India secures unanimous re-election to Codex Executive Committee

India has been unanimously re-elected to the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC) for the Asia region, reaffirming its leadership role in global food standards until the end of CAC50 in 2027.

Officials said the decision reflects strong support from the international community and ensures Asia’s technical and trade priorities continue to be represented at the highest level.

The health ministry said India wrapped up a productive session at the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48). The Indian delegation was led by Rajit Punhani, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and several technical experts were also part of the team.

According to the statement, India secured several strategic outcomes during the session. The most significant was its re-election to the CCEXEC. The ministry noted that “the unanimous decision by the global membership confirms India's collaborative leadership role until the end of CAC50 (2027).”

India also played an active role in earlier discussions at the CCEXEC89 session. It strongly contributed to debates on Codex efficiency and future challenges. The country stressed the need to update and develop databases on food additives, pesticide residues, veterinary drugs, methods of analysis, and contaminants in food.

The ministry said India advocated the use of modern technologies. It supported the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance Codex operations, especially for document translation.

Throughout the sessions, India focused on protecting national and regional interests. The delegation highlighted the importance of considering regional data when developing global food standards.