Animal Health Industry commends the Codex Alimentarius Commission for its success over the last 50 years

Brussels, 1 July 2013 –The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) congratulates the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) on its 50th Anniversary. CAC has had, and continues to have, a vital role in setting global standards to ensure that food is safe for consumers around the world. IFAH works closely with CAC to help establish science- based standards for animal health products so that animal-sourced food is safe. Animals, like humans, are exposed to disease and illness that, if left untreated, can prove detrimental to the food supply and the health and welfare of us all. Diseases do not respect borders and therefore, global standards and guidelines, such as those established by CAC, are critical to ensure that animals and the food supply are properly safeguarded. IFAH is committed to promoting these standards as well as a predictable, science-based regulatory environment for animal health products that facilitates the supply of innovative and quality animal medicines, vaccines and other animal health products into a competitive market place. These products directly contribute not only to maintaining animal health but also to providing a safe food supply for people. Mike McGowan, IFAH’s Acting Executive Director commented, “Codex’s science-based decisions are the cornerstones of its success and these should remain at its core in the years to come. Importantly, Codex provides standards for all countries, ensuring that food produced to Codex standards is safe, no matter where it comes from”. CAC has adopted numerous global standards relating to animal health products that safeguard human health. These range from Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for veterinary medicines, ranging from A to Z – e.g. abamectin to zeranol – to guidelines to governments on risk analysis for specific risks in food, such as the “Guidelines for the Design and Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals”. IFAH looks forward to continuing its work with CAC to safeguard the food supply. IFAH firmly believes that only through the establishment and adoption of science-based, global standards and guidelines will it be possible to ensure a safe food supply while enabling fair trade. While further harmonisation of standards and regulation is still required we wish to commend CAC for its success over the last 50 years and look forward to it continuing.

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IFAH

The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) is an organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in both developed and developing countries across five continents. The mission of IFAH is to foster a greater understanding of animal health matters and promote a predictable, science-based regulatory environment that facilitates the supply of innovative and quality animal medicines, vaccines and other animal health products into a competitive market place. These products contribute to a healthy and safe food supply as well as a high standard of health and welfare for animals and people.

For further information on IFAH, please visit www.ifahsec.org