It may not be as visible compared to larger government agencies, but the U.S. Codex Office (USCO) has an important role in ensuring science-based agricultural trade and access to safe, nutritious food—and it needs adequate funding.
The U.S. Codex Office (USCO) engages in outreach and education, advances science-based food standards, protects consumer health, sets fair practices in food trade, and manages U.S. involvement in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) food standards program.
USCO’s $4.8 million budget is a tiny drop in the federal spending bucket—but it has a big impact on ensuring science-based agricultural trade and access to safe, nutritious food worldwide.
BIO’s calling for more funding for the USCO—joining a recent letter to Congress to set 2024 funding in line with or above the 2023 level.
BIO’s take: “Thanks to the U.S. Codex Office, the United States has been a leader in maintaining food trade that is based on transparent, science-based rules,” said Nancy Travis, BIO’s vice president of international affairs. “Reducing funding for the USCO would damage that U.S. presence and leadership role.”
Read the full letter.