FAO Food Safety Activities in the Region

at Food Safety Policy Decision-making meeting

through Multi-factors in Thailand (17 December 2013, Bangkok, Thailand)

Ms. Shashi Sareen Senior Food Safety & Nutrition Officer

FAO Regional Office for the Asia & the Pacific E-mail: shashi.sareen@fao.org

FAO Vision

• Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

Food security: all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. [World Food Summit, 1996]

FAO and Food Safety

Food Safety Approaches

Food chain approach – hazards may arise at different stages of the food supply

Preventative risk-based approach is followed rather than a reactive one based on sampling & testing (GAP, GMP, HACCP)

Sound national food control & regulatory systems essential – standards & implementation

Roles and responsibilities for food safety - all actors in the food chain namely- farmer or producer, processor, handlers, government, consumer

• Food safety policies, legislation, governance (including coordination mechanisms)

• SPS/standards & norms/ Codex related activities

• Enforcement & surveillance (inspection, testing, certification, FBDS)

• Food safety in various agro food supply chains (commodity issues) - linkage to primary production

• Food safety emergency management/ recall systems

• Certifications and accreditation

• Trainings/ awareness/ education

Food safety & quality programme

Food safety Policies, Legislation & Governance

• Focus: Review of food legislation, food safety policies, coordination mechanisms, action plans

• Activities

Regional Consultation on Food Safety Policy development in Asia

Study of the food safety scenario in countries for strengthening coordination b/w departments

Regional Consultation WS: GLs for Development of FS Policies for

Countries in Asia

• The most commonly identified factors to advancing the FS policy agenda

• Priority actions for governments to consider

• Recommendations

Factors to Advance Food Safety Policy Agenda

• High-level political support for food safety

• Food chain approach that addresses risks through food continuum

• Coordination & cooperation among stakeholders

• Risk-based food laws & inspection regimes

• Harmonization with international standards

• Enhanced capacity for RA (assessment, mgmt, communication)

• Education & training programmes for all stakeholders

• Surveillance (food-borne illness surveillance & monitoring), labs

• Enhanced research capacity & strengthened infrastructure

• Balancing the policy needs of small/medium-sized & larger enterprises (importers/exporters)

• Market access issues (for domestic and international)

• Enhanced consumer participation

Priority actions for governments to consider Institutional Technical 1. Establish a senior-level inter-ministerial food safety committee

2. Agree on the principles & objectives of country’s FS system

3. Identify lead ministries and jurisdiction /mandates

4. Develop a strategic plan for development/ implementation of country’s food safety system

5. Develop risk-based laws/ regulations

6. Strengthen infrastructure - monitoring and inspection/ other FS

1. Develop/ harmonize standards within country and with int standards as appropriate

2. Develop risk-based monitoring and inspection procedures

3. Provide inspectors with essential tools and equipment to undertake risk-based inspections

4. Undertake risk assessments of FBO (farm to retail) subject to regulations

5. Develop risk-based education/training for inspectors

6. Develop codes of GP to interpret outcome-based regulations

7. Establish a FSER system, including T/recall

8. Establish mechanisms for data collection (food-borne disease surveillance, contaminant monitoring programmes, etc.)

• Pilot projects in 2-3 countries to review their food safety approach/policy, particularly focusing on coordination mechanisms

• Regional workshop to share experiences and identify the most appropriate indicators for measuring food safety across the food continuum

• Workshops on enhancing capacity for risk analysis; assessment, management and communication.

• Study trips to foster information sharing between countries on strategies, programmes & successes - may integrate into ongoing projects/ programmes in countries

Recommendations

SPS/Standards/ Codex related • Focus: Strengthening NCC, harmonization of

standards in countries, setting up/ adopting Codex standards

• Activities Regional Project ASEAN - Support to CB &

Implementation of International Food Safety Standards in ASEAN Countries

Compilation of Status of National Codex activities in ASEAN countries

Support for data collection for Codex regional standard on crickets

Trainings: Chemical risk analysis in the food chain, Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria (Hanoi, VN, November 2013

• Focus: risk-based inspections, risk-based import control systems, certification systems, food-borne disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity

• Activities

Guidelines for risk categorization of food & food establishments for ASEAN

Projects in Thailand (lab capacity)

Training on risk-based import controls (India)

