Codex: South Africa May Not Attend Nutrition Committee Meeting in Bonn Sepp (Josef) Hasslberger September 21, 2004

As the fight against a restrictive Codex Alimentarius Guideline on food supplements is approaching its final act, some disturbing news reaches us from South Africa: The minister of health has apparently ordered the SA delegation not to attend this year's Codex Nutrition Committee meeting in Bonn, Germany, scheduled for early November. South Africa has been the only country to oppose the restrictions planned by Codex Alimentarius international guidelines and to call for a relatively free regime for nutritional products, which could revolutionize health care world wide. Anthony Rees of HONERI, the Herbology and Optimal Nutrition Education and Research Institute, sounds the alarm. There may be international political pressure on South Africa brought to bear by pharma interests causing this abrupt about-face, as the Codex guideline goes into its last steps. Action point: If you live in South Africa or have friends there, please contact the Health Minister or other politicians you know to ask that the delegation be allowed to attend this year's important meeting. See also related: South Africa breaks ranks at Codex Nutrition Committee Codex and the Titanic's Deck Chairs South Africa: Traditional Medicine to Fight AIDS, Poverty Codex: Labelling Committee Asked to Allow Information on Food Preventive Effects South Africa Opposes Codex Rule on Food Health Information