Coalition Letter to Senate Requesting Full Funding for CODEX

Letter

Dear Chairman Heinrich and Ranking Member Hoeven,

We write to you today to request full and adequate funding for the U.S. Codex Office (USCO) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill. As a representative of the U.S. food and agriculture sector, the USCO plays an instrumental role in advocating and developing science and risk-based food standards on behalf of farmers, ranchers, and the food industry to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade worldwide.

The USCO has a valued voice in various multilateral institutions, including the World Trade Organization, Codex Alimentarius Commission among others. At a time when global food security and our global food system remain a top priority, it is imperative the U.S. prioritize all tools necessary to promote transparency and science at an international level, including the USCO.

A lack of financial support for the USCO would hamper our nation’s ability to engage on critical multilateral issues that affect all Americans as well as the greater global population. Therefore, it is imperative the USCO receives full and adequate funding for FY 2025.

Specifically, we request your subcommittee to set funding levels in line with, or above, FY 2024 levels at $4.9 million. This funding would account for USCO’s core functions that are mission critical to U.S. trade and global competitiveness, including day-to-day operations, written submissions, routine meetings, and other activities.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter and for supporting the USCO and other critical U.S. government agencies.

Sincerely,

American Bakers Association
American Beverage Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Soybean Association
American Spice Trade Association
Animal Health Institute
Association for Dressings and Sauces
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Consumer Brands Association
Corn Refiners Association
Council for Responsible Nutrition
CropLife America
Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Generic Animal Drug Alliance
Independent Bakers Association
Infant Nutrition Council of America
International Association of Color Manufacturers
International Dairy Foods Association
International Food Additives Council
International Fresh Produce Association
Juice Products Association
Meat Import Council of America
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Fisheries Institute
National Grain and Feed Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Seasoning Manufacturers Association
National Turkey Federation
North American Meat Institute
North American Renderers Association
Northwest Horticultural Council
SNAC International
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Dairy Export Council
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
USA Rice
Wine Institute
Wine America

Cc: The Honorable Patty Murray, Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
The Honorable Susan Collins, Vice Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations

Agricultural Coalition

FY25 funding for the U.S. Codex Office (USCO)