The 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission holds its annual meeting in Geneva from June 30 to July 4.

The Commission is an intergovernmental body, jointly established in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), that sets international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices in the food trade.

Whether establishing new standards such as safe limits for food additives, contaminants, pesticides or veterinary drugs residues, recommending how to assess the risks of genetically modified foods or defining the commercial quality of fresh or produced products: The Codex Alimentarius Commission deals with all of food safety and quality - from producer to consumer. The results of its work form the international food safety standard, Codex Alimentarius (Latin for "food code"). These standards, when introduced in national legislation, contribute to the safety of our foods.

One of the over thirty texts to be adopted this year, the Code of Hygienic Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants and Young Children, aims at protecting the most vulnerable of consumers: infants and small children who for any reason cannot be breastfed . The code, by setting maximum limits for bacteria in formula and guidance on how to produce, distribute and prepare powdered formula, will help keeping children safe from potentially serious infections.

Other topics on this year's agenda include:

Mycotoxin contamination in cereals and other foods - these are carcinogens commonly found in many foods. Their presence in food need to be regulated and minimized.

Use of flavourings - like most additives, there is a need to ensure their safe use;

Quantitative ingredient declarations;

Gluten-free foods;

Processing and handling of quick frozen foods;

Commodities such as raw and live bivalve molluscs (e.g. mussels, oysters and clams), bitter cassava, tomatoes and natural mineral waters. WHO, 27/06/08.