Codex Contact Point for Poland

THE MAIN TASKS OF THE CODEX CONTACT POINT FOR POLAND

The Codex Contact Point for Poland:

Acts as the link between the Codex Secretariat and Poland,

Co-operates and participates in the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies works,

Circulates all Codex working documents to interested stakeholders and cooperating instructions in Poland,

Co-ordinates process of developing of Polish positions on Codex standards, guidelines and related texts
and send final national comments to the Codex Secretariat,

Co-ordinates participation of Polish experts in Codex sessions on Codex working groups,

Maintains Codex library and distributes Codex documents for interested parties,

Co-ordinates Polish co-operation with the European Union Council Working Group on Codex Alimentarius,

Promotes of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentairus Commission activates,

Involves new co-operating national experts for wider opinion making process on Codex working documents,

Encourages to active participation of Poland at the Codex forum,

Proposal for the next issue of Codex Alimentarius Newsletter - article on CCP for Poland

The history of the Codex Contact Point (CCP) for Poland is as long as the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission activity. The first Polish CCP was run by Professor Stanislaw Krauze, one of the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus founders. It is worth to emphasize that the Codex Alimentarius Europaeus was subsequently expanded to the present worldwide Codex Alimentarius. Professor Krauze was also the originator of the Polish School of Bromathology and the WHO expert for contaminants in food. The other Polish accent in Codex history is the person of Mr. Zenon Zaczkiewicz, who - as a Vice-President of Polish Committee for Normalization - was Vice-Chair of the 2 first Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) sessions in 1963 and 1964. Both of them actively participated in Codex sessions in (1962-1965).

At present the Codex Contact Point for Poland is located in the International Co-operation Department of Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection responsible to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Our 100% female team consists of 5 specialists in food science. The department, giving high priority to the Codex Alimentarius, cooperates also with other international organizations in the area of agricultural and food products quality, such as the UNECE, the OECD, and the European Union institutions. Since several years the CCP head is Ms Marzena Chacinska, who not only assigns routine duties, but also cares for uniquely friendly relations in Codex team.

The main tasks of CCP are: co-ordination of the process of developing of Polish positions on Codex standards, guidelines and related texts; co-ordination of Polish experts participation in Codex sessions and Codex working groups; involving new experts for wider opinion making process on Codex working documents; promoting the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission activities; maintaining the Codex library and distribution of Codex documents to interested parties. There is 47 national governmental and non-governmental organizations (among others: official food control services, food research institutes, universities, food producers associations and consumers organizations) CCP cooperates with in Codex work activities.

Poland being the formal co-hosting country of the 26^th FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Europe (CCEURO) chaired by Switzerland as the FAO/WHO Coordinator for Europe organized the FAO/WHO - EURO Regional Workshops on Codex Alimentarius which were held in Warsaw (Poland) in 2007 and 2008. The general purpose of the Workshops was to involve countries in transition from the European region in Codex works. All workshops activities: lectures, presentations and simulation of Codex Session were conducted by international experts. Polish CCP organized all mentioned events, as well as the 26^th CCEURO Session held in Warsaw from 7^th to 10^th October 2008.

At the last 32^nd Session of CAC Poland was officially appointed as the new FAO/WHO Coordinator for Europe. It is a big challenge for the Codex Contact Point for Poland, as we are responsible for preparing the next, 27^th session of CCEURO and Codex related capacity building activities.

We kindly encourage to visit our website http://www.ijhars.gov.pl/index.php?lan=English where you can find detailed information on CCP for Poland, Codex Alimentarius itself, 26^th CCEURO Session and Workshops on Codex Alimentarius, reports, posters, presentations and many more...

Codex Contact Point for Poland