Don Buckingham
University of Ottawa, Canada

This paper briefly describes the history and operation of Codex; its involvement in matters affecting trade in products of biotechnology; the fit of its standards in the WTO framework; and concludes with the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in regard to the ongoing discussions at Codex concerning the labeling of GM foods, and how these might play out in the WTO.

Key words: Codex Alimentarius Commission; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT); SPS Agreement; technical barriers to trade; labeling.