India’s Millet Standards Win Global Praise at 88th Codex Executive Committee Meet in Rome.
International
At the 88th Executive Committee meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88) held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy from 14–18 July 2025, India’s leadership in formulating global standards for whole millet grains received formal recognition, marking a milestone in global food safety governance.
- India spearheaded the development of a group standard for whole millet grains in collaboration with Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal serving as co-chairs. The initiative, originally approved during the 47th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC47) in 2024, was deeply appreciated by member countries at CCEXEC88.
- During the meeting, the terms of reference for the millet standards were finalised following discussions at the 11th Session of the Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CCCPL11) held in April 2025, reinforcing India’s strategic input.
- CCEXEC88 was inaugurated by senior officials including Godfrey Magwenzi, Deputy Director General and Director of Cabinet, FAO, and Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director‑General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, World Health Organization (WHO), alongside Codex Commission Chair Dr. Allan Azegele, underlining robust international support.
Main Point :- (i) Beyond millet standards, India’s delegation from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also saw CCEXEC88 endorse new parameters for fresh dates, planned for full adoption at CAC48 in November 2025, and greenlighted India’s leadership in upcoming standards for fresh turmeric and broccoli.
(ii) India also played a decisive role in shaping the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, advocating for SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It championed capacity-building in Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Timor‑Leste, earning praise from FAO.
(iii) A significant recommendation from CCEXEC88 was India’s push for increased utilisation of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF) by less-active member nations, highlighting India’s mentorship role. India has also chaired the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) since 2014.
About Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
Chairperson : Dr. Allan Azegele
Headquarters : Rome, Italy
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