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Global food safety strengthened as Codex Alimentarius Commission wraps up 48th session
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Tuesday, 18 November, 2025, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Rome
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The 48th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) has concluded after a week of significant progress, reinforcing the role of international cooperation in advancing food safety, quality, and trade. The Codex Alimentarius, jointly run by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is the world’s leading body for setting food standards.
At the closing meeting, Allan Azegele, chairperson of the Commission, praised the delegates for their “active participation, thoughtful engagement, and steadfast commitment.” He emphasized that the session’s achievements demonstrate the power of working together — grounded in science, transparency, and mutual respect.
During the week, the Commission adopted a number of important new and revised standards. Among the most notable:
- A fresh standard for fresh dates: This brings uniform quality, safety, and labeling criteria — a major boon for date-producing and trading countries.
- Lead limits for spices and culinary herbs: Maximum contaminant levels for lead were approved, including 2.5 mg/kg for dried spice bark (e.g., cinnamon) and 2.0 mg/kg for dried herbs.
- A revised code of practice to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanuts: The updated guidelines now cover entire supply-chain stages, including pre-harvest, transport, storage, processing, and roasting.
- Guidelines on stability and purity of reference materials for pesticide residue testing: These guidelines will help labs maintain high confidence in testing results while reducing wastage.
In a further boost to regional trade, a regional standard for Castilla lulo (naranjilla) — a fruit native to Latin America — was adopted, setting global norms for quality, packaging, and contaminant limits.
New work proposals were also green-lighted: among them, a standard for pasteurized camel milk, and work on risk analysis principles for emerging food sources and production systems, including novel foods.
Importantly, CAC48 approved a monitoring framework for the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, charting a roadmap for the body’s future priorities.
Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary, expressed delight at the smooth proceedings. “This session has paid off. The Codex Alimentarius Commission constantly reminds us of just what can be achieved, when we work together!” she said.
Overall, the 48th session underscored how science, multilateralism, and shared responsibility remain central to strengthening food systems and protecting consumers worldwide.
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