Definition: Codex Alimentarius

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1963 by the FAO and WHO to develop food standards, guidelines and other texts, such as codes of practice, within the framework of the Joint FAO/WHO Programme on Food Standards. The main objectives of this programme are to protect consumer health, promote fair practices in the food trade and coordinate all standardisation work relating to food undertaken by both governmental and non-governmental organisations.