REPORTS ON FAO AND WHO ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION[20] (Agenda Item 10(a))
46. The Representatives of WHO congratulated the delegates for their efforts in developing and revising national food regulation in line with the recommendations by the FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) and encouraged further integration of food safety and nutrition policies into national plans of action. The Committee was informed that WHO had been and would be assisting countries in the Region through its normative function as well as technical cooperation in various food safety projects. The activities in the Region focused on human resource development, development and strengthening of national programmes, control of foodborne diseases, monitoring and control of food contamination and support to Codex activities including promotion of Codex membership. The attention of the Committee was particularly drawn to several documents recently prepared by WHO, including the Guidelines for Developing or Strengthening National Food Safety Programmes and the report of a regional workshop on the application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in street-vended food.
47. The Representative of FAO informed the Committee about the work of FAO in the Region and related to the efforts of the Commission to ensure consumer protection and to provide for fair trade practices. The FAO work being carried out in many of the countries of the Region was important in relation to the SPS and TBT Agreements and also as a follow-up to the ICN. These efforts included technical assistance to strengthen national food control infrastructures such as national programs for the control of import/export food quality (including safety). The technical assistance included national and regional training programs for managers of food quality and safety programs, food inspectors and laboratory personnel on matters such as HACCP, risk analysis issues, methods of analysis and sampling, etc. In addition, quality assurance programs were being conducted related to sampling and analysis for contaminants such as mycotoxin. FAO projects were being conducted in several countries (Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam, Myanmer, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Korea, China, etc.) that included the provision of supplies, training and technical advice and also to improve the quality and safety of street foods. The All-India Institute of Public Hygiene and Health had recently been identified as an FAO Centre of Excellence under the already established FAO Asian Regional Network for Training of Food Control Officials.
48. FAO had recently assigned a senior staff member to its Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, who now has the responsibility for conducting and coordinating all of the food control work being carried out in the Region, including that related to Codex, WTO and ICN.
49. The Committee welcomed the reports of FAO/WHO and expressed its appreciation to both FAO and WHO for the assistance provided to date and requested that both agencies continue to provide assistance as is possible.
REPORTS BY MEMBER COUNTRIES (Agenda Item 10(b))
Cambodia
50. Administrative structure is being organized to improve the living standards. Consumer health is one of the priorities. Article 64 of the Cambodian Constitution (1993) authorizes the Government to punish severely any fraud, falsification or adulteration of products harmful to the health and interests of consumers. Inspection systems were established in each concerned ministry. “Camcontrol” or Import and Export Inspection and Fraud Suppression Department revises fraud suppressing regulation and sets certification standards. Lack of basic statute and regulation pose problem especially at local level. Present situation encourages fraudulent and unfair trade such as importation of products with expired consumption date. As commerce became more liberalized, there occurred pressing need to enlarge quality control system by increasing technical and financial capacity, especially laboratory equipment, analytical, inspection and management training, with the help of international organizations, developed countries and Codex member countries with similar experiences.
China
51. In recent years, the food safety status in China has been improved gradually. The Provisional Food Hygienic Law was revised and enacted as a formal law last year. Currently, there are more than 40 regulations and 30,000 food hygiene inspectors are monitoring the safety of all kinds of foods in manufacturing and in market. Controlling of street foods were also strengthened through training courses for both public health workers and food vendors. According to national report, incidences of food poisoning and the death caused by it have declined dramatically. Some important activities conducted by Ministry of Health currently are: (1) improving the food quality on the market; (2) strengthening national food hygienic inspection; and (3) promoting consumers’ awareness of health and food safety.
India
52. Considering prevention of food adulteration to be a vital area, Government enacted Prevention of Food Adulteration Act in 1954 with the aims to: (i) ensure quality food to the consumers; (ii) protect the consumers from fraud and deception; and (iii) encourage fair trade practices. The Act has been amended thrice, in 1964, 1976 and 1986 for plugging loopholes. Recently, one task force headed by Retired Chief Justice of India reviewed the provisions of the Act for further improvement. There are 4 Regional Appellate Food Laboratories, 81 State Food Laboratories engaged in examining the samples besides several organized Training Programs/Examinations for various levels of workers/chemists. Recently India is hopeful to get some assistance from world bank to strengthen it further. India offer their assistance and cooperation in this area for any countries. Recently to popularize CAC, India constituted a National Codex Committee involving various departments, consumers, etc. to improve the sphere of activities further.
Indonesia
53. The enactment of the Health Law No.23/1992 has stipulated a new special regulation for food safety. All regulations related to food safety will be revised. Several guidelines on food processing have been adopted using Codex Codes of Practice and Guidelines. In processing low acid and acidified canned food, a Better Process Control School was conducted. Training on HACCP and quality assurance has also been conducted. Drafts for national guidelines for food safety monitoring and evaluation, food import and export inspection and certification, and national food quality management system are now being prepared. The draft of a comprehensive National Food Law is now being reviewed by Parliament. It is expected that the reviewing process will be completed this year.
