Codex Alimentarius
Veterinary
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) contributes to the Codex Alimentarius, a set of international standards for food and agricultural products maintained by the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations (UN). The purpose of these standards is to support fair trade and consumer protection internationally.
The Codex Alimentarius is a central part of the Food Standards Programme of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
All European Union (EU) Member States are members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
The EU, represented by the European Commission, is also a member since 2003. The European Commission shares competence with the Member States and represents all EU countries on matters of EU competence.
For a list of members, see Codex Alimentarius: Codex members and observers.
EMA role
EMA contributes to the development and maintenance of Codex Alimentarius by:
- coordinating the preparation of EU position papers for the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) and contributing to the work of CCRVDF working groups, for example in developing policies on residues of veterinary medicines in food;
- providing expert support to the European Commission for the Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (TFAMR);
- supporting the EU delegation (nominated by the European Commission) at relevant committee meetings.