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News & Views
Codex Alimentarius: How Well Are You Informed?
Date: 12/10/09
Now, you can imagine that in such a system of guidelines small producers and suppliers are left out in the cold. The same happens with small governments that disagree with the Codex guidelines. Codex’s power and influence covers almost all areas of food supply, ranging from cocoa, meat, meat hygiene, cereals, sugars, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables. It also deals with more controversial issues such as food additives, contaminants in food, food labelling, pesticide residues and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
A few weeks ago, we wrote about the looming dangers of Codex Alimentarius. This raised some questions about the truth behind Codex Alimentarius’ modus operandi.
Because Codex is a big bad monster which has not been put to bed yet it’s important that we take a look at what Codex is and how far-reaching its influence and power is.
Decoding Codex
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is responsible for establishing a system of guidelines, standards and recommendations that guides the direction of the global food supply. These guidelines and standards are supposed to ensure ‘fair trade practices’ and consumer protection within global food trade.
On the outset Codex looks like a good idea, because it aims to tell us what is safe. However, instead of being a fair- trade movement that aims to support farmers and producers in developing countries while promoting sustainability, Codex has turned into a system of guidelines and standards that work to the advantage of the world’s corporations and food manufacturers.
Now, you can imagine that in such a system of guidelines small producers and suppliers are left out in the cold. The same happens with small governments that disagree with the Codex guidelines. Codex’s power and influence covers almost all areas of food supply, ranging from cocoa, meat, meat hygiene, cereals, sugars, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables. It also deals with more controversial issues such as food additives, contaminants in food, food labelling, pesticide residues and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
How bad can it get?
So, you can see that the Codex tentacles are wrapped around almost every aspect of what we consume. Some of the most important issues affected by Codex are:
1. Food/dietary supplements
• Setting very low maximum daily doses for supplements using scientifically flawed risk assessment methods to determine these dosage levels;
• Effectively establishing an international borderline between foods and drugs for nutrients, forcing therapeutic nutrients into drug categories;
• Requirement for clinical trials to validate health claims of food/dietary supplements. These can be too expensive for small companies. This will provide a ‘passport system’ for big corporations and act as an obstacle to freedom of speech and trade for smaller ones;
• Setting unnecessarily low Nutrient Reference Values which seriously understate requirements for long-term optimum health for given sub- populations, age groups and genders.
2. Organic food
• ‘Dumbing-down’ of organic standards to suit interests of large food producers;
• Promotion of large-scale, high-input agriculture and international freight;
• Approval of various synthetic chemical additives and ‘processing aids’ in organic foods;
• No outright ban on use of irradiation post-production;
• Labelling that will allow the use of hidden, non-organic ingredients.
3. Genetically modified (GM) food
• Driven by GM interests which argue world food requirements cannot be met without global implementation of GM;
• GM food plants being given the green light on safety;
• ‘Terminator’ seeds could be approved for international trade;
• GM food animals are on the way.
4. Food additives
• Approving around 300 different food additives as safe. These are all mainly synthetic including aspartame, BHA, BHT, potassium bromate, tartrazine, etc;
• No consideration given to potential risks associated with long-term exposure to mixtures of additives.
5. Pesticide residues
• Allows significant residues of over 3,275 different pesticides, including those that are suspected carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, eg. 2,4-D, atrazine, methyl bromide;
• Not taking into account the long-term effects of exposure to mixtures of pesticide residues in food.
Codex is not a law... but it is bound to rule this land
Codex does not create laws but merely delivers guidelines, standards and recommendations and this is why many governments see Codex as harmless, as do corporations that benefit from these recommendations and guidelines.
The reality is that most countries have no option but to harmonise their laws to Codex. If they don’t, they face imposed sanctions by the World Trade Organisation Dispute Settlement Body (WTODSB). WTODSB is the ultimate enforcer of Codex’s rules governing the global food trade and once you’ve crossed their path you probably won’t be allowed to trade internationally.
On a grass root level, when the man on the street is being poisoned by pollutants or chemicals in food, or we have our fundamental rights and freedoms restricted by losing access to wholesome, natural foods and nutrients, it is of course not Codex that can be blamed; it is the national and regional law of each country. In order to change this, laws will have to be changed and we all know how time consuming that is. This distancing of Codex from the law seems to allow Codex to escape direct blame – and of course also makes its operation much more sinister. This is exactly why it is important to act against the Codex regulations now, before they become implemented trade recommendations and guidelines that are turned into the law of the land.
How to make a difference?
While many of us are still able to exercise freedom of choice, one of the most effective actions we can take is to be selective in our choice of foods.
* Consumer action: do not buy or eat processed foods, GM foods, or foods containing food additives wherever possible. Try to buy or cultivate organic foods or foods to which pesticides have not been applied.
* Political action: make sure you make your views known both about national and European laws – as well as Codex – to your governments and elected representatives. In the UK, this includes your Member of the European Parliament and your MP. If your local MP is unaware of what Codex entails, make them aware with the correct information.
* Social action: make others aware of the risks posed to our food supply by European and other national or regional laws and Codex. Help your friends, relatives and other contacts to appreciate the risks of processed, GM and unnatural foods. Stress the importance of chemical-free, locally or regionally produced, whole foods in the diet.
For additional and introductory information about Codex you can watch this short film by award-winning filmmaker Kevin P. Miller by clicking this link: We Become Silent - The Last Days Of Health Freedom
Currently there are two petitions on the 10 Downing Street website relating to Codex activities. Signing these petitions is important and making other people aware of them plays a key role in having our voices heard. See details below.
