The work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission has played an important role in improving food safety and in ensuring a rational science-based level playing field to facilitate fair trade in agricultural products across the more than 160 member countries. But Codex has grown in importance since it was designated as one of the three international standard-setting organizations whose health and safety standards serve as key reference points in settling trade disputes under the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. And the Commission's work has taken on increased visibility as Codex issues make front-page news internationally and are discussed at the highest levels of governments around the world. It is not surprising that these issues are receiving such scrutiny. The availability of safe and abundant food is fundamental to any civil society's ability to function.
Food is essential to public health and is a fundamental part of each country's economy.
However, such scrutiny is a double-edged sword. The public debate can help us arrive at good decisions that might not be reached otherwise, but it also can create uneasiness for the regulators, for the food industry and for consumers. Codex will continue to be in the spotlight as it continues to play its dual role of improving the public health through safer food and ensuring a level playing field for fair trade. Let me briefly discuss those two roles. As you should expect from the Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, my number one priority is the safety of food.