In 1999 the 23rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission established the Regional Coordinating Committee for the Near East, bringing together countries in the Near East Region (for FAO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (for WHO). The committee held its first meeting in Cairo, Egypt in 2001.
The current regional coordinator for the Near East is based in the Food Safety and Quality Centre of the Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources in Muscat.
Objectives of the Sultanate of Oman through taking on the role of Regional Coordinator for the Near East Region and Chair of the FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East:
- Enhancing efforts to promote effective participation of member countries and all stakeholders, including producers, consumers, and relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations of the Near East Region, in Codex Alimentarius proceedings.
- Continuing to build and enhance national capacities in member states and regional organizations to enable effective participation in international food standard setting.
- Ensuring that the development of Codex Alimentarius standards, at the global level, take into account the specificities of food production and consumption in the Near East Region.
- Promoting the adoption and use of Codex standards as the basis of national food regulatory decisions in member states of the region. This will positively impact consumer health and facilitate the trade of food products at both the regional and international levels and will further contribute to the development of food production in the region, with added competitiveness both regionally and internationally.
News from the region
CCNE12 / Side event discusses novel foods and ingredients in the Near East
by the Sultanate of Oman and IUFoST
A side event entitled "Novel foods and novel ingredients in the Near East: Unlocking innovation through regulation" was held on the margins of the Twelfth Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE12) in Muscat, Oman.
Co-organized by the Sultanate of Oman and the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) through its disciplinary group, the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), the session explored how Codex principles can guide modernization [...]
07 October 2025
CCNE12 / Regional Members share their Codex priorities
The 12th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East has concluded in Muscat, Oman. In wrapping up Waleed Al-ma’amari, Codex Contact Point, the Sultanate of Oman, thanked everyone involved in the meeting for their collaboration, which "contributed directly to the successes of the 12th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East". That this meeting is the first in the region for 10 years reinforces the "commitment of the Sultanate of Oman and CCNE Members [...]
03 October 2025
CCNE12 / Coordinating committee returns to the region
The 12th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East has opened in Muscat, Oman – the first time this Committee has met in the region for more than 10 years. "But today we meet again," said Dr Hussein bin Samh al Masroori, Director-General of the Centre for Food Safety and Quality in Oman, in his welcome remarks, "not only to continue the journey, but also to chart a more ambitious future for food safety and quality in [...]
28 September 2025
"Every voice matters": Oman's new Codex chair on leading a Codex family
Oman is set to host the 12th session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Near East (CCNE12), which will take place in Muscat from 28 September to 2 October 2025. This marks the first time in over a decade that the meetingwill be held in the region, with its new Chairperson, Intisar Al-Gharibi, at the helm. In this new role, Intisar Al-Gharibi aims to foster a new era of engagement and collaboration: her goal is to ensure the Near East becomes a [...]
25 September 2025
World Food Safety Day / Iraq celebrates with a national symposium on food standards
In Iraq, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC), in collaboration with Karwanchi Group held a symposium titled "World Food Safety Day and its role in promoting food standards and specifications" on Monday 28 July 2025, to mark World Food Safety Day 2025.
The symposium focused on the importance of food safety in protecting public health and enhancing the quality of food products, as well as the role of food standards in protecting consumer rights, promoting trust, and ensuring [...]
25 August 2025
World Food Safety Day / FAO and WHO in the Near East to hold webinar on food control systems
Under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action", the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO RNE) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMR) are pleased to invite you to a special joint webinar exploring the principles and guidelines for National Food Control System (NFCS), giving special insights from the FAO/WHO NFCS assessment tool.
Date: Monday 25 AugustTime: 11:00 Cairo TimeWebinar Title: Building Robust National Food Control Systems: Insights from the FAO/WHO Food [...]
25 August 2025
World Food Safety Day / FAO and WHO in the Near East join forces for a discussion on novel foods
Under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action", the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO RNE) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMR) are hosting a special joint webinar exploring the future of food safety and innovation, under title: Innovative Science in Action: Tackling Novel Food (Cell-based Meat and Novel Food Proteins).
Date: Monday, 11 August 2025 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (Cairo Time) Format: Virtual Panel + Live Q&ARegister here: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0_4Odvm4ReqqwxX2DsBwbQ
This session will delve into the [...]
11 August 2025
World Food Safety Day / FAO and WHO in Near East and Eastern Mediterranean regions plan webinar series
The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO) and the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO RNE) will co-organize a series of webinars. During these events, scientists, researchers, senior officials, international experts, and food actors will be invited to share their expertise and perspectives on leveraging science, innovation, and knowledge to ensure safe and healthy food for all.
These webinars aim to provide comprehensive insights into evidence-based practices in food safety, addressing current challenges [...]
11 August 2025
World Food Safety Day / FAO and WHO in Near East to discuss safer agrifood systems
Under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action", the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO RNE) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMR) are joining forces to spotlight the critical role of science in building safer agrifood systems. Exploring Toolbox for Food Safety: The Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and HACCP Toolbox for Food Safety Date: Monday 4 August 2025 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 (Cairo Time) Register here
This session will explore practical tools and approaches to strengthen [...]
04 August 2025
World Food Safety Day / Saudi Arabia reiterates importance of science
On World Food Safety Day, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) joined international organizations dedicated to food safety in commemorating the Day under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action."
This year's theme highlighted how scientific knowledge is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses and enhancing overall food safety. From farm to fork, science underpins every stage of the food chain—it helps identify risks, develop safety measures, and build consumer trust.
With support from the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, [...]
29 July 2025
CCNE Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCNE Secretariat
Food Safety and Quality Centre of the Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources
Muscat , Sultanate of Oman
Tel: +968 22592000
Email: [email protected]
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