The 48^th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48), held November 10–14, 2025 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, included discussions by different Codex committees, offering insight into the ongoing work to advance international food safety standards.

The conversations held at CAC48 are in addition to the official adoption of new and updated standards, including new maximum levels for lead in cinnamon and dried herbs, the first international standard for fresh dates, and other standards, a full summary of which can be read here.

For instance, the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) is advancing key initiatives, including the conversion of the Regional Standard for Laver Products (Asia) into a worldwide standard. The Committee is also considering new work on other seaweed and aquatic species, reviewing marine biotoxin provisions, updating standards for fisheries and aquaculture products to ensure accuracy and alignment with recent Codex texts, and responding to queries from other Codex committees.

The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS) updated the Recommended Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CXS 234-1999). The revisions include corrections to methods for quick-frozen fish products and the addition of references to Appendix VI. CCMAS also revoked certain outdated methods of analysis, while retaining the method for salt saturation in salted fish and dried salted fish of the Gadidae family of fishes and the method for sampling preparation.

The Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) discussed the need for guidance on the use of 4‑hexylresorcinol in quick-frozen shrimps, prawns, and lobsters. The Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) will examine the issue and provide feedback to CCFA.

The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) adopted editorial amendments to the General Standard for Contaminants in Food and Feed (CXS 193-1995) to remove outdated content in the scientific justification for the guideline levels for radionuclides in foods contaminated following a nuclear or radiological emergency. The committee also included maximum levels (MLs) for marine biotoxins contained in the Standard for Live and Raw Bivalve Mollusks (CXS 292-2008) to ensure that CXS 193-1995 remains the single, authoritative reference for the safety levels for contaminants in foods and feeds.

Lastly, a new proposal was submitted by the Regional Committee for Africa (CCAfrica) for the development of a regional standard for boiled, salted, and unsalted dried fish.