Codex Alimentarius Commission Praised India On Millets

Context: The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), has praised India’s Standards on Millets and accepted its proposal for developing global standards for millets during its 46th session in Rome, Italy. 

More On News:

• India has framed a comprehensive group standard for 15 types of millets specifying eight quality parameters, which received applause at the international meet. 
• The Codex currently has standards for sorghum and pearl millet.

What is the Codex Alimentarious Commission (CAC)?

• Genesis: The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an international food standards body established in May 1963. 
  • It was jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Objective: Setting an international food safety and quality standard to protect consumers’ health and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
• Members: Currently the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union). 
  • India became a member of Codex Alimentarius in 1964.
• The Codex Alimentarius Commission’s roles and responsibilities:
  • The Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes Codex standards, guidelines, and recommendations as reference standards for international trade and trade dispute settlement.
• Codex Standards/Texts: “Voluntary in nature, Codex standards can be general or specific and are recognized by WTO Agreements as reference standards”
  • General Standards, Guidelines, and Codes of Practice
    • These core Codex texts, typically deal with hygienic practice, labeling, contaminants, additives, inspection & certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides and apply horizontally to products and product categories.
  • Commodity standards
    • Codex commodity standards refer to a specific product, although Codex is increasingly developing standards for food groups.
  • Regional standards
    • Standards developed by the respective Regional Coordinating Committees, applicable to the respective regions.

What are the comprehensive group standards set by FSSAI for millets?

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has specified a comprehensive group standard for millets under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Second Amendment Regulations, 2023.
• 8 quality parameters: 
  • Maximum limits for moisture content, 
  • Uric acid content, 
  • Extraneous matter, 
  • Other edible grains, 
  • Defects, 
  • Weevilled grains, and 
  • Immature and shriveled grains,
  • to ensure availability of good quality (standardized) millets in domestic and global markets.
• The group standard applies to the following millets (15 in Number):
  • Amaranthus (Chaulai or Rajgira), Barnyard Millet ((Samakechawal or  Sanwa or Jhangora), Brown top (Korale), Buckwheat (Kuttu), Crab finger (Sikiya), Finger Millet (Ragi or Mandua), Fonio (Acha), Foxtail Millet (Kangni or Kakun), Job’s tears (Adlay), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Little Millet (Kutki), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Proso Millet (Cheena), Sorghum (Jowar), Teff (Lovegrass), etc. 

Source: PIB