Part I : How safe are the food we consume? Part II : Strengthening Analytical Capacity

Vital Statistics Population annual Growth rate – 0.93% (2015) Life Expectancy at Birth (2011-2013) CSU Total –74.9yrs Female -78.3 yrs Male – 72.0 yrs Adult Literacy Rate (2012) CSU Total : 95.7 % Male : 96.9 % Female : 94.6 % MMR: 33.8/ 100,000 LB (2016) FHB IMR : 8.2/1000 LB (2013) RG Low Birth weight – 16.0% (2015) MSU Food Safety ??? Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Food Safety Food Safety Food Legislation and standards Food control activities Food Safety Food Safety Food analytical capacity Inter-sectorial coordination Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Legislation and standards The primary law is the Food Act No.26 of 1980 Regulations published in terms of section 32 of the Food Act. Present there are 32 food regulations Food Advisory Committee (FAC) Sub-committees Food Standards - developed at two levels, regulatory under the Food Act and voluntary national standards by SLSI. National Food Safety Policy National CODEX Committee (NCC) Chairperson, Secretary National CODEX Contact Point (NCCP). Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Food control activities Food control activities are of 3 fold Import control Domestic food control Export certification Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Import control Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1969 Post-arrival, all imported foods on the market are subject to inspection. Involvement of many ministries. departments and other Institutions. (DoA), DAPH, DFAR, SLSI and Ministry of Health) High quarantine risk imports of plant or animal origin –Prior notification Sri Lanka is a signatory to the National Trade Facilitation Agreement (NTFA) of World Trade Organization. Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Domestic control Export control 1800 authorize officers country-wide to carry out domestic control Food Act - food establishment be registered Bottle water Export control All exporters need to be registered - Imports and Exports Control Act All the export certificates are signed or countersigned by FCAU Testing of samples is done by the exporter from approved laboratories. Export factory inspection Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Trends of Main Food & Waterborne Diseases in Sri Lanka 2009-2017 Source - Epidemiology Unit

Trend in Food Poisoning Source - Epidemiology Unit

Food Poisoning 2017

Source - Epidemiology Unit

Food Poisoning 2016

Food Poisoning 2016 (Incidence per million)

Food Analytical Capacity

External assessment of the Food safety system 2016 FAO External assessment of Food laboratories 2016 WHO

Food analytical capacity seven official food control laboratories carrying out testing of foods under the Food Act. Government Analyst Department and addl approved analyst Samples are drawn by the PHI/FI and submitted to these laboratories . The reports are sent to the respective PHIs. Laboratories in the government sector Laboratories set up with financial assistance from the government Private sector laboratories Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Problems identified in Food analytical capacity Cadre vacancies of analytical staff - grave problem All labs need to get accredited for credibility of results. National laboratory management and networking system. The networked labs will be reporting test data to FCAU on real-time basis in a computerized IT environment. Facilities to test heavy metal or pesticide residue must be available Special tests of food and food grade packaging material Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety

Activities identified to improve analytical capacity With UNIDO support has initiated accreditation process of all 6 food laboratories Establish Food laboratory steering committee under the FAC Identify specific additional testing capacity Eg. i. Pesticide residues-GAD and NIHS ii. Heavy metals in water and food-GAD and Anuradhapura lab iii. Aflatoxins -GAD and NIHS Sweeteners, flavour enhancers and Antioxidants –GAD and NIHS v. City Analyst Colombo-Fatty acid pattern in oils and quantification of colours present in food Identify additional analytical capacity from accredited government laboratories.

Registrar of Pesticides – Pesticides in water, fruits and vegetables and Heavy Metals in Food 02. Water Resource Board – chemical analysis in water (excluding heavy metal) 03. National Water Supply and Drainage Board – water analysis including heavy metal 04. NARA – Fish and fish products for Histamine and heavy metals 05. Tea Board – Black tea and green tea chemical and microbiological testing 06. Veterinary Research Institute – antibiotic residues 07. Coconut Development Authority – testing of Coconut products, coconut oil and other oils 08. Palmyra Board – Palmyra Jiggery and treacle 09. Food Safety and Quality Assurance Laboratory Department of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science University of Peradeniya - Antibiotic residues 10. Sri Lanka Standard Institute – Sugar and sugar products, milk and milk products, 11. Industrial Technical Institute - antioxidants, flavors and flavor enhancers, sweeteners, Aflatoxin and testing of food packaging material

Over all challenges Food laboratories not attractive No opportunities for career development or promotion pathway No work satisfaction due to limited in country training and oversees exposure No appreciation mechanism Less priority compared medical laboratories High turnover of support staff

Despite the above issues We are indebted to the staff working in the laboratories despite the above hardships in assisting to report on Food samples be it may formal samples or food surveillance samples We need to work together to make food safe for all of us

Directorate of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Food safety