1. DR. P. VINCENT HEGARTY INSTITUTE for FOOD LAWS and REGULATIONS
SOUTH AFRICA: Pretoria FEBRUARY ARE WE APPLYING THE SCIENCE EFFECTIVELY?
DR. P. VINCENT HEGARTY
Founding Director and Professor Emeritus
INSTITUTE for FOOD LAWS and REGULATIONS
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, USA

2. QUESTIONS: HOW GOOD IS SOUTH AFRICA IN APPLYING SCIENCE TO
QUESTIONS: HOW GOOD IS SOUTH AFRICA IN APPLYING SCIENCE TO FOOD SAFETY and TO FOOD LAWS?
1. INTERSECTORAL COORDINATION 2. FOOD SAFETY LAWS, REGULATIONS and POLICIES 3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE 4. FOODBORNE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE and EXPOSURE MONITORING 5. FOOD SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION, PRODUCT MONITORING and INSPECTION 6. RISK COMMUNICATION and INFORMATION 7. HUMAN and FINANCIAL RESOURCES

3. FOOD SAFETY / FOOD LAWS & REGULATIONS
GOVERNMENT Create/Monitor
CONSUMERS
FOOD INDUSTRY Implement
UNIVERSITIES Analyze/Educate

4. CODEX: SOUTH AFRICA ATTENDANCE (Number of attendees in brackets)
CCFFP YES (5) Norway YES (4) Norway YES (6) Indonesia
CCFH NO YES (1) Peru YES (3) Vietnam
CCFL YES (2) Italy YES (2) Canada
CCFA YES (1) China YES (1) China YES (1) China
CCPR NO NO NO NO NO YES (2) China
CCCF NO NO NO YES (1) Netherlands YES (2) Netherlands

5. CODEX: SOUTH AFRICA ATTENDANCE (Continued)
CCNFSDU YES (3) Germany YES (3) Indonesia YES (1) Germany
2012 YES (3) Germany YES (3) Germany YES (4) Chile
CCRVDF YES (1) Costa Rica YES (3) USA
CCFFV NO YES (1) Thailand YES (2) Mexico
CCFICS YES (4) Australia YES (1) Thailand
CCPFV YES (1) USA NO
CCMAS NO NO NO

6. SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD: US FDA IMPORT REFUSALS (2015) www. accessdata. fda
SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD: US FDA IMPORT REFUSALS (2015)
Medical Foods Misbranding Raisins Filthy
Dates Filthy Vegetables Adulteration
Candy List of ingredients Dietary Food Misbranding
Mushroom Soup Unsafe color Dried Fruit Filthy
Soft Drinks Unsafe color

7. EU: RAPID ALERT SYSTEM for FOOD and FEED (RASFF) (2014) http://ec
NOTIFICATIONS:
SOUTH AFRICA
KENYA
NAMIBIA
MOZAMBIQUE
MADAGASCAR

8. IS OUR FOOD SAFE?

9. A 7-POINT INTERACTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION
SCIENCE, REGULATIONS and FOOD SAFETY:
A 7-POINT INTERACTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION
The 7-points are based on: WHO/FAO Food Safety Needs Assessment Tool (2013)

10. 1. INTERSECTORAL COORDINATION IN FOOD SAFETY
IS / ARE THERE:
ONE MINISTRY or MULTIPLE MINISTRIES?
A NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY AGENCY / AUTHORITY?
MINISTRIES OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE: ROLES / COORDINATION?
STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THE FOOD CHAIN: INVOLVEMENT / COMMUNICATION?
GOOD INTERNATIONAL INVOLVEMENT: CODEX ALIMENTARIUS, INFOSAN, etc.?

11. 2. FOOD SAFETY LAWS, REGULATIONS and POLICIES
IS / ARE THERE:
A NATIONAL FOOD LAW; UP-TO-DATE and UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS?
CAPABILITIES TO MAKE DECISIONS and TAKE ACTION BASED ON SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES and EVIDENCE?
AN INTEGRATED NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY POLICY for ENTIRE FOOD CHAIN?
IS RELEVANT AND TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD HAZARDS, RISKS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACTIVIES SHARED BETWEEN MINISTRIES AND STAKEHOLDERS?

12. 3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS and RESPONSE
IS /ARE THERE:
COORDINATED NATIONAL RESPONSE TO FOOD SAFETY EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING FOOD TRACING and RECALL?
A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR FOOD SAFETY EMERGENCIES?
COORDINATION BETWEEN MINISTRIES AND NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY AGENCY?
A COMMAND AND CONTROL STRUCTURE FOR FOOD SAFETY EMERGENCIES?
INFORMATION / GUIDELINES TO STAKEHOLDERS ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS?
APPLICATION OF IHR PRINCIPLES

13. 4. FOODBORNE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE and EXPOSURE MONITORING
IS / ARE THERE:
GOOD REPORTING/COORDINATION BETWEEN VARIOUS MINISTRIES
GOOD SURVEILLANCE FOR POTENTIAL FOODBORNE DISEASE IN HUMANS?
GOOD SUPPORTING LABORATORY CAPACITY, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES and OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS. GOOD SKILLS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY / BIOSTATISTICS?
GOOD MONITORING OF MICROBIAL HAZARDS AND CHEMICAL POISONS
GOOD NATIONAL TOTAL DIET/FOOD INTAKE DATA
GOOD EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE RISK OF CHEMICALS IN FOODS

14. 5. FOOD SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION, PRODUCT MONITORING and INSPECTION
IS / ARE THERE:
GOOD PROGRAMS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PRIORITY HAZARDS IN FOOD?
GOOD FOOD MONITORING TO ENSURE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES ARE MET?
GOOD INSPECTION TO ENSURE GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES (GMP)?
GOOD USE OF LABORATORY DATA TO PRIORITIZE FOOD SAFETY PROBLEMS?
GOOD SUBTYPING OF ISOLATES OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS?
GOOD NATIONAL RISK COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR FOOD SAFETY?

15. 6. RISK COMMUNICATION and INFORMATION
IS / ARE THERE:
GOOD NATIONAL RISK COMMUNICATION STRATEGY?
GOOD APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION GIVEN TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS?
ARE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES MADE AVAILABLE PUBLICALLY?
CAN STAKEHOLDERS APPROACH FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITIES FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND INFORMATION?
GOOD INFORMATION TO STAKEHOLDERS ON ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS MINISTRIES / AGENCIES?

16. 7. HUMAN and FINANCIAL RESOURCES
IS /ARE THERE?
ADEQUATELY TRAINED PERSONNEL FOR EXISTING/POTENTIAL FOOD SAFETY ISSUES?
EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING PERSONNEL?
GOOD FOOD SAFETY DEGREE / RESEARCH PROGRAMS AT NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES?
GOOD QUALITY FOOD SAFETY UP-DATING and TRAINING PROGRAMS?
GOOD ADVOCACY FOR ADEQUATE NATIONAL FUNDING FOR FOOD SAFETY?
CONSISTANCY and SUSTAINABILITY OF ETHICAL DONOR SUPPORT?

17. IFLR Institute for Food Laws & Regulations
2003 Winner ADEC National Excellence in Distance Education Award
IFLR Institute for Food Laws & Regulations
CANR College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
MSU Michigan State University

18. THANKS
GO RAIBH MAITH AGAIBH (Irish)
TO:
YOU IUFoST SAAFoST