CCEXEC90 / Executive Committee Discusses Recommendations For 49th Commission Meeting
30 June 2026, Rome: In its 90th session this week, the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC) will discuss the texts and revisions of texts that have been forwarded to the Commission for adoption. Also on the CCEXEC90 agenda are issues including new work proposals, the implementation report of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Strategic Plan 2020–2025 and financial matters.
In her opening remarks as the meeting gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, Luz de Regil, Director the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO, highlighted WHO’s work on foodborne diseases. “An important milestone was achieved during the celebrations of World Food Safety Day: the publication of the WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases,” she said. “This work has now been published, with estimates for 42 hazards, country-level data, and economic impact. These estimates are essential to the Codex work and shall be taken into account in risk management decisions. This important initiative became the theme of World Food Safety Day this year, heightening global momentum for food safety.” She noted the critical challenges faced by the world today, saying that “against these challenges, the steady implementation of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Strategic Plan 2026–2031 becomes even more critical.”
On behalf of FAO, Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, also gave opening remarks, in which he underlined FAO’s commitment to food safety and to food safety standards, particularly in light of WHO’s new estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease. “This is why FAO invests in strengthening national capacities — supporting countries to assess risks, adopt Codex standards, and turn them into real improvements in food safety and trade,” he said. He went on to highlight the vital role of CCEXEC, which “serves as a strategic and advisory forum, guiding the work of the Commission, and a place where emerging pressures are weighed before they reach the Commission floor.”
In his opening remarks, the Codex Alimentarius Commission Chairperson, Allan Azegele, reminded delegates of their key role in CCEXEC “as the steering body of Codex between Commission sessions”. He commented on the significant progress made in the committee meetings since the last Commission meeting, which took place in November 2025. “Global conflicts witnessed during this period had significant impact on global travel, however”, noted the Chairperson, “it is commendable to note that the work of the committees that met progressed well and delivered significant outcomes that continue to strengthen the global food standards system.”
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