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The Saudi Food and Drug Authority announced that Khalid bin Saud Al-Zahrani was re-elected as vice-chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission at the 49th session held this week in Geneva. Al-Zahrani first assumed the position in 2024 and will continue to serve on the executive committee until the 50th session in 2027. The authority stated that the outcome reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance science-based standards, promote harmonization and deliver capacity-building initiatives for member countries.
In its official statement, the SFDA outlined how the re-election builds on Saudi Arabia’s membership in the commission since 1968. Al-Zahrani had earlier served as regional coordinator for the Near East, a position he took up in 2020 and retained after re-election in 2023, according to records from the Food and Agriculture Organization. The authority added that these experiences have strengthened the Kingdom’s ability to support consensus-driven regulatory work at the global level.
Prof. Hisham Aljadhey, CEO of the SFDA, expressed pride in the re-election. “This achievement reflects the support and empowerment provided by the Saudi leadership and the international standing the Kingdom enjoys in the fields of food safety and public health,” he said in the announcement. Aljadhey confirmed that the authority would continue championing the commission’s objectives, including full alignment with its strategic plan for 2026-2031.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established in 1963 as a joint program of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization to set harmonized food standards that protect consumer health and ensure fair trade practices, FAO documentation shows. The body now includes 189 member states whose adopted standards frequently serve as reference points in national laws and World Trade Organization agreements, according to FAO figures. Saudi Arabia’s ongoing leadership contributes directly to these goals by emphasizing scientific evidence and sustainability across supply chains.
Al-Zahrani thanked the Saudi government and SFDA leadership for their backing while pledging continued cooperation with the chairperson, secretariat and all members, drawing on language from related Codex session records. The vice-chair role allows Saudi Arabia to help shape priorities on emerging topics such as antimicrobial resistance and resilient food systems. The SFDA has hosted regional workshops that have trained officials from multiple countries, further elevating the Kingdom’s profile in global food governance.
The authority’s statement underscored that Saudi Arabia would focus on advancing standards grounded in the latest research to safeguard public health and facilitate international commerce. These efforts complement the commission’s broader mandate to address sustainability challenges in food production and distribution. Participation in the executive committee ensures the Kingdom maintains influence over strategic decisions affecting trade and consumer protection worldwide.
