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Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Shares Insights on Codex Approach with Caribbean Stakeholders
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), convened a virtual training session for National Codex Committees across CARICOM. Held under the theme “The Approach to Codex” on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the event gathered 39 participants from across the region, including Anguilla, Barbados, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The training commenced with welcome remarks, emphasizing the importance of supporting National Codex Committees and strengthening their role in advancing food safety.
Key Benefits for Participants:
- Gained an understanding of Canada’s Codex Food Safety Program, including the role of the Interdepartmental Committee for Codex (IDC) and the Codex Contact Point at Health Canada.
- Learned about Canada’s Codex Participation Strategy, with practical approaches to enhancing internal participation, engaging stakeholders, and developing national positions.
- Explored CFIA’s integrated “one health” approach, which combines food, animal, and plant health responsibilities for stronger food safety oversight.
- Benefited from insights into the operations of Canada’s Codex Committee, including centralized coordination, communication systems, and knowledge-sharing across agencies.
- Recognized the value of Codex standards in promoting harmonization and fulfilling WTO obligations, while also examining challenges such as document fatigue and the rise of electronic working groups.
- Discussed the potential and limitations of AI and new media in standardization, gaining perspective on emerging tools while emphasizing traditional communication methods.
The training provided Caribbean stakeholders with practical insights into Canada’s Codex framework and strategies, offering valuable lessons on coordination, participation, and innovation in food safety. CAHFSA reaffirmed its commitment to continued collaboration with CFIA to strengthen National Codex Committees and advance food safety across the region.
