Codex Committee Convenes 19th Session in Cairo
The committee gathered to address international food safety standards and emerging risks from chemical hazards.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Nutrition
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The 19th session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods officially opened in Cairo. The meeting brings together global experts to establish collaborative food safety standards and share laboratory capacity.
Why it matters
The committee seeks to combat chemical hazards, which represent a significant portion of the foodborne disease burden in the region. This session prioritizes addressing emerging risks posed by changing environmental and climatic conditions.
Chemical hazards currently account for 30 percent of the foodborne disease burden in the region. The committee is now meeting for its 19th session to refine global safety standards.
The players
Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods
This international body develops global food safety standards and guidelines to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
Sally Hoffer
She serves as the outgoing Chairperson of the committee and is concluding her term at the end of this session.
Susanne Sütterlin
She is the newly appointed Chairperson who will lead the committee following the conclusion of the 19th session.
The details
The session focuses on developing international food safety standards through collaborative consensus building among member countries. During the meeting, Sally Hoffer will step down as Chairperson, with Susanne Sütterlin set to assume the leadership role.
Timeline
Egypt joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1973.
The 19th session of the committee opened in Cairo on October 20, 2026.
Members are scheduled to celebrate the fiftieth Commission session next year.
Health Landscape
The committee's work in Cairo continues the long-standing mandate of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to harmonize international food safety standards. This meeting functions as a specific operational gathering within the broader Codex infrastructure.
The committee's efforts to mitigate chemical hazards in the food supply aim to reduce the overall regional burden of foodborne illnesses. By standardizing safety protocols, the group hopes to lower risks for consumers across the international community.
The takeaway
The ongoing work in Cairo highlights the importance of international cooperation in managing modern food safety challenges. Global consensus on contaminant standards remains a primary tool for protecting health against emerging environmental threats.
What happens next
The committee is expected to adopt new texts at its next meeting, and members will celebrate the fiftieth Commission session in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about international food safety efforts in the Nutrition section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Codex.
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