Which international body is the primary authority for establishing international food safety standards used in trade?

• A. World Trade Organization
• B. FAO
• C. World Health Organization
• D. Codex Alimentarius Commission

Answer: (D)

Codex Alimentarius Commission is the primary authority because it is the joint FAO/WHO body that develops international food safety standards, guidelines, and codes of practice used as the benchmark for safe trade. These standards cover areas such as permissible contaminant levels, pesticide residues, food labeling, and hygiene practices, providing a harmonized reference that countries can adopt in their national regulations. In international trade, the World Trade Organization relies on Codex standards when interpreting sanitary and phytosanitary measures, making Codex the technical authority behind many trade-related food safety rules. The FAO and WHO play crucial roles as sponsors and sources of scientific input, but they are not the primary standard-setting body themselves; Codex is.