A coalition of 45 food and ag groups signed on to a letter supporting full funding for the U.S. Codex Office in the FY 2025 Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill.  The letter will be sent to the respective House and Senate subcommittees.  US leadership in the Codex Alimentarius Commission is important to ensure science-based standards and guidances are developed to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in global food trade.  A copy of the letter is below for reference.

Please contact Ginny Siller at [email protected] with any questions. 

April XX, 2024

Dear [Leadership Senate and House Committees on Appropriations]

We write to you today to request full and adequate funding for the U.S. Codex Office (USCO) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill. As a representative of the U.S. food and agriculture sector, the USCO plays an instrumental role in advocating and developing science and risk-based food standards on behalf of farmers, ranchers, and the food industry to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade worldwide.

The USCO has a valued voice in various multilateral institutions, including the World Trade Organization, Codex Alimentarius Commission among others. At a time when global food security and our global food system remain a top priority, it is imperative the U.S. prioritize all tools necessary to promote transparency and science at an international level, including the USCO.

A lack of financial support for the USCO would hamper our nation’s ability to engage on critical multilateral issues that affect all Americans as well as the greater global population. Therefore, it is imperative the USCO receives full and adequate funding for FY 2025.

Specifically, we request your subcommittee to set funding levels in line with, or above, FY 2024 levels at $4.9 million. This funding would account for USCO’s core functions that are mission critical to U.S. trade and global competitiveness, including day-to-day operations, written submissions, routine meetings, and other activities.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter and for supporting the USCO and other critical U.S. government agencies.

Sincerely,