Before the 123 Member States of the Codex Alimentarius – and within the framework of relations between the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other international organisations – Monika Christmann participated in the round table organised under the presidency of Dr Awilo Ochieng Pernet, President of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, regarding the collaboration between the Codex and other intergovernmental organisations, particularly within the field of sustainable development.
The OIV President emphasised that the OIV was participating in several Codex projects under way and that it was actively involved, particularly in discussions concerning the provisions relative to food additives that appear in the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). She insisted on the need to ensure consistency among the standards of the Codex and those of the OIV, especially in relation to food additives used for grape wines.
Additionally, she declared that the OIV paid close attention to the work of the Codex as well as that of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in order to avoid the duplication of work and the establishment of divergent international standards.
With respect to sustainable development, the President indicated that the OIV had recently developed actions taking into account not only the agronomic aspect but also the economic and societal aspects.
The OIV President concluded that it was necessary to pursue cooperation and coordination with regard to activities of common interest to the OIV and the Codex.
