This page outlines the ways the American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) is participating in activities related to Codex Alimentarius.

(1) AHHA created this web site -- codexinfo.org -- to increase general public awareness of Codex in general and the Codex Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements in particular. To prepare for this we searched for online sources related to these "Guidelines" and researched the Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual to understand the rules and organizational structure governing these activities.

(2) AHHA noted contradictory perspectives by members of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) as they define which vitamins or minerals will be allowed in a supplement product as well as how much of a nutrient can be included.

• Scope of Document
  The "Guidelines" are verbally referred to as a set of optional recommendations. Yet the document itself is drafted as though it is defining a mandatory set of Standards to be applied to international trade transactions.
• Purpose of Document
  The document does not specifically define its purpose and those working on it differ in their interpretations as to how it will be used.
• Role of Vitamins and Minerals
  The "Guidelines" document states that supplementation is to make up for deficiencies in obtaining the basic levels of vitamin and minerals to sustain life. It totally ignores extensive research validating the preventive role of these nutrients. This impacts decisions related to limits of nutrient amounts allowed in a product.
• Content of Document
  Without consensus as to the overall scope and purpose of the "Guidelines" it is not surprising that the Committee members drafting this document have evolved to focusing on individual agendas. The parameters perceived as important in the selection of vitamins and minerals, content of vitamin and mineral products, packaging, and labeling differ among the over 60 delegations from different countries and non-governmental organizations.

(3) AHHA Board encourages clarification of these perspectives.

• AHHA will again in 2004 be represented at the CCNFSDU session in Bonn by Suzan Walter, AHHA president and webmaster of this site codexinfo.org.
• Each year, prior to the annual CCNFSDU sessions, AHHA submits Position Papers to the FDA representative responsible for drafting the U.S. delegation's positions on the Guidelines to call attention to the areas needing clarification. The 2004 Position Paper has been submitted.
• "Important News from Bonn includes Suzan Walter's 2003 report on the CCNFSDU session.
• AHHA researched the Codex rules specifically related to advisory documents, such as guidelines, to determine the official scope and purpose. The findings and related documents are in the article "Why are Codex Guidelines now Standards?." The World Trade Organization's lack of differentiation between types of Codex documents is the most significant factor to be understood in this situation.
• AHHA continues to research the WTO enforcement mechanism and its application to Codex documents. Preliminary data obtained from Codex headquarters indicates that until a body of cases has been brought before the WTO and decisions rendered, no one actually knows how Codex Standards will be enforced by the WTO.

This page was last updated September 2004.