Sub-regional SADC member state training course on Codex: enhancing participation in Codex Monday 26 – Friday 30 May 2008

Objectives:
This sub-regional training course on ‘enhancing participation in Codex' aimed to:
 
Raise awareness amongst SADC member state representatives from the National Codex Contact points and industry on the significance of the basic requirements for countries to be able to participate actively in the standard-setting activities of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Increase understanding of the structures and procedures of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Create an understanding of the requirements for the establishment of a national Codex framework to facilitate active and effective involvement in Codex.
Discuss the use of Codex Standards in national food quality and safety programmes in the national, sub-regional and regional context.
Encourage efforts to continue to strengthen national Codex programmes and activities, in particular to enhance active participation of SADC member states through further information dissemination activities and networking in the sub-region and the region.
Address the challenges faced by countries in the sub-region and the region and to identify future capacity-building needs on Codex-related activities.
Develop an understanding of the scientific basis of Codex work.
 
The highly inter-active training course was based on training material developed by the FAO/WHO and conducted by a technical expert with in-depth experience in the work of Codex. It was conducted under the auspices of the WHO and the FAO and co-ordinated by the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU). Delegates to the training course were invited by the Ministry of Health, Zambia.