Restricting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements
Imposing agro chemical use on all farmers, including Organic farmers
Sources:
‘Codex Alimentarius: Focus on true threats, not disinformation.’ by Caduceus Journal, published online, Spring-Summer 2009, anhcampaign.org
‘We Become Silent - The Last Days Of Health Freedom’ a short film by Kevin P. Miller, available to view online, video.google.com/videoplay?docid=451097355502728465#
Back to topBecause Codex is a big bad monster which has not been put to bed yet it’s important that we take a look at what Codex is and how far-reaching its influence and power is.
Decoding Codex
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is responsible for establishing a system of guidelines, standards and recommendations that guides the direction of the global food supply. These guidelines and standards are supposed to ensure ‘fair trade practices’ and consumer protection within global food trade.
On the outset Codex looks like a good idea, because it aims to tell us what is safe. However, instead of being a fair- trade movement that aims to support farmers and producers in developing countries while promoting sustainability, Codex has turned into a system of guidelines and standards that work to the advantage of the world’s corporations and food manufacturers.
Now, you can imagine that in such a system of guidelines small producers and suppliers are left out in the cold. The same happens with small governments that disagree with the Codex guidelines. Codex’s power and influence covers almost all areas of food supply, ranging from cocoa, meat, meat hygiene, cereals, sugars, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables. It also deals with more controversial issues such as food additives, contaminants in food, food labelling, pesticide residues and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
How bad can it get?
So, you can see that the Codex tentacles are wrapped around almost every aspect of what we consume. Some of the most important issues affected by Codex are:
1. Food/dietary supplements
• Setting very low maximum daily doses for supplements using scientifically flawed risk assessment methods to determine these dosage levels;
• Effectively establishing an international borderline between foods and drugs for nutrients, forcing therapeutic nutrients into drug categories;
• Requirement for clinical trials to validate health claims of food/dietary supplements. These can be too expensive for small companies. This will provide a ‘passport system’ for big corporations and act as an obstacle to freedom of speech and trade for smaller ones;
• Setting unnecessarily low Nutrient Reference Values which seriously understate requirements for long-term optimum health for given sub- populations, age groups and genders.
2. Organic food
• ‘Dumbing-down’ of organic standards to suit interests of large food producers;
• Promotion of large-scale, high-input agriculture and international freight;
• Approval of various synthetic chemical additives and ‘processing aids’ in organic foods;
• No outright ban on use of irradiation post-production;
• Labelling that will allow the use of hidden, non-organic ingredients.
3. Genetically modified (GM) food
• Driven by GM interests which argue world food requirements cannot be met without global implementation of GM;
• GM food plants being given the green light on safety;
• ‘Terminator’ seeds could be approved for international trade;
• GM food animals are on the way.
4. Food additives
• Approving around 300 different food additives as safe. These are all mainly synthetic including aspartame, BHA, BHT, potassium bromate, tartrazine, etc;
• No consideration given to potential risks associated with long-term exposure to mixtures of additives.
5. Pesticide residues
• Allows significant residues of over 3,275 different pesticides, including those that are suspected carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, eg. 2,4-D, atrazine, methyl bromide;
• Not taking into account the long-term effects of exposure to mixtures of pesticide residues in food.
Codex is not a law... but it is bound to rule this land
Codex does not create laws but merely delivers guidelines, standards and recommendations and this is why many governments see Codex as harmless, as do corporations that benefit from these recommendations and guidelines.
The reality is that most countries have no option but to harmonise their laws to Codex. If they don’t, they face imposed sanctions by the World Trade Organisation Dispute Settlement Body (WTODSB). WTODSB is the ultimate enforcer of Codex’s rules governing the global food trade and once you’ve crossed their path you probably won’t be allowed to trade internationally.
On a grass root level, when the man on the street is being poisoned by pollutants or chemicals in food, or we have our fundamental rights and freedoms restricted by losing access to wholesome, natural foods and nutrients, it is of course not Codex that can be blamed; it is the national and regional law of each country. In order to change this, laws will have to be changed and we all know how time consuming that is. This distancing of Codex from the law seems to allow Codex to escape direct blame – and of course also makes its operation much more sinister. This is exactly why it is important to act against the Codex regulations now, before they become implemented trade recommendations and guidelines that are turned into the law of the land.
How to make a difference?
While many of us are still able to exercise freedom of choice, one of the most effective actions we can take is to be selective in our choice of foods.
* Consumer action: do not buy or eat processed foods, GM foods, or foods containing food additives wherever possible. Try to buy or cultivate organic foods or foods to which pesticides have not been applied.
* Political action: make sure you make your views known both about national and European laws – as well as Codex – to your governments and elected representatives. In the UK, this includes your Member of the European Parliament and your MP. If your local MP is unaware of what Codex entails, make them aware with the correct information.
* Social action: make others aware of the risks posed to our food supply by European and other national or regional laws and Codex. Help your friends, relatives and other contacts to appreciate the risks of processed, GM and unnatural foods. Stress the importance of chemical-free, locally or regionally produced, whole foods in the diet.
For additional and introductory information about Codex you can watch this short film by award-winning filmmaker Kevin P. Miller by clicking this link: We Become Silent - The Last Days Of Health Freedom
Currently there are two petitions on the 10 Downing Street website relating to Codex activities. Signing these petitions is important and making other people aware of them plays a key role in having our voices heard. See details below.
Restricting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements
Imposing agro chemical use on all farmers, including Organic farmers
Sources:
‘Codex Alimentarius: Focus on true threats, not disinformation.’ by Caduceus Journal, published online, Spring-Summer 2009, anhcampaign.org
‘We Become Silent - The Last Days Of Health Freedom’ a short film by Kevin P. Miller, available to view online, video.google.com/videoplay?docid=451097355502728465#
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