National Food Control Systems FDT701

National Food Control Systems There are 5 key components involved in a national food control systems Food control management Food legislation Food inspection Food control laboratories Food safety and quality information, education and communications

National Food Control Systems Parts of the government play a role in ensuring safe and quality food is provided within a country. E.g. Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of health Trade etc.

National Food Control Systems Creation of a legal basis for food control is vital if it is to be effective in protecting the consumers. Legislation provides a deterrent to minimize the number who are prepared to take the risk.

National Food Control Systems Food Inspection Inspection at all levels in the food supply is necessary to provide the public with assurance that those who fail to meet the legal requirements are detected and prevented from continuing in such a manner.

National Food Control Systems Examples of key components of the food inspection system are: Documented policies and procedures for risk based inspection Database of food premises categorized by risk Adequate professional food officers with appropriate training, qualifications and experience Access to resources including facilities, equipment, transport and communications Procedures for the collection and handling of food samples Procedures for handling food emergencies, out breaks of food disease and consumer complaints

National Food Control Systems Food Control Laboratories Samples are tested by food safety officers Requires an official lab Physical, chemical and microbial tests Method should be of an international and national standard

National Food Control Systems Food safety and quality information, education and communications Consumers play a key role in the maintenance and enhancement of food safety standards. All consumers and food companies must be educated and trained in food safety

National Food Control Systems International Food Standards Legislative requirements of different countries can hinder trade. International Food standards programme – FAO, WHO, CAC

National Food Control Systems The World Trade Organization 1995, provides a new set of rules for the operation of world trade Put in placed international trade rules: GATT – General agreement to tariffs and trade Food standards – SPS and TBT agreement

National Food Control Systems SPS – sanitary and phytosanitary agreement – considers with all respect to food, issues affecting human health. TBT – technical barriers to trade – barriers to trade caused by differences in other matters.

National Food Control Systems SPS – sanitary and phytosanitary agreement SPS agreement covers issues relating to human food, animal feed and plant health. For food, the agreement stipulates that the standards guidelines and recommendations of the CAC shall be used as the basis for judging compliance with the requirements of the agreement.

National Food Control Systems SPS measure is any measure applied: To protect animal or plant life or health within the territory of the member from risks arising from the entry, establishment or spread of pests, diseases, disease carrying organisms or disease-causing organisms.

National Food Control Systems SPS measure is any measure applied: To protect human or animal life or health within the territory of the member from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease –causing organisms in foods, beverages or feed stuffs.

National Food Control Systems Sanitary or phytosanitary measures include all relevant laws, decrees, regulations, requirements and procedures including inter alia, end product criteria, processes and production methods, testing, inspection, certification and approval procedures, quarantine treatments including relevant requirements associated with the transport of animals or plants or with the materials necessary for their survival during transport.

National Food Control Systems Sanitary or phytosanitary measures include Provisions on relevant statistical methods, sampling procedures and methods of risk assessment and packaging and labeling requirements directly related to food safety.

National Food Control Systems TBT – Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement Covers technical requirements in national legislation which are not covered by SPS. Countries may have different requirements based on their own specific level of development or environmental situation. This may lead to countries adopting different regulations or standards.

National Food Control Systems Tutorial Identify a few key components involved in the food control system. Identify some parts of the government that play a role in ensuring safe and quality food in Fiji and describe how they ensure this. Describe the role of a food control lab and discuss the tests that may be carried out. What does the following acronym stand for: WTO, GATT, SPS, TBT Describe the SPS measure with its applications. What is the purpose of TBT? Describe using an example.