Mauritius: Achieving leadership in the Codex Process through implementation of the Codex Trust Fund Project

Port Louis. With the aim to continuously improving food safety for greater health outcomes, Mauritius has made a leap of progress in achieving leadership in the Codex Alimentarius Commission through the implementation of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF) “Building Codex Mauritius” Project. Mauritius is the only African Country selected by the CODEX Trust Fund for support in 2019. This 3-year project administered by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) aims to build strong, solid and sustainable national capacity to engage in Codex Alimentarius Commission at global and regional levels. This project was officially launched in June 2023 by the Minister of Agro-industry and Food Security in the presence of the WHO Representative in Mauritius, other Partners and national stakeholders. WHO supported the country to (i) adapt the Codex Procedural Manual and establish procedures for submission of comments, national positions, and participation/follow-up in Codex committees; (ii) enhance understanding and awareness of the importance of Codex among high-level policy and decision-makers, industry and scientific community, government officials and consumer activists and (iii) improve dissemination of information on the relevance of Codex and preparedness to generate data to contribute to the right level of information in development of global, regional and national food safety standards. A high level meeting with key ministers and decision makers in July 2023 provided valuable insights to draft the National Codex documents which were validated before the capacity building sessions held in August 2023.

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