The Right to Food Safety Role of Civil Society in Promoting Food Safety Sam K. Watasa Executive Director Uganda Consumers Protection Association Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Contents Introduction – Consumer Rights Context to Food Safety Civil Society Role - Background Civil Society Role in Food Safety Civil Society Role - Summary Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Introduction – Consumer Rights The Right to : ◦ Satisfaction of basic Needs ◦ Be Informed ◦ Be Heard ◦ Consumer Education ◦ Safety ◦ Choose ◦ Redress ◦ A Healthy Environment Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Context to Food Safety Basic need - Food satisfies a basic consumer need Safety – To satisfy basic need, the food must be safe Be Informed - Sufficient information about food products must be provided to the consumer attesting to its safety Choice – Variety of foods should be available for consumer to choose from based on their unique dietary, health and safety requirements Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Context to Food Safety Be Heard – Channels for voicing concerns pre and post consumer decision making on food products should be available Redress – Clear, simple and expeditious mechanisms to ameliorate negative consequences of unsafe food must be in place Consumer Education – Promoting knowledge and awareness of consumers is paramount for food safety A Healthy Environment - Is an important factor in the production, processing and consumption of safe food Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Civil Society Role - Background Emerges out of need to cover gaps in social service delivery as a result of structural adjustment, deregulation & other reforms A sphere of social interaction between household & the state in the form of; ◦ Community co-operative ◦ Structures of voluntary association ◦ Networks of public communication Promotes transparency, effectiveness, responsiveness and accountability Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Civil Society Role in Food Safety Food safety policy analysis and advocacy Monitoring of state performance, action & behaviour of public officials and marketing chains in enhancing/inhibiting access to safe food Galvanising social capital & enabling citizens to identify and articulate their food safety concerns in a structured approach Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Civil Society Role in Food Safety Mobilise particular & specific interest groups, especially the politically weak voices Increase participatory engagement and collective voice in food safety matters Developing networks to improve well being of vulnerable groups with respect to food safety Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Civil Society Role - Summary Advocacy Mobilisation Safe Food Provision Uganda Consumers' Protection Association

Look out for and promote consumption of safe food Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –

Thank You for Listening Uganda Consumers' Protection Association –