FAO and the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia promote Codex standards

Ensuring food safety and quality remains a top priority for North Macedonia. Codex Alimentarius standards are a crucial set of tools to ensure food safety and quality across the food chain from production through to consumption. Codex standards, a globally recognized set of science-based food safety and quality guidelines, play a key role in protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in food trade. Compliance with the Codex Alimentarius, also known as the “food code” is key to public health and to the transformation of agrifood systems to be more sustainable and more resilient.

Co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia, a national event was held on 19 February dedicated to promoting the Codex standards. The event was another step in strengthening the country’s food safety and quality through the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund project.

The Codex Trust Fund initiative has provided crucial support for strengthening the Macedonian Codex structure and procedures, and increased knowledge of Codex standards, as a basis for international food trade. North Macedonia has also contributed to, and benefited from, increased regional cooperation and knowledge exchange with other food safety regulators through increased engagement in the work of Codex Alimentarius.

The event convened around 40 representatives from key institutions, including the Food and Veterinary Agency, the Public Health Institute, the Economic Chamber of Commerce, the private sector, agricultural cooperatives, and academia. Discussions focused on the scope and issues covered by Codex standards, the important role Codex plays in harmonizing food standards, and their role in facilitating international trade as the benchmark standards of the World Trade Organization. The practical aspects of these issues were discussed with a guest presenter, Dirk Lange, former European Union Codex delegate and expert in trade. 

FAO National Programme Coordinator, Kristina Mitic Arsova, highlighted FAO’s commitment to supporting countries in strengthening food safety measures, stating that “FAO remains dedicated to working with North Macedonia to enhance food safety, quality, market access, and food security, in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework for 2022-31. She explained that “In a context of continuously evolving agrifood systems, ensuring food safety requires constant monitoring and improvement. With dual responsibility shared between food business operators and public authorities, it is essential to foster dialogue, exchange best practices, and address emerging challenges.”

The implementation of Codex standards is critical for both local food safety and expanding export opportunities for North Macedonian food products. These internationally recognized food safety measures cover a broad range of topics, including hygiene, certification, food fraud, contaminants, food additives, and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides and veterinary drugs. By adopting and enforcing these standards, North Macedonia aims to improve the quality and safety of food available on local markets while enhancing the competitiveness of its food exports. Demonstrating the richness of Codex standards, the participants received an in-depth review of Codex work on contaminants in food from Frans Verstraete, European Commission.  

Oliver Milanov, Director of the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia, underscored the agency’s role as the national Codex Contact Point. “The Food and Veterinary Agency is fully committed to the effective participation of North Macedonia in Codex Alimentarius. By implementing Codex standards, we aim to enhance consumer protection and improve trade conditions for Macedonian food products in both regional and global markets,” Milanov emphasized.

Codex Vice-Chair Betul Vazgecer addressed the participants with a video prepared by the Tarim TV channel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Türkiye. Describing the National Codex Committee’s interaction with the food businesses in Türkiye, she noted “Food shall only be placed on the market if it is safe, and since food safety is the primary responsibility of food business operators, they should be considered as the backbone of the National Codex Committee.” She emphasized the importance of exchange of knowledge, communication, and sharing of data between the public authorities and the food businesses for effective development of Codex standards. 

The event provided a platform for participants to discuss progress, share experiences, and identify challenges related to food safety and standard implementation. With FAO’s continued support, North Macedonia is taking significant steps towards aligning its food safety regulations with international best practices, ultimately benefiting consumers and businesses alike.