Govt. officials at policy level

Mirror Committees

Chair – Senior Officials of the relevant ministries (Agri., Food, Trade, Health, Govt. agencies, University / Institute)

Members – Experts from relevant ministries, Govt. agencies, scientists, industry, university, NGOs

National Codex Committee and Mirror Committees

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- Subject experts, High commitment

- Identify priority issues

- Hold consultations

- Be consistent in views

- Prepare written comments

- Prepare national positions

- Identify delegation members

- Decide on participation in WGs




22

Pre-requisite 3

Strong Team-work (NCC + CCP)

High commitment at senior level

Coordinated effort by different Ministries

-- nominated officials for Codex Sessions

-- officials / NCC required to meet regularly

Scientists, Academia, Industry, NGOs to

contribute in NCC

Strong Codex Contact Point (CCP)

-- exclusive officials for CCP

-- clear responsibilities

-- highly proactive

23

Following was the Team

Codex Contact Point (e.g. in Health / Trade Ministry)

Director (overall in-charge) + 3 officials (food tech. background)

* Director = convene and attend NCC / Mirror Committees;

all approvals from NCC Chair (rules / procedures,

comments, delegation, budget)

* Official 1 = 3 - 4 committees, rules (one-time), budget

* Official 2 = 3 - 4 committees, awareness

* Official 3 = CAC, CCEXEC, CC-Africa, Committees like

CCGP, CCFL, CCFICS

Important: As a CCP official, he / she has to do everything for the Committee 24





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Pre-requisite 4

National Codex Rules (framed and implemented by CCP)

Notified members of NCC and Mirror Committees

and their Terms of Reference

Notified Core Functions and Responsibilities of NCC

and Mirror Committees & their Chairs

Notified Core Functions and Responsibilities of CCP

Notified Rules for:

-- Nominating delegation (criteria) to Codex Sessions

-- Responsibilities of Head of delegation

-- Sanction of travel budget

-- Travel arrangements

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Important Components of Responsibilities of CCP

Act as the contact point for the country;

Act as the secretariat to NCC;

Prepare annual budget (in consultation with NCC) and

obtain approvals

Collect and analyze data;

Keep track of all standards work and provide inputs to NCC;

Maintain a library of Codex standards and disseminate to

relevant stakeholders;

Encourage food manufacturers to improve quality & hygiene;

Prepare regular briefings for political leadership and senior

officials

27

Important Components of Core Functions of CCP

Coordination: link with Codex Sectt.; link with Codex Trust

Fund; convene all NCC and Mirror Committee meetings; act

as a channel for exchange of information; identify key

stakeholders for Codex work; establish contact in the region

Communication: receive and transmit all invitations /

documentation to NCC and Mirror Committees; ensure timely

submission of written comments; circulate Codex session

reports

Capacity Building: organize workshops for awareness; build

capacity relating to Codex activities

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29

Important Components of Responsibilities and Core Functions of NCC

Responsibilities To cooperate with Codex, FAO and WHO;

To cooperate with other local / regional or foreign organizations

To make recommendations about annual budget to the CCP

To formulate national position in consultation with the members of NCC and make

recommendations;

To nominate delegates to attend Codex meetings;

To study Codex documents, collect and review all relevant information relating to technology,

economics, health and control systems, and advise the government;

To identify organizations and commission studies for generation of data for discussion with CAC;

and

Core Functions To advise government on the implications of various food standards and related issues;

To provide inputs to the government to ensure quality and safety of food, development of industry

and expansion of international trade;

To identify Mirror Committees and their members for Codex work;

To meet as and when necessary to formulate national position

Important Components of Responsibilities and Core Functions of Mirror Committees

Responsibilities

To study Codex agenda documents including country comments, collect and review

all relevant information relating to technology, economics, health and control systems

and advise NCC / government on acceptance of Codex Standards;

To formulate, on timely basis, National comments on each relevant Codex agenda

item and forward to CCP for approval and communicating to Codex Secretariat;

To finalize the delegation for the Codex session and transmit the names to CCP for

approval and communicating to the host country secretariat; and

To recommend National position to the CCP to be taken during the CAC Session.

Core Functions

To advise NCC on the implications of various food standards and related issues;

To provide inputs to the government to ensure quality and safety of food,

development of industry and expansion of international trade;

To organise briefing of the National delegation to the Codex Session; and

To meet regularly for review of Codex decisions and action points for the country.

30 30

National Codex Procedures (framed and implemented by CCP)

Procedure for submitting comments to NCC and Mirror

Committees

Procedure for conducting NCC / Mirror Committee meetings

Process for finalization, approval and submission of National

response to Codex Secretariat

Criteria for selection of delegation to Codex Sessions and

Working Groups

Format for submission of report by delegation and follow-up

Procedure for submission of proposals for new Codex work

31

Other Rules and Processes

Nominating delegation to Codex Session

Responsibilities of Head of delegation

-- respect Codex Procedural Manual and ground rules announced by

Codex Secretary at the beginning of Codex Session;

-- provide National comments during the Codex Session;

-- engage in consultations in regional meetings;

-- regularly consult other members of National delegation specially on

other country comments / CRDs and other matters;

-- have informal consultations with other country delegations;

-- refer to head quarters when necessary; and

-- participate in social gatherings.

Sanction of travel budget

Travel arrangements

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We needed budget

33

Pre-requisite 5

Made Budgetary Provisions

Purposes

-- Running of Codex Contact Point (staff, local travel)

-- Maintaining National Codex website

-- Conducting NCC / Mirror Committee meetings

-- Participation in Codex Sessions

-- Creating national-level awareness about Codex

Sources

-- Ideally, need a national budget line entry; or

-- Initially, concerned Ministries agreed to pool-in

-- Expenses controlled by the CCP (neutral body) 34

India’s Role in Codex

India started with 5 Committees 10 years ago

Now participates in all Codex sessions

Is a member of 27 Working Groups

Has initiated 11 New Work Proposals

Is hosting one Codex Committee

Is the Coordinator for CC-Asia

Co-hosts one Codex Committee in 1-2 years (to build capacity)

35 35

Change in India’s Situation (over 6 - 8 years)

Total Food Exports = US $ 22 b US $ 43 b

Total Food Imports = US $ 24 b US $ 34 b

Contributes to 14% of GDP 16%

Global share: < 1% 1.4%

Share in merchandise exports is 10.7% 12%

Export to developed markets: 14% 24%

Anaemia, malnourishment, underweight situation; and

tourism have all improved 36

Thank you

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