The Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India, (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) has been
designated as the nodal point for liaison with the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
The National Codex Contact
Point (NCCP) has been constituted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India for keeping liaison with the CAC and to coordinate Codex activities in India.
The
National Codex Contact Point
Core Functions of NCCP-INDIA
The NCCP shall perform the
following core functions:
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Act as a link between the
Codex Secretariat, National Codex Committee and Shadow Committee;
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Coordinate all relevant
Codex activities within India;
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Receive all Codex final
texts (standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other advisory texts) and working
documents of Codex Sessions and ensure that these are circulated to those concerned;
-
Send comments on Codex documents
or proposals to the CAC or its subsidiary bodies and /or the Codex Secretariat within
the time frame;
-
Work in close cooperation
with the National Codex Committee and its Shadow Committees;
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Act as a channel for the
exchange of information and coordination of activities with other Codex Members;
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Receive invitations to Codex
Sessions and inform the relevant Chairpersons and the Codex Secretariat of the names
of participants representing India;
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Maintain a library of Codex
standards, Code of Practice, Guidelines and any other documents and publications
on or related to Codex; and
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Promote Codex Activities
throughout India
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Build capacity in country
to effectively take up Codex work.
Responsibilities of NCCP -INDIA
In order to be able to discharge
its core functions, the NCCP shall have the following responsibilities:
-
Undertake secretariat responsibilities
to the National Codex Committee;
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Act as the contact point
for the country for maintaining liaison with the Codex Secretariat in elaborating
international food standards;
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Collect, procure and analyze
data for elaborating international food standards;
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Keep track of international
food standards work and give comments and data to ensure that international food
standards elaborated are practicable for local manufactures and do not hinder exports
of food;
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Undertake study and research
work to solve any problem resulting from the elaboration of international food standards;
-
Encourage food manufacturers
to improve quality and hygiene management to meet requirements of international
food standards; and
-
Disseminate information
of food standards and food laws to relevant government agencies, primary producers,
manufacturers, exporters, consumers and concerned organizations.
To get in touch with NCCP,
click here
