PIB Snippets — July 15, 2026
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49)
India’s landmark achievements at the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission — Dried Coriander, Fresh Curry Leaves, Cashew Kernel standard, and Co-Chair of the New Food Sources EWG. Quick-revision PIB notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains.
PIB Snippet · July 15, 2026
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) — 49th Session
International Organisations
GS Paper 2 & 3
Food Safety · WTO
Key Facts at a Glance
Established: Jointly by FAO and WHO in May 1963
Headquarters: Rome; meets annually alternating Rome & Geneva
Members: 189 — 188 countries + 1 Member Organisation (EU)
India joined: 1964; FSSAI is India’s National Codex Contact Point
Objective: Protecting consumer health + ensuring fair international food trade
WTO link: Codex standards are benchmarks under WTO SPS Agreement
CAC49 session: 49th Session held in Geneva, 2026
India’s haul: 7 Codex standards and guidelines adopted under India’s chairmanship/co-chairmanship
India’s Achievements at CAC49
Codex Standard for Dried Coriander Seeds
India developed and secured adoption of a Codex Standard for Dried Coriander Seeds under its chairmanship — directly benefiting India’s position as one of the world’s largest coriander exporters.
Codex Standard for Fresh Curry Leaves
India secured adoption of a Codex Standard for Fresh Curry Leaves — a uniquely Indian culinary ingredient now getting international food safety recognition, enabling better export market access.
Approval to Develop Cashew Kernel Standard
India secured approval under CCPFV (Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables) to develop a Codex Standard for Cashew Kernels — aimed at strengthening fair trade and improving India’s cashew export competitiveness.
Co-Chair: Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources
India became Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems — positioning India at the frontier of emerging food technology governance including lab-grown food, precision fermentation and novel ingredients.
India Co-Chaired Codex Texts Covering
🌿 Vanilla
🌱 Large Cardamom
💧 Water Reuse
🐔 Poultry Safety
🏷️ Food Labelling
What is the Codex Alimentarius Commission?
- The Codex Alimentarius (Latin: “food law/code”) is a collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice
- Jointly established by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) and WHO (World Health Organisation) in May 1963
- Promotes food safety and harmonises national food regulations across 189 member countries globally
- Codex standards are recognised under the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as international food safety benchmarks — countries citing Codex standards in trade disputes are presumed WTO-compliant
- Compliance with Codex standards improves consumer confidence and facilitates international food trade
- Meets annually — alternating between Rome (FAO HQ) and Geneva (WHO HQ)
- 189 Members = 188 countries + European Union as one Member Organisation
India & the Codex Alimentarius
- India became a Codex member in 1964 — one of the earliest members
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) serves as India’s National Codex Contact Point
- FSSAI coordinates India’s participation through an established inter-ministerial consultation process
- Maintains coordination between India and the Codex Commission on food standards development
- India’s CAC49 achievements directly support export competitiveness in spices, condiments and processed food sectors
WTO SPS Agreement Connection: When a country adopts a Codex standard as the basis for its national food regulation, it is automatically presumed to be in compliance with WTO SPS obligations. This is why India’s success at CAC49 is commercially significant — Codex standards for Indian spices like coriander, curry leaves and cardamom remove potential trade barriers by establishing internationally recognised safety benchmarks.
UPSC Angle: Codex Alimentarius Commission = established May 1963 jointly by FAO + WHO. HQ Rome. 189 members (188 countries + EU). India member since 1964. FSSAI = India’s National Codex Contact Point. Codex standards = international benchmarks under WTO SPS Agreement. CAC49 = 7 standards adopted under India’s chair/co-chair. India secured: Dried Coriander + Fresh Curry Leaves standards; Cashew Kernel standard approval (under CCPFV); Co-Chair of EWG on New Food Sources. Co-chaired: Vanilla, Large Cardamom, Water Reuse, Poultry Safety, Food Labelling.
📋 Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
