-NORMAN GRINDLEY/Staff Photographer
Grace Allen-Young, permanent secretary in the ministry of health (left), Gladstone Rose, manager of the standardisation division of the Bureau of Standards (centre), and guest speaker Dr. Don Robinson seen here applauding at yesterday's launch of the National Codex Committee yesterday at the Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, St. Andrew.
Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter
A NATIONAL Codex Committee was yesterday launched to establish specific standards in the manufacturing of foods, locally.
The standards will be consistent with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) stipulations for foods entering the international market.
"This (the national committee) is very necessary," Gladstone Rose, standardisation manager at the Bureau of Standards, Jamaica told The Gleaner following the launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
The committee comprises the ministries of industry, health, and agriculture as well as representatives of the private sector and consumer groups. It will operate under the Codex Alimentarius Commission the highest international body on food standards.
Mr. Rose said the Codex initiative would examine the current proposal for the origin of all ingredients used in foods to be declared on their labels and that it would take into consideration genetically modified foods and food hygiene.
But according to Dr. Don Robinson, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Jamaica, despite the code of ethics set up by the Codex Commission, developing countries were still vulnerable to the dumping of poor quality and unsafe foods by exporting countries given the introduction of intensive agriculture and animal husbandry that have made food "another industrial product".
Dr. Robinson, who delivered the keynote address, said extensive systems allow for rapid and widespread distribution of potentially contaminated food.
However, he said the Codex Commission was relevant in the currently increasing global market as it was important to have universally uniform standards to protect consumers.
Additionally, he said with these general standards there will be more equality for developing countries to export their foods.
The National Codex Committee will:
Formulate national responses to the proposals and policies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.Provide advice to the government on matters related to Codex, including the implications of various food standardisation and food control issues.Appoint technical sub-committees as may be necessary to facilitate national participation in the development of Codex standards. Submission of comments on draft standards.Nominate delegates to represent the country at various Codex meetings.Establish a mechanism whereby Jamaican standards can be proposed for adoption as International Standards by Codex.
