Speeches and Remarks 2007

(As prepared for delivery)

Welcome Remarks by Mr. Steven White,
Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy at the Opening Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene 39^th Session
Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi
October 30, 2007

I consider it a privilege to welcome you, the delegates, who have come from countries around the world to participate in this most important Codex Committee on Food Hygiene meeting.  You are to be commended for the contributions that you have already made to Codex becoming a more productive - and therefore a more relevant - organization.  As delegates, your work is critically important, not only for your own respective agencies or countries, but for consumers everywhere.  Because of Codex's important role, you need to make certain you use its full power to unite yourselves so that a real consensus on shared goals can be achieved. 

Since its creation, this committee has helped to further food safety worldwide through the development of internationally recognized standards based on sound science and guidance for countries on how to meet those standards. I understand that in recent years, this committee has led the world in the development and application of effective risk management, risk assessment and HACCP systems.  This committee's work plays an integral part in the overall efforts of all of the other Codex committees to protect the health of consumers.

This meeting is critical to reducing that risk from unsafe food, while continuing to ensure that our nation's citizens reap the benefits of growing international trade in food products.  However, you must also make sure that the decisions you take are also based on sound science and objective data if this committee's decisions are to have a positive impact.  There is no question in my mind that a science-based approach pays off greater returns than any other option available to us. I believe that the USDA's own positive results -- or I should say, practical results - such as dramatic measurable declines in food borne illnesses or incidence of pathogens in products, speak for themselves. I'm looking forward to seeing the future accomplishments brought about by the work of this committee in the coming years.

In this context, I would like to congratulate India, the co-host country for this meeting, in its efforts to bringing in an integrated food law, the Food Safety and Standards Act, which I believe would develop food standards based on international standards and practices, and on the basis of proper risk analysis.  I am sure, the implementation of this law would help to bolster India's trade, both exports and imports, of food products. 

Thank you again for your time and I hope everyone here has a productive meeting this week.