Development of inspection guidelines, case studies

Enforcement and Surveillance

Food Safety in Value Chains

• Focus: Good Practices, GAP/GMP/FSMS, streetfood/ retail, inspection & certification systems, GIs, linkage to primary production

• Activities

Hygiene, safety and Quality in food retail

Promotion of rural development through development of GIs at regional level in Asia

Institutional Strengthening on Food Safety & QC in Supply Chain Management of Livestock Products & INFOSAN (Thailand)

Priorities, activities and Interventions • Finalise food safety guidance document for retail, basis WS inputs

– Include GP case studies/ information on risk based approaches

• A street food safety awareness week across Asia

• Checklist on inspection of street food businesses

• Regional network related to the retail sector

• Harmonised regional requirements on –microbiological limits, prohibited additives/food adulterants, labelling requirements

• Training module for region on street food

• Laboratories a priority - sharing of lab facilities/methods

• Regional training on risk-based imported food controls

• Next workshop in two years to share progress, experiences

Regional Workshop for Asian Countries on hygiene and safety in food retail’ (Sept 2013)

• Focus: FSER planning, food safety recalls, early warning & horizon scanning, INFOSAN

• Activities Pilots (Thailand), WS on Sharing experiences Food Recall & Traceability -Application in

National FS Control (Chiang Mai)

• Publications FAO/WHO framework for developing national

food safety emergency response plans (2010) FAO/WHO guide for application of risk analysis

principles to food safety emergencies FAO/WHO Guide for developing & improving

National Food Recall Systems Report of regional consultation in Thailand

Food safety Emergencies

• Focus: Support in developing/ strengthening schemes certifications for government, private sector, internal control mechanisms; trainings

Certifications and Accreditations

• Activities

Training programme on Implementing GAP in F&V, its Certification & Accreditation

Training module

GI certification

• Focus: Trainings/ training modules, curricula/ IEC material/ national surveys/ communication campaigns/ newsletters/ consumer gp activities

• Activities:

Trainings on risk analysis, GAPs, setting microbiological criteria, inspections, risk categorization, GHP/GMP

Training /Awareness/ Education

Some Recent & Ongoing Projects in Asia …1

Regional projects:

• ASEAN - Support to CB & Implementation of International Food Safety Standards in ASEAN Countries”(WS, training course, case studies, guidance documents)

• Promotion of rural development through development of Geographical indications at regional level in Asia

• Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) Certification Scheme in countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) (under development)

• Country Projects: Improving food safety in Bangladesh

Enhancing SPS Capacity of Ginger Exports through PPP & Policy assistance for bio-secure agro-food supply chain for enhanced market access & food security- rural small holdings (Nepal)

Developing food law in Laos

Strengthening of Food Safety and Standards in Bhutan

Strengthening of National Codex Capacity in Mongolia

CB to improve market access for fish & fishery products (Myn)

Strengthening Vietnamese SPS capacity for trade – improving safety & Q of fresh vegetables through value chain approach

Institutional Strengthening on Food Safety & QC in Supply Chain Management of Livestock Products & INFOSAN (Thailand)

Strengthening the food safety information, education, communication capacity to assist implementing Food Safety Law and National Strategy on food safety (Vietnam)

Some Recent & Ongoing Projects in Asia …2

Some regional publications on food safety

Future Food safety Priorities in the Region

Food safety Strategy for Asia Pacific region

Strengthening food safety coordination mechanism

Food safety indicators

RA detailed trainings - risk profiling, exposure assessment, RC

Strengthening food import control systems

Food Recall & Traceability – application in National FS Control- Regional guidance - case studies

Regional network for safety in food retail

Regional guidance documents on safety in food retail

Strengthening GAP (schemes & certification systems)

Activities related to Thailand

Regional food safety Strategy for Asia Pacific region

Regional Consultation on Food Safety Policy development in Asia – food safety indicators

Institutional Strengthening on Food Safety & QC in Supply Chain Management of Livestock Products & INFOSAN (Thailand)

Study of the food safety scenario in countries for strengthening coordination b/w departments

Support for data collection for Codex regional standard on crickets

Regional network related to the retail sector - Singapore (yr 1), India (2), Thailand (3), Philippines (4), BD (5)

Promotion of rural development through development of Geographical indications at regional level in Asia

Strengthening laboratory capacity (Department of Agriculture/ livestock)

THANK YOU

Any Questions? Shashi.sareen@fao.org