New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) India’s leadership in developing a group standard for whole millet grains was acknowledged at a session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88), held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome from July 14 to 18.
According to a statement from the Union Health Ministry here, the appreciation came at the 88th session of the Executive Committee of the CCEXEC88.
India is chairing the work on millet standards, with Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal serving as co-chairs. The terms of reference were finalised during the 11th session of the Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CCCPL) in April this year.
India, currently serving as an elected member of the Codex Executive Committee, also received appreciation for its work on standards for fresh dates, as discussed during the 23rd session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) earlier this year, said the statement. The Executive Committee endorsed the proposed standard for adoption at CAC48, scheduled for November 2025.
Additionally, India will co-chair upcoming standard-setting work for fresh turmeric and fresh broccoli.
The Indian delegation, comprising officials from the Ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), participated in discussions on the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031. India advocated for the adoption of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) Key Performance Indicators, with a focus on outcome-based monitoring.
India also shared details of its regional capacity-building initiatives for neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste. These initiatives have been recognised by the FAO.
During the deliberations, India urged less active Codex member countries to avail of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF) for mentorship and twinning programmes. Drawing on its experience with Bhutan and Nepal, India recommended incorporating such initiatives into the performance indicators for the strategic plan, as per the statement.
India has been chairing the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) since its inception in 2014.
