45th CODEX Committee on Food Hygiene Working Group

On November 11, Hanoi hosted the 45th session of the CODEX Committee on Food Hygiene, co-organized by the U.S. Codex Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Vietnam Codex Office of the Ministry of Health. This was the first time the Committee working group meeting took place in Vietnam. The session brought together delegates from more than 70 countries and international organizations.

Ambassador David Shear and Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long offered opening remarks at the Committee working group meeting.

“This event demonstrates the depth and breadth of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relations. The amount of joint planning and coordination required for this week-long event is impressive. It serves as a reminder of the level of cooperation and trust that exists between our two countries. It also follows the U.S. – Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership signed by President Sang and President Obama in July” said Ambassador Shear.

On the significance of the Committee’s work, Ambassador Shear remarked: “By establishing an international platform to help ensure food safety globally, the Codex plays a pivotal role in promoting international trade and strengthening business ties across countries,” and emphasized the impact this and other international and bilateral agreements have on growing global agricultural trade.

The U.S. – Vietnam trade in food and agricultural products has increased from $2.6 billion in 2008 to $4.4 billion in 2012.

http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/highlight-111113.html