Codex Alimentarius Commission and FSSAI

A joint FAO and WHO body sets the world’s food-trade standards. In July 2026 India led work on seven of them at once, from curry leaves to cardamom. This page explains Codex, FSSAI’s role, and what happened at CAC49.

Think of three questions as you read. What is Codex, and who speaks for India? What did India win at CAC49? And why do these standards matter for trade?

1What is Codex, and who speaks for India?

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a joint programme of the FAO and the WHO. It held its first session in Rome in 1963. Its job is to write science-based food standards. They protect consumer health and keep food trade fair.

Both parents matter. Codex is not an FAO-only or WHO-only body. If a question names only one, it is incomplete.

India joined in 1964. FSSAI is India’s National Codex Contact Point (NCCP). That makes it the official bridge between the Commission and India. FSSAI is also the domestic food safety regulator, set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

• Codex: FAO + WHO, first session 1963, Rome.
• India joined: 1964.
• India’s contact point: FSSAI (NCCP).

2What did India win at CAC49?

The 49th session of the Commission (CAC49) met in Geneva on 6–10 July 2026. The Indian delegation was led by FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani. Seven Codex texts developed under India’s chairmanship or co-chairmanship were adopted. (Source: ANI)

India chaired the work on two standards: dried coriander seeds and fresh curry leaves. (Source: Medical Dialogues)

India co-chaired five more. They are the standards for vanilla and large cardamom, annexes on safe use and reuse of water in food production, guidelines to control Campylobacter and Salmonella in chicken meat, and rules on joint presentation and multipack formats in labelling. (Source: Medical Dialogues)

The Commission also approved India’s proposal for new work on a Codex standard for cashew kernels. (Source: ANI)

• CAC49: Geneva, 6–10 July 2026.
• Chaired by India: coriander, curry leaves.
• Co-chaired: 5 texts, including vanilla and large cardamom.
• New work: cashew kernels.

3How did Guwahati prepare the ground?

The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) is hosted by India. Its 8th session met in Guwahati in October 2025. The standards for coriander, curry leaves, vanilla and large cardamom were finalised there. The Spices Board is the committee’s Secretariat. (Source: PIB)

Large cardamom is native to India’s North-Eastern Himalayan region. India imports much of its vanilla, so that standard builds trust in trade quality even where India is not self-sufficient.

India was also named Co-Chair of an Electronic Working Group on new food sources and production systems. (Source: PIB)

• CCSCH 8th session: Guwahati, Oct 2025.
• Large cardamom: North-East Himalayan crop.
• Spices Board: CCSCH Secretariat.

4Why do Codex standards matter for trade law?

Codex standards are named as reference points under the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. SPS measures set the health and safety rules that food exports must meet to enter foreign markets. That links food science directly to trade law.

India exports spices, tea, rice and marine products. Each faces its own quality tests abroad. A cashew kernels standard aims to harmonise quality and safety rules for exporters.

• Codex is a WTO SPS reference.
• Cashew standard helps exporters.

5What are the exam traps?

• Codex is FAO + WHO, not FAO alone.
• India chaired two texts and co-chaired five.
• FSSAI is the NCCP, not the Spices Board.
• Cashew kernels: new work approved, not yet a standard.