FAQ

Q:What is CCSCH?

A:Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary herbs, also known as CCSCH is a subsidiary body works under CAC. It is an exclusive committee for spices and culinary herbs for the development of standards in harmonization with worldwide standards. India is the host country and Spices Board act as the secretariat.

The committee was established in July 2013 by the CAC at its 36th meeting held at Rome.

Q: What is CAC?

A: It is an international body that was established in early November 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was joined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 1962. It held its first session in Rome in October 1963.The Commission’s main goals are to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the international food trade.

The Codex Alimentarius is recognized by the World Trade Organization as an international reference point for the resolution of disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.

Q: What is Codex Alimentarious?

A: The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety.

Its texts are developed and maintained by the Codex Alimentarius Commission

Q: Why do we need codex standards ?

A: Codex standards ensure that food is safe and can be traded. Codex standards and related texts are voluntary in nature. They need to be translated into national legislation or regulations in order to be enforceable. Codex food safety texts are a reference in WTO trade disputes.

Q: What is the difference between Codex standard and ISO standard?

A: Codex and ISO activities are complementary. Codex, as a governmental organization, prepares documents to assist governments in their statutory and regulatory work to protect their citizens from health hazards caused by food consumption. ISO prepares standards in particular on test methods to assist stakeholders along the whole food chain to fulfil both the statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as the requirements of consumers of these products.