Before the U.S. delegation jets off to Budapest for the 32nd Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) on March 7-11, 2011,  there will be a public meeting for everybody who has to stay home.

At that meeting, federal government agencies involved in Codex will provide information on the Budapest agenda and take comments from Americans on agenda items.

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety at USDA, and FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which lead the U.S. at Codex, are holding the preliminary meeting from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 at the Food and Drug Administration, Harvey Wiley Building, Room 2B047, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD.

To participate through teleconference for the meeting, dial 866-859-5767, and enter the pass code 2225276. Documents and agenda items related to the 32nd Session of the CCMAS will be accessible at the Codex website at www.codexalimentarius.net/current.asp

Codex Alimentarius (Codex) was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. 

Members of the public may access the meeting agenda or request copies of documents by contacting Marie Maratos, U.S. Codex Office, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4861, Washington, DC 20250, calling 202-690-4795 or email at Marie.Maratos@fsis.usda.gov. Written comments may be offered at the meeting or sent via email.