U.S. Codex Office

The USCO’s mission is to engage stakeholders in the development and advancement of science-based food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade worldwide.

USCO manages the planning, policy development, support, and coordination for U.S. involvement in Codex, and develops strategies to accomplish U.S. objectives.

The U.S. Codex Office (USCO) is housed in the USDA’s Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs mission area. The USCO is composed of a small yet effective team that conducts international outreach and provides education to promote and support the development of a sustainable global agricultural system and improved international nutrition efforts.

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U.S. Codex Program

The USCO acts as the national focal point for the U.S. Codex Program. Several federal agencies participate in the U.S. Codex Program by providing senior staff and executive delegates to represent the United States on Codex committees, and the United States also chairs some committees.

Delegates to Codex committees (PDF, 221 KB) are primarily employed by regulatory agencies that set U.S. domestic food standards. Other U.S. agency officials participate in vital policy, coordination, and information dissemination activities relevant to their agency missions and interests.

Two senior-level interagency Steering Committees (PDF, 319 KB) guide the program’s work and direction.

About the Codex Alimentarius

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is a joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Food Standards Program established in 1963 that formulates voluntary international standards, codes of practice, guidelines and codes of practice that constitute the Codex Alimentarius. The Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code,” is the preeminent international food standards-setting body that protects the health of consumers and ensures fair practices in the food trade.

Today, the CAC is composed of 188 Member Countries, one Member Organization, and more than 200 intergovernmental and international non-governmental observer organizations. The CAC accomplishes its work through 10 currently active General Subject Committees, six to eight Commodity Committees, six Regional Coordinating Committees, and all of their supportive physical and electronic working groups. The Codex Executive Committee assists and advises the CAC on the management of Codex, including agenda-setting, strategic planning, critical review and funding for Codex Alimentarius.

Food Loss and Waste

In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. This is based on USDA estimates of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels. This added up to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010.

Most people don’t realize how often they waste food and the negative impacts it can have for food security, the environment, and climate change. Reducing food loss and waste could benefit them, their families, and the world, now and in the future.

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