What primary role does the Codex Alimentarius serve in the global context?

The Codex Alimentarius plays a crucial role in setting international food safety standards, which is essential for ensuring food quality and safety across countries. Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the Codex Alimentarius Commission formulates guidelines and recommendations that member countries can adopt to harmonize food safety and trade standards. This helps protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the international food trade. By setting these standards, Codex supports the safe consumption of food products and aids in preventing foodborne illnesses, thus contributing to global public health.

The other options, while related to the food system, do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of Codex. Promoting organic farming, offering financial aid to farmers, and regulating food imports and exports are not the core objectives of Codex, which focuses specifically on food safety and quality standards.