Over 400 delegates gathered online for the opening of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) which is taking place from 9 to 24 May 2022, hosted by The Netherlands from Utrecht. The committee regulates substances that have not been intentionally added to food by setting maximum levels to avoid levels of contamination that would make the food unsafe or affect its quality. 

Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt said: “The safety standards set by CCCF, such as maximum levels and codes of practice to prevent or minimize contamination, are at the core of the Codex mandate to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade. You need to balance risks and benefits, enabling trade while ensuring safety. Often that is tricky, and one needs to compromise.”