Survey on the Use and Impact of Codex Texts

The Codex Secretariat conducts a yearly survey for all Codex Members to measure the use and impact of Codex texts. Mandated to monitor this topic through the Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025, in 2021 the Secretariat, in collaboration with FAO and WHO evaluation offices, began work on developing a mechanism to explore issues such as accessibility, relevance and credibility concerning Codex standards.

This survey, therefore, is one of the solutions to help Members and Observers better understand the impact, or potential for impact, of Codex texts.

Members are asked to respond to a series of questions on up to four standards adopted or revised by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in the period 2015-2020.

Codex Survey 2025 launch

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News

Use and impact of Codex standards: new survey and new report out now!

The Codex Secretariat has launched the 2025 Members' survey on the "Use and impact of Codex texts" and, concurrently, released the report of the 2024 survey findings. This marks the fourth cycle of the survey, which helps Codex gain a deeper understanding of how its Members apply standards, guidelines, and codes of practice. This information is crucial for ensuring the protection of consumer health and facilitating fair practices in the global food trade. This year’s edition introduces two updates: regional standards [...]

01 October 2025

Use & Impact / Case study published, showing significant benefits to implementation

Codex has published its Use and impact of the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxin contamination in cereals (CXC 51–2003) in Brazil (CoP), the first in-depth case study to be carried out as part of the development of a monitoring framework on the use and impact of Codex texts. The case study is a qualitative approach to the monitoring of Codex standards and complements the quantitative survey approach that has been established since 2022. These approaches, together [...]

09 July 2025

Out now! Report on monitoring of standards by the "three sisters"

The World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) references the texts developed by three standards setting bodies, as the reference standards for plant and animal health and food safety in international trade. Those three bodies are the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). These bodies are known collectively as the three sisters. When implemented, the standards set by the three sisters help to ensure [...]

28 January 2025

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FAQ

1. What is the purpose of the survey?

The survey seeks to examine the reach and usefulness of Codex texts and use responses to calculate their impact.

2. Who should answer the survey?

Each Member Country in Codex should answer the survey; one response per country. Codex Contact Points should coordinate how each country responds through their normal channels which could include convening the National Codex Committee or team.

3. How long does it take to complete the survey?

The design of the survey has been streamlined and completion should take less than one hour.

4. Which standards are being surveyed in 2025?

Guidelines on Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (CXG 94-2021)
Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CXG 38-2001)
Codex Pesticides Residues in Food Online Database (adopted by CAC up to and including its 47th Session (November 2024))

Relevant regional Codex text:

If Africa, Regional guidelines for the design of control measures for street-vended foods (Africa) (CXG 22R – 1997)
If Asia, Regional code of hygienic practice for street- vended foods in Asia (CXC 76R-2017)
If Europe, No regional standard for Europe
If Latin America and the Caribbean, Regional code of hygienic practice for the preparation and sale of street foods (Latin America and the Caribbean) (CXC 43R-1995)
If Near East, Regional code of practice for street-vended foods (Near East) (CXC 71-R-2013)
f North America and South West Pacific, Regional Standard for kava products for use as a beverage when mixed with water (North America and South West Pacific) (CXS 336R-2020)

5. How were these particular texts selected?

Codex texts adopted or revised by CAC from 2015 to 2020 that cover the range of Codex General Subject Committees or Task Forces.

6. Will the answers of a single country be published?

The survey data will be aggregated and analysis will be conducted at the global and regional levels to determine trends. No individual country responses will be shared.

7. Can I change my responses?

Yes, you can just click back on the survey and change or delete your answers. While the survey remains open, you can change any of your answers. Once the survey is submitted, you will no longer be able to change your responses.

8. What if I don’t have a full answer yet, can I save the survey and then go back?

No, there is currently no "save" option. But while compiling the survey, until it is submitted, you can go back and change a previous answer.

9. Can I obtain a pdf copy of the survey to circulate to my committee?

You can request a pdf copy of the survey in any of the 6 UN languages by writing to [email protected].

10. Why does question 6 offer the choice of answering on one or more Codex texts?

A country may not have data to share on all the standards listed but we hope they will answer on all those where that information is available.

11. What is the purpose of the detailed secondary questions on the texts?

The survey seeks to gather information on specific Codex texts where a country has data. This will complement the general questions found later in the survey.

12. When and how will the data be presented?

The preliminary results are presented at the subsequent Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), while the full report is usually available at the beginning of the next survey year.

13. How do you expect the data collected to be useful?

This is the first step in building a mechanism to monitor the use and impact of Codex Texts. Through this pilot survey, Codex will understand how to improve the process and the investment required.

14. What is the deadline for responses in 2024?

To ensure that preliminary results can be presented at CAC47, countries are urged to complete the survey by 25 October 2024.

15. Can a country provide additional information when responding to the survey?

There are numerous text boxes provided in the survey that a country can use to provide further context to your answers including the last survey question, where a country can provide concrete suggestions to improve the reach, usefulness, or use of Codex texts. Additional, written responses can be sent to [email protected] for inclusion in the survey analysis.