It is Asia’s first industry-wide representative on the international food standards.
Priority areas FIA will look to work with Codex on include food hygiene, contaminants, nutrition, labelling and additives.
Matt Kovac, executive director at FIA, said the appointment will enable it to address knowledge gaps between Codex and the region’s food industry, and enhance standards across the region.
“The food industry across Asia has needs that sometimes differ from our global counterparts and for the first time, we have the opportunity to share our experience and insights to represent these in global food standards.”
As an observer, FIA can attend and participate in dialogue sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its various working committees, receive meeting documentation and information and provide industry submissions.
FIA will start in September in New Delhi, India, at the 20th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia.
Codex was by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop international food standards to protect consumer health and promote fair trading practices.
The appointment builds on FIA’s regional work in health and nutrition, trade and regulatory harmonisation and food safety, which includes holding a seat on the governing council of the Global Food Safety Partnership (GFSP).