Its texts are developed and maintained by the "Codex Alimentarius" Commission, a body that was established in early November 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was joined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 1962, and held its first session in Rome in October 1963.
Zbirka je svoje ime dobila po prvi podobni zbirki, Codex Alimentarius Austriacus.