Agriculture organisation praises PNG

 THE Food and Agriculture Organisation congratulated Papua New Guinea yesterday for its commitment to Codex – as the Pacific regional coordinator in the past four years.

The Codex committee for the North America-South West Pacific region is meeting in Kokopo.

The FAO said the Pacific membership in Codex started 43 years ago when Fiji joined. The membership has grown to 10, with Nauru the latest to join in 2011.

A spokesman said the effective participation of Codex member countries was important because countries which understood the process by which standards were set “are in much better position to implement them in their own countries”.

The FAO stated that it was important for countries to understand how increased participation could be sustained and to ensure that Codex was recognised by more sectors outside its immediate circle so that more resources are allocated. 

The Codex served as the basis for the revision of development for food regulations in all countries in North America and South West Pacific region irrespective of whether they are members.