Codex alimentarius
The Codex Alimentarius is a common program of the United Nations for the food and agriculture (FAO) and of the the World Health Organization (WHO) consistent in a collection of standards, codes of uses, directives and other recommendations relating to the production and the transformation agro-alimentary which have as an aim the Public health of the food, that is to say the worker and consumer protection of the food dies, and the safeguarding of the environment.
The Commission of the Codex Alimentarius , is the executive body. This international organization, where the representatives of almost 200 countries sit, was created in 1963 by FAO and WHO. She is charged to work out food standards, definitions and criteria applicable to food, to contribute to their harmonization and thus, in particular, to facilitate the international exchanges. She plays a paramount role in world food standardization and was recognized for this reason by the agreements of the World Trade organization (OMC) provided its regulations do not block the exchanges if they are not sufficiently scientifically supported.
Official site of the Alimentarius Codex and the Commission