Australia joins forces with New Zealand and United States to strengthen food safety and trade in Pacific

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

To further shape science-based international food standards that help protect consumers and support trade, we are partnering with New Zealand and the United States to deliver a two-day South West Pacific Codex Outreach Workshop in New Zealand, on Tuesday 8 November and Wednesday 9 November 2022.

Designed to foster increased engagement and participation in Codex across the region, the workshop is a key opportunity to discuss the needs of the region to ensure standards developed in Codex in the future are reflective of the needs of our region, and make a positive impact on food safety and trade in the Pacific.

Food is one of Australia’s most important exports. We export about 70% of the food we produce.

Codex is the international intergovernmental body, recognised by the World Trade Organisation, that sets food standards to protect the health of consumers and promote fair practices in food trade. It was established by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1962.

Australia, along with 11 other Codex member countries in neighbouring Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu – will meet.

It is important for Codex members from the South West Pacific region to work together on the future for developing standards that affect the global trade in food.

To discover more about Codex, visit: Codex – International Food Standards – DAFF (agriculture.gov.au)

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