Geneva,
28 June 2000

47^th Session of Codex Alimentarius Executive Committee

Good morning and welcome. It is my pleasure to open the 47^th Session of the Codex Executive Committee, here in Geneva, the home of one of your two parent organizations.

This week, here in Geneva, the United Nations has convened a major international conference to explore means to eradicate poverty. All over the world, Heads of States and political leaders have now acknowledged that people’s well-being depends on their enjoying good health. Clearly, there will be no social and economic development where health is not given priority.

This reality applies to all aspects of public health, including food safety. It also applies to world trade and the globalizing world economy, where foods are moving across the borders more and more, bringing benefits to consumers by offering a wider variety of foods into diet, but raising new challenges in protecting and promoting human health. Globalization of the world’s food supply also means globalization of public health concerns.

Foodborne diseases are widespread and represent a serious threat to health in both developing and developed countries, most severely affecting children, pregnant women and the elderly. In addition to the direct health consequences, foodborne diseases can impose a substantial strain on health care system and markedly reduce economic productivity. Risks, real or perceived, in chemical contaminants, microbiological hazards, and genetically modified organisms, have made food safety a priority concern in many of our Member States.

The World Health Assembly recognized the global importance of food safety in May this year. In this way, the governing body of WHO unanimously adopted a landmark resolution, which emphasised that food safety is an essential public health function. I can assure you that food safety is a priority area in public health and in WHO.

Having said this, I would like to mention the role of WHO in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. WHO has been a partner with FAO in this joint partnership since 1963, now almost forty years, and it is now inevitable to review and reflect on WHO’s contribution and involvement in the past, and to reflect on the changing needs of the Commission. With the establishment of the WTO Agreements, the fundamental character of the Commission has shifted from a voluntary standards setting agency to one that establishes health and safety requirement for food, which have implications for national food safety legislation.

The World Health Assembly, last month, discussed this matter very extensively and thoroughly. Quite a large number of Member States emphasised that the Codex Alimentarius is a fundamental tool for improving food safety and thus public health. The Assembly adopted a resolution calling on WHO to increase its involvement and technical support in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its Committees.

As a first step, we will review the current working relationship between FAO and WHO, with the objective of improving our work. This is the prerequisite for WHO to proceed as we expand our commitment to food safety.

Second, following the World Health Assembly Resolutions, WHO is now more committed than ever to providing sound scientific advice to Member States and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Assembly identified several key areas in food safety in which WHO should have a leading role. I would like to give you two examples: microbiological risk assessment - which is a fundamental tool to combat world wide spread of pathogens through foods; and biotechnology in foods, on which science-based discussion is urgently needed. Since this past March WHO, in collaboration with FAO, has convened consultations on microbiological risk assessment and on safety of genetically modified foods.

Codex Alimentarius has a dual mission: to protect the health of consumers, and promote fair practice in trade. But I should say as the Director-General of the World Health Organization that the protection of consumers’ health around the world must always be given the first priority. It is only by emphasising health that world trade in foods will be seen as beneficial by governments, industry, and most importantly consumers. I hope this message will find resilience in your deliberations.

Thank you.