In a significant step towards enhancing food safety and quality standards and as part of Syria’s focus on its economically important agricultural products, the Ministry of Economy and Industry participated in the 12th session of the Codex Alimentarius Committee for the Near East (CCNE), held in Oman with the participation of several countries and regional and international organizations concerned with food affairs.
The Codex Alimentarius, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in food trade globally.
Syrian Committee and Participation
Engineer Maysaa Abu al-Shamat, Secretary of the Syrian National Codex Alimentarius Committee at the Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization, headed the Syrian delegation to the meetings. She presented a working paper on the need to include Syrian olive oil specifications in the updated international standard for olive oils issued by (CCNE).
Given the differences in olive oil variety specifications between producing regions, the meeting discussed the action plan proposed by Syria to collect new international data representing the characteristics of olive varieties around the world. This would contribute to harmonizing international specifications with national ones and prevent the emergence of obstacles to the export of Arab olive oils to global markets.
The plan received broad support from the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat, the Regional Committee for the Near East, and representatives of participating delegations, who expressed their willingness to provide the necessary support for its implementation.
Syria’s participation in CCNE is seen as a vital step toward reintegrating into the global food market and enhancing its agricultural exports. By aligning its food safety standards with international norms, Syria aims to not only protect its consumers but also to position itself as a reliable supplier in regional and international markets.
