Codex and Technical Barriers to Trade

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS is about safe, good food for everyone- everywhere. The words CODEX ALIMENTARIUS derives from Latin meaning “FOOD CODE” is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practices adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The Codex system was set up because of widely perceived need to facilitate fair trade in food. Internationally accepted standards were therefore seen as the means. At the same time, it was realized that if standards were developed, then it must be based on added protection for consumers’ health.

The use of the Codex system results in Governments, food industries, non- governmental organizations, farmers and consumers working together to develop appropriate food standards and regulations. By adopting and implementing these standards, Samoa’s national interests are protected.

Currently the Samoa National Codex Committee has:

• 9 members
  • Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) : Chair
  • Ministry of Health (MOH): Member
  • Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (MAF): Member
  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE): Member
  • Samoa Water Authority (SWA): Member
  • Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (SAME): Member
  • Samoa Chamber of Commerce (SCC): Member
  • Samoa Consumers Association (SCA): Member
  • Women in Business Development Inc. (WIBDI): Member
• 2 observers
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Observer
  • World Health Organization (WHO): Observer

You can use the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s international platform to access and share information on the safety assessment of GM Foods. This information applies mainly to foods derived from GM (or recombinant DNA) plants authorized in accordance with the Codex Plant Guidelines.

Visit the GM foods platform www.fao.org/gm-platform

The main aim of the Ava Standard is to ensure that Samoan Ava:

• Is produced and stored accordingly to good hygiene standards maintaining its quality,
• Is safe to consume and
• Is locally and internationally renowned and recognized as a quality product.

The purpose of this standard is to provide guidance on minimum requirements for ‘ava quality, to all participants of the ‘ava value chain, including consumers. It stipulates guidelines for health and safety measures, including information on approved cultivars.

The Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement aims to ensure that technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures are non-discriminatory and do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. At the same time, it recognizes WTO members’ right to implement measures to achieve legitimate policy objective, such as the protection of human health and safety or protection of the environment. The Agreement strongly encourages members to base their measures on international standards as a means to facilitate trade.

The Fair Trading, Codex Alimentarius, Consumer Protection and Metrology Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour is the focal point for Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) in Samoa.