VENEZUELA: NO RESPONSE ON CODEX FOOD LABELING

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000544 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/MTA JBOBO USTR FOR MELISSA CLARKSON HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD COMMERCE FOR 4332/MAC/WH/JLAO TREASURY FOR RJARPE NSC FOR RKING SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY FOR PRISCILLA JOSEPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: NO RESPONSE ON CODEX FOOD LABELING DEMARCHE REF: A. SECSTATE 38413 ¶B. 2008 CARACAS 968 Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post delivered reftel A remarks to potential members of Venezuela's currently defunct CODEX committee on April 23. Although there has been no official response and none is anticipated, Venezuelan participation in the May 2009 Calgary meeting is unlikely. Several potential CODEX committee members reported they were unaware of the meeting, but do plan to attend an upcoming conference on food labeling in China. There are indications that Venezuela may reestablish its CODEX committee with the assistance of international organizations. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) As described in reftel B, Ministry of Health actions, such as its dismantling of the Venezuelan CODEX committee, have resulted in the Venezuelan government's reduced ability to participate effectively in international fora. Several international organizations, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have been working with Venezuelan authorities to reestablish Venezuela's dormant CODEX committee. Jamie Flores of IICA told the Agriculture Attache April 29 that although two recent meetings with potential members failed to achieve quorum, in the most recent meeting on April 24 the group committed to reestablishing the CODEX committee. ¶3. (C) With the apparent support of the Vice Minister of Health, the group discussed the possibility of reactivating working groups on food, residues, pesticides and contaminants. Food labeling was not on the agenda, but the Vice Minister expressed an interest in the subject. Post has worked behind the scenes with both FAO and IICA, as well as former Venezuelan CODEX officials, to promote the development of science-based standards and will continue in its efforts over the coming months. CAULFIELD