Vanuatu is preparing to host the 14th Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and South West Pacific (CCNASWP) which will be held in September.
The previous two highly successful sessions were hosted in PNG.
Vanuatu was nominated by the 10 Pacific Island countries (PICs) in the South-West Pacific region, and four countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA during the last session held in PNG in Kokopo.
PNG is assisting Vanuatu in preparing for this important event.
Department of Agriculture and Livestock’s Programme Manager and Codex Contact Point, Agro-food Safety and Codex Unit Elias Taia, said he had just returned from Vanuatu and the aim of his visit was to determine and make the initial assessment on the progress made by Vanuatu as the new Regional Coordinator.
“This is line with PNG Government’s offer to assist Vanuatu in hosting the next Codex meeting,” he said.
He explained that the role of the CCNASWP Regional Coordinator was to oversee the work of Codex International Food Standards development and reviews as well as initiating new work in developing relevant food standards in the region to protect the health of consumers and facilitate trade.
He added that the Codex Committee members represented several government departments including Trade, Foreign Affairs, Customs and Inland Revenue, Strategic Planning, Policy and Aid Coordination, External Trade and Agriculture.
He said the agenda documents including technical papers and relevant information would be circulated among the member countries and international agencies who usually participate in the Codex meeting....