The EU Council's Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (Codex Alimentarius - CCFICS) is scheduled to meet on 21 September 2026 in Brussels to coordinate member state positions ahead of the 28th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS28). The meeting, set for 10:00 at the Justus Lipsius Building, will focus on preparing for CCFICS28, which takes place from 12 to 17 October 2026 in Perth, Australia.
preparation for CCFICS28 and any other business. Delegations are required to register their presence via the Delegates Portal, where Council documents are also available. The meeting notice, published by the Council, underscores the EU's internal coordination process for international food safety and trade standards.
This preparatory meeting is a routine procedural step for EU member states to align their negotiating positions before engaging in the global Codex Alimentarius forum. CCFICS develops standards, guidelines, and recommendations on food import and export inspection and certification systems, which directly affect international trade in food products. The EU's coordinated stance aims to ensure that its regulatory framework and trade interests are represented effectively.
Stakeholders impacted include EU food exporters, who benefit from harmonised international standards that facilitate market access; national food safety authorities, which must align domestic inspection systems with Codex guidelines; and EU consumers, who rely on robust certification systems for food safety. The meeting does not involve legislative decisions but is a preparatory step for EU participation in the international standard-setting process.
Institutional follow-up will occur after the 21 September meeting, when the Council will finalise its position for CCFICS28. The European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) typically provides technical input, while the Council's working party ensures political coordination among member states.