Report on National Experience with Codex (Philippines) Amelia W. Tejada , Ph.D. Executive Director Food Development C

1. Report on National Experience with Codex (Philippines)Amelia W. Tejada , Ph.D.Executive DirectorFood Development CenterNational Food Authority

2. A Call from CODEX to Create a National CODEX • National Codex Organization was Created through a Joint DA-DOH Administrative Order (DA-AO No. 01 S2008 / DOH-AO No. 2008-0030) dated October 22, 2008 •  Recommends to the Technical Committee the improvements in current operational systems in order to improve cost-effectiveness of the NCO operations

3. Organizational Structure

4. Functions and Responsibilities • Ensure that the development of country positions are in compliance with the policies and procedures of the MOP, including the following general requirements: ¨ The position is based on prepared discussion papers The position responds to the Codex documents circulated ¨  The position is supported by scientific data and/or has scientific basis ¨  The position is consistent with national policies and supports national interests ¨  The position is clear, accurate, precise and in the prescribed format - Inputs of stakeholders are solicited and considered in the develoment of country positions subject to the policies of the DA and DOH.

5. Functions and Responsibilities Cont’d • Select the delegates to Codex meetings according to prescribed guidelines of the Manual of Operating Procedures (MOP). •  Participation at Codex meetings is the only way to ensure that country positions are considered at Codex. However as participation entails high costs, doing so at government expense, the delegate must comply with the requirements in the MOP. • Members of Sub-Committees or Task Forces who are not from a government agency but come from academe or the private sector, can attend as members of the official country delegation provided that the requirements stated in the MOP are met.

6. Functions’Cont’d • Coordinates, monitors and evaluates activities of NCO bodies and make recommendations to the Technical Committee particularly on the following: ¨  development of country positions ¨  results of participation at Codex meetings ¨  conduct of meetings and progress of Sub-Committee or Task Force activities ¨  compliance of NCO bodies with the NCO Manual of Operations • Stakeholders participation in the Philippine NCO Membership to the Sub-Committees and Task Forces are open to stakeholders.

7. The types of membership are as follows: 1.  Regular members are from: government, professional association, representatives from civil society (such as farmers, fisherfolk, NGOs), institutions/industry, academe and research institutions. 2. Non-regular members are the following: invited experts, resource persons and other stakeholders interest groups

8. Progress of National CODEX As early as 1998, attempts were made to create a National Codex Office. A National Codex Organization (NCO) was officially established jointly by the DA and DOH and became functional in 2005. The NCO has a defined structure and national positions are developed through a consultative process among experts and stakeholders. The NCO also developed its Manual of Operations (MOP) in 2010 to set in place criteria and requirements on the following: • Establishment of Sub-Committees (SCs) and Task Forces (TFs) as national equivalent to relevant Codex Subsidiary Bodies and the lead agencies to head the group. The Chair comes from the mandated agency and covers cost of operations of the SC/TF. • Membership and Responsibilities of SCs, TFs, Technical Committee, Executive Committee. • Development of Country Positions. • Selection of country delegates i.e. national positions are required to attend a Codex meeting

9. NCO Accomplishments 1. National Codex Organization Manual of Operations (MOP) • The MOP was approved by both DA and DOH Secretaries on March 31, 2010. • The Manual describes the processes to be used by the members of the various NCO bodies to help them in the performance of their duties and responsibilities in Codex work in the Philippines. • It was prepared to enable governments, competent authorities, food industries, private organizations, farmers, consumers and others concerned, to understand the NCO as an organization.

10. Attendance to CODEX

11. Measure of Effective Participation: Philippine participation in Codex meetings used to be irregular with varied delegates and not in a sustainable basis. There is also no single repository of national positions and there is a general lack of information on researches on food safety. But now, the MOP has a provision to source funds for its activities- Attendance to Codex meetings. Delegates could be supported by agency/Department or private funds

12. While country participation in Codex meetings is important, the NCO also gives emphasis on how Codex decisions would be treated at the national level. The Manual of Operations requires a report form to be submitted and presented by country delegates that includes the following information to measure effective participation in Codex: • For adopted Codex standards, it would be translated into national policies or modified or used as reference. Provide copies of national food safety issuances or regulations. Related activities may include publicconsultations with stakeholders. • To generate data for scientific basis of national positions, the NCO has a Technical Working Group that evaluates research proposals to be endorsed for funding. • The NCO through its Technical Committee, comprised of Chairs of SCs and TFs and representatives from identified sectors, are informed of cross cutting issues from various relevant Codex committees. Decisions are made on activities needed i.e. risk assessment trainings, capacity building on Codex process to include attendance to Codex Commission meetings.

13. How is the Philippines making progress? • Before, national positions could come from any agency. Now national positions could only be transmitted to Codex after it has undergone the NCO consultative process and endorsement. The official Philippine position is also consistent for other international Codex-related events. • With the NCO structure, concerned SC/TF could directly respond to specific Codex issues. Procedures are also provided in the MOP that ensures proper coordination/information.This would imply that awareness on NCO work has increased over time. • NCO TC and SC members are invited as resource speakers in industry meetings on Codex issues and national positions. • There is improved membership composition in SCs/TFs. More active NCO Sub-Committees/Task Forces • Coordination with food industry sector on their compliance with these national food regulations. Monitoring.

14. How is the Philippines making progress Cont’d? • Trainings to develop team of risk assessors. • Inclusion in the national budget for Codex activities of DA and DOH agencies and the NCO. • The NCO creates Technical Working Groups to deal on its specific needs: Research, Budget, and Review of MOP for amendment. The MOP guides the NCO to stay focused on its goals. The NCO is a fairly young organization and seeks to improve its work as it gains experience on Codex. • Active participation from food industry/academe.

15. How is the Philippines Making Progress Cont’d • Provision or sharing of information/data has improved as food industry representatives participate not just as regular members but also as guest members on specific Codex issues; as members of country delegation. • Food industry/professional associations/chambers have organized internal groups similar to the NCO structure and with identified official representatives to the NCO. • On-going research studies to generate data on specific Codex issues to be used as basis of national positions. Review of research proposals is also on-going. • Issuances of national policies/regulations based on adopted Codex standards

16. How is the Philippines Making Progress Cont’d • Currently, the NCO has a Management Support Office (MSO) that provides technical and administrative support. • The MSO, among its functions, is tasked to make recommendations to improve work of the NCO. However its current limited manpower support is constrained from fully providing this. • The NCO while already operational for several years is not a permanent Office. There is a proposed Food Safety Bill in Congress that aims to institutionalize the NCO by providing it with a permanent Office, technical staff and budget. In the meantime, the NCO continuous to seek ways to be more effective and responsive to Codex concerns.

18. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Philippines , as a member of the CODEX, through the National CODEX Organization Should

24. EXPECTATIONS from CODEX in the FUTURE CODEX has been very useful in our standards setting . It is foreseen in the near future that: • More support for building capacity especially on microbial risk assessment • Assist CODEX members to source out research funds concerning national CODEX issues • Continue funding the participation of developing countries to CODEX meetings through CODEX Trust Funds • Facilitate members in attendance to CODEX meetings