The Codex Alimentarius, or the food code, has become the global reference
point for consumers, food producers and processors, national food control
agencies and the international food trade. The code has had an enormous
impact on the thinking of food producers and processors as well as on the
awareness of the end users – the consumers. Its influence extends to every
continent, and its contribution to the protection of public health and fair
practices in the food trade is immeasurable.
The Codex Alimentarius system presents a unique opportunity for
all countries to join the international community in formulating and
harmonizing food standards and ensuring their global implementation. It
also allows them a role in the development of codes governing hygienic
processing practices and recommendations relating to compliance with those
standards.
The significance of the food code for consumer health protection was
underscored in 1985 by the United Nations Resolution 39/248, whereby
guidelines were adopted for use in the elaboration and reinforcement of
consumer protection policies. The guidelines advise that “When formulating
national policies and plans with regard to food, Governments should take
into account the need of all consumers for food security and should support
and, as far as possible, adopt standards from the … Codex Alimentarius or,
in their absence, other generally accepted international food standards”.
The Codex Alimentarius has relevance to the international food trade. With
respect to the ever-increasing global market, in particular, the advantages of
having universally uniform food standards for the protection of consumers
are self-evident. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBS Agreement) both
encourage the international harmonization of food standards. Products of
the Uruguay Round of multinational trade negotiations, these Agreements
cite international standards, guidelines and recommendations as the
preferred measures for facilitating international trade in food. As such,
Codex standards have become the benchmarks against which national food
measures and regulations are evaluated within the legal parameters of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements.
This booklet was first published in 1999 to foster a wider understanding
of the evolving food code and of the activities carried out by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission – the body responsible for compiling the
standards, codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations that constitute
the Codex Alimentarius. Since the first publication there have been many
changes to the way in which the Codex works. A new edition of this popular
booklet is therefore timely and necessary for understanding the Codex
Alimentarius in the twenty-first century.

Codex Alimentarius Official Web Site :  You are not allowed to view links.
Register or Login   If you look at the top tool bar on their site you will see a tab named About Codex. Mouse over it and select the first selection:  Understanding Codex. It will take to a  Full Published PDF Document  That The W.H.O and F.A.O. wrote to "help you understand". There are tons of information the W.H.O. and F.A.O. have provided for your reading pleasure. Pay close attention to the chemical charts and such and if you are good Dr. Khan and I will share some very interesting details with you.  You are not allowed to view links.
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Throughout much of the world, an
increasing number of consumers and
governments are becoming aware of
food quality and safety issues and are
realizing the need to be selective about
the foods people eat. It is now common
for consumers to demand that their
governments take legislative action to
ensure that only safe food of acceptable
quality is sold and that the risk of foodborne
health hazards is minimized. It is
fair to say that, through its elaboration of
Codex standards and its consideration of
all related issues, the Codex Alimentarius
Commission has helped significantly to put
food as an entity on political agendas. In
fact, governments are extremely conscious
of the political consequences to be expected
should they fail to heed consumers’
concerns regarding the food they eat.

Codex Alimentarious Official Site
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