International Authorities

The Codex Alimentarius is the international organization created by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to develop food standards, guidelines and other texts under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade. As a nongovernmental organization with observer status IFT participates in meetings of select Codex committees and task forces.

With the mandate of raising levels of nutrition, improving agricultural productivity, bettering the lives of rural populations, and contributing to the growth of the world economy, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation serves as a knowledge network, shares policy expertise, provides a neutral meeting forum for nations, and brings technical knowledge to the field. 

As the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations, the World Health Organization provides leadership on global health matters, shapes the health research agenda, sets norms and standards, articulates evidence-based policy options, provides technical support to countries, and monitors and assesses health trends.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) is an international expert scientific committee administered jointly by FAO and WHO. JECFA serves as an independent scientific committee which performs risk assessments on food additives, contaminants, naturally occurring toxicants and residues of veterinary drugs in food and provides advice for the CAC and its committees.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is a scientific risk assessment body of the European Union, providing scientific advice on food and feed safety, nutrition, animal health, plant protection, and plant health.

The Food Chemicals Codex (FFC) is a compendium of internationally recognized standards for the authenticity, purity and identity of food ingredients. The compendium features about 1,100 monographs, including food-grade chemicals, processing aids, foods, flavoring agents, vitamins, and functional food ingredients, as well as information on topics such as adulteration, analytical methods and more.

The FCC plays a key role in safeguarding commerce and public health by providing essential criteria and analytical methods to authenticate and determine the quality of food ingredients. FCC standards are beneficial to all stakeholders in the food industry as agreed standards between suppliers and manufacturers aid in distinguishing genuine products from inferior or adulterated ingredients and substances, thereby helping to make the food supply chain safer and assuring consumers of the quality of the food products they consume. 

The IFT Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC) convenes industry sector stakeholders to facilitate pre-competitive processes which promulgate standards, especially for upstream segments of the food value chain. For more information, visit the GFTC standards and protocols page.

GS1 is a standards body that develops and maintains business communication standards and protocols pertinent to food logistics and traceability. GS1 promulgates standards such as barcodes, communication formats (e.g., EPCIS), and logistics networks (e.g., the Global Data Synchronization Network). GS1 standards have broad usage in the food industry worldwide, especially for consumer-packaged goods, fresh products, meat and poultry, and food service.

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was established by the Consumer Goods Forum to benchmark food safety standards worldwide. The GFSI scope encompasses food supply chain safety from production/source to consumption. GFSI seeks to reduce food safety risks through standardization, manage costs in the global food system, develop capacity and competency across global food systems, and provide an international platform for knowledge exchange.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops and publishes international standards relating to topics, including food ingredients, food safety and quality, and nanotechnology, through a network of national member standards institutes of 162 countries.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) is an international organization that works to build better policies for better lives. Its goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity, and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers, and citizens, the OECD works on establishing international norms.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CIFA) highest priority is mitigating risks to food safety, with the health and safety of Canadians the driving force behind the design and development of its programs. In collaboration and partnership with industry, consumers, and federal, provincial, and municipal organizations, CFIA works towards protecting Canadians from preventable health risks related to food and zoonotic diseases.
   

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FANZ)

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a statutory authority in the Australian Government Health Portfolio. FSANZ develops food standards for Australia and New Zealand.
 

Health Canada

Health Canada is responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, ensuring that high-quality health services are accessible, and working to reduce health risks.
  

U.K. Foods Standards Agency

The U.K. Food Standards Agency is an independent government department working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in food.
 

United States Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices, and ensures the safety of the nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA's role in food regulation involves ensuring the safety and proper labeling of the nation's food supply, excluding meat, poultry, and certain egg products which are regulated by the USDA. It sets standards, conducts inspections, enforces regulations, and responds to foodborne illness outbreaks to protect public health\.
  

United States Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues. The USDA develops and enforces regulations related to agricultural practices, food processing, and nutrition, ensuring the overall health and well-being of the public. Through its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), it oversees the safety, quality, and proper labeling of meat, poultry, and egg products.