UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Strengthens Global Leadership in Food Standards at 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49)
Q1. With reference to the Codex Alimentarius, which one of the following statements describes it most accurately?
- A. A collection of internationally adopted food standards, guidelines and codes of practice, recommended for voluntary application by members, though often forming the basis of national food legislation
- B. A multilateral treaty whose standards, once adopted by the Commission, become legally binding food-safety obligations on all its members
- C. A compendium of food-safety laws of member countries compiled by the WTO Secretariat for use in sanitary and phytosanitary dispute settlement
- D. A set of maximum residue limits for pesticides and veterinary drugs alone, issued jointly by FAO and WHO for raw agricultural produce
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Codex Alimentarius Commission:
1. It is a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization.
2. It was established in 1963.
3. Its Secretariat is headquartered in Rome.
4. Standards adopted by it are legally enforceable on all members of the World Trade Organization.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It is a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization.
- It was established in 1963.
- Its Secretariat is headquartered in Rome.
- Standards adopted by it are legally enforceable on all members of the World Trade Organization.
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's outcomes at the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49) as compared with the preceding session:
1. Every one of the seven Codex texts credited to India at CAC49 was developed exclusively under India's chairmanship.
2. The standards for dried coriander seeds and fresh curry leaves were adopted at CAC49 as texts developed under India's chairmanship.
3. CAC49 was held at Geneva, whereas it was at the preceding session (CAC48) that India was elected to the Codex Executive Committee for the Asia region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Every one of the seven Codex texts credited to India at CAC49 was developed exclusively under India's chairmanship.
- The standards for dried coriander seeds and fresh curry leaves were adopted at CAC49 as texts developed under India's chairmanship.
- CAC49 was held at Geneva, whereas it was at the preceding session (CAC48) that India was elected to the Codex Executive Committee for the Asia region.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following statements contrasting the domestic and international roles of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
1. FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. At CAC49, technical experts of the Spices Board formed part of the Indian delegation alongside FSSAI officials.
3. FSSAI is India's National Codex Contact Point, whereas the Secretariat of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs is provided by the Spices Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- At CAC49, technical experts of the Spices Board formed part of the Indian delegation alongside FSSAI officials.
- FSSAI is India's National Codex Contact Point, whereas the Secretariat of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs is provided by the Spices Board.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
1. It lays down science-based standards for articles of food and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import.
2. It functions as India's National Codex Contact Point.
3. It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
4. It was set up in 2008 under an Act enacted in 2006.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It lays down science-based standards for articles of food and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import.
- It functions as India's National Codex Contact Point.
- It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- It was set up in 2008 under an Act enacted in 2006.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q6. Which one of the following correctly describes the institutional arrangement of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)?
- A. India is the host country of the committee and the Spices Board of India serves as its Secretariat
- B. India is the host country of the committee and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India serves as its Secretariat
- C. It is the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia, hosted by India, with the Spices Board as its Secretariat
- D. It is a joint committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention, hosted by India
Q7. As of the conclusion of its 8th session, for how many spices had the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs finalized standards?
Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the standard-setting bodies recognised under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement):
1. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is the reference body for food safety, while the International Plant Protection Convention is the reference body for plant health.
2. The World Organisation for Animal Health is the reference body for animal health.
3. Unlike the standards of the other recognised bodies, Codex standards create binding obligations on members once adopted by the Commission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission is the reference body for food safety, while the International Plant Protection Convention is the reference body for plant health.
- The World Organisation for Animal Health is the reference body for animal health.
- Unlike the standards of the other recognised bodies, Codex standards create binding obligations on members once adopted by the Commission.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Codex texts serve as the reference benchmark for food safety under the WTO SPS Agreement. Approximately how many maximum residue limits for pesticides has the Codex Alimentarius Commission established?
- A. More than 300
- B. More than 1,000
- C. More than 3,000
- D. More than 10,000
Q10. Consider the following statements about India's leadership roles within the Codex system:
1. India was re-elected to the Codex Executive Committee as the representative of the Asia region.
2. India's current term on the Codex Executive Committee extends up to the 50th Session of the Commission.
3. India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems.
4. India holds the Chairpersonship of the Codex Alimentarius Commission itself.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- India was re-elected to the Codex Executive Committee as the representative of the Asia region.
- India's current term on the Codex Executive Committee extends up to the 50th Session of the Commission.
- India was elected Co-Chair of the Electronic Working Group on New Food Sources and Production Systems.
- India holds the Chairpersonship of the Codex Alimentarius Commission itself.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q11. India's delegation to the 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission was led by the head of which organisation, and that organisation functions under which Union Ministry?
- A. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India — Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- B. Spices Board of India — Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority — Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Indian Council of Agricultural Research — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare