Food Standards Agency Director, Global Affairs, elected Chairperson of international food standards setting body Codex Alimentarius

Steve Wearne, Director for Global Affairs at the Food Standards Agency, has been elected the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in Geneva, Switzerland. He has been a Vice-Chairperson of CAC since 2017. 

CAC is the organisation that develops global food standards, guidelines and codes of practice for food safety and quality. It was established nearly 60 years ago by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. 

FSA Chair Susan Jebb welcomed the result, stating:

‘Steve’s appointment is a real vote of confidence in the UK’s leadership in modern, innovative food regulation to increase consumer confidence in the food we eat. I’m delighted that he will be taking such a significant role in building consensus to set the standards for food globally.’

FSA Chief Executive Emily Miles commended Steve's appointment saying:

‘This is well deserved. I know Steve will continue to bring his expertise, intelligence  and leadership to the commission and its work to ensure safe, good quality food for everyone, everywhere.’

Steve Wearne's appointment has further been welcomed by the UK Government, with Minister for Farms, Fisheries and Food, Victoria Prentis MP stating:

'I congratulate Steve for his appointment as the Chairperson of Codex Alimentarius Commission. This fantastic news is testament to UK’s ongoing global leadership in food standards and regulation. 

'This appointment is very well deserved, and I hope that Steve’s expertise continues positively to influence the important work of the organisation.'

Victoria Prentis

Steve Wearne said:

"It is a huge honour to have been elected as the next chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and will be a privilege to continue to serve alongside colleagues across the world to make sure safe food is a right we can all enjoy. 

"I would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout my campaign for election, and in particular give recognition to Catherine Brown, Jason Feeney and Emily Miles who have been the three successive Chief Executives of the Food Standards Agency who have championed my work in Codex.

"My commitment as Chairperson-elect of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is to be impartial, and to work tirelessly to deliver an inclusive, transparent and resilient Codex respected throughout the world for its commitment to consensus-driven and science-based food standards."

You can read Steve Wearne’s vision for Codex in his latest article on LinkedIn. 

The election of three new vice-chairpersons of CAC will take place on Thursday 11 November.