Japan
54. Japan made great progress in the field of food hygiene and nutrition labelling since the previous session including amendments of the Food Sanitation Law and the Nutrition Improvement Law in last May: introduction of endorsement system of HACCP, import notification using an electronic data processing system, new nutrition labelling standards. Japan will continue to promote comprehensive food hygiene measures in accordance with the surrounding conditions.
Republic of Korea
55. For improving quality and sanitation of food: (1) standards and specifications for each food and food additives are established; (2) misbranding and exaggerated advertisement are prohibited, and food labelling is supervised to protect consumers; and (3) confirmation and inspection of food manufactured and sold in compliance with standards and criteria. As import of agricultural and food products has been increasing rapidly, the government is making efforts to harmonize with Codex and related texts.
Laos
56. In 1991 Laos established the Food and Drug Administrative Commission with the objective to promote the health of consumers. The first project, supported by FAO, for strengthening the food control system was implemented in 1993-1994. In addition, for improving the quality control on Food and Drug, in 1995, the Swedish government has also given support grant aid to build a new laboratory centre and thereby FAO has also provided some laboratory equipment with the amount about 60,000 US$. At present Laos is drafting Food Law with the cooperation of the FAO consultant, which will be considered by the Parliament of in 1997.
Malaysia
57. Food Quality Control Program in Malaysia will focus on Food Safety Programmes related to education, information management, enforcement and control of food for import and export. Training in food hygiene for food handlers is to be made mandatory in the country. Malaysia would like to express the need for continued collaboration and cooperation and in this respect will be glad to offer as well as accept assistance and recommendations.
Mongolia
58. The draft of a comprehensive National Food Law has been adopted by the Parliament in 1995. The government has finalized the National Plan of Action on Nutrition. In 1993 Mongolia had joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission and had established the National Codex Committee.
Philippines
59. In the Philippines, the national Food Law was first enacted in 1950s, paving the way to the establishment of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), the country’s regulatory body in as far as food safety is concerned. Recent efforts to further improve the food control system include the upgrading of BFAD’s laboratories and the passage into law of the Consumer Code of the Philippines which is aimed at protecting the consuming public. With regard to the risk of food contamination due to chemical pesticide use, the government requires pesticide dealers to employ trained dispensers who advise farmers on the judicious and safe use of the chemicals. In 1994, the national Food Fortification Programme was also launched to address the micronutrient malnutrition problem. Moreover, a nation-wide IPM Program is being intensified.
Singapore
60. Singapore has a comprehensive food control program covering imported and locally manufactured food. All food products imported into the country are required to be registered through an electronic link and they are monitored closely to ensure that the country’s food laws are complied with. Food sold in retail outlets are routinely checked through an established surveillance program. Local food factories and food vendors are subjected to strict control on hygiene standards. It is a statutory requirement for food handlers to attend a basic food hygiene course before they are allowed to handle food. The government also actively encourages the food industries to appoint hygiene officers to carry out self-checks on food hygiene standards. This is to promote in the food industry a responsible commitment to public health. Existing factories are encouraged to upgrade their hygiene standards and to automate, if they are not already automated.
Sri Lanka
61. Food Control Activities are very much in progress in Sri Lanka. There is a well organized inspection service, a laboratory service and a system of laws. Food Hygiene Education has been given priority in order to make the manufacturer, food handlers and consumer aware of the importance of food safety. There are 1,100 Medical Officers of Health, Food and Drugs Inspectors, Food Inspectors and Public Health Inspectors who work as enforcement officers. There are five laboratories in the country carrying out food analytical services both chemically and microbiologically. A three-year project assisted by UNDP/FAO is in progress, that is aimed at strengthening the Food Control infrastructure. This project is geared towards a fully developed infrastructure to deal with food safety issue, a better trained inspectorate, developed laboratory system and overall development of the food control system. Sri Lanka needs assistance in the following areas: training for laboratory personnel in both chemistry and microbiology, development of food laboratories, advance training for food inspectors and drug inspectors in service training for both field and laboratory staff, and well developed information system.
Thailand
62. In Thailand several organizations are responsible for food control, food safety to protect consumer as well as to encourage the use of correct and appropriate technology in production. These are done through constant surveillance over the products and manufacturing places and through training provided to concerned groups. The above measures appear to be effective. Based on the Food Safety Indicattors Statistics of Thailand, the food safety indicator has stabilized and is decreasing, which indicates that the country is gearing in the right direction. The Asian region should foster closer and greater cooperation on the development in this regard, through collective activities such as information exchange and Mutual Recognition Arrangement, which help build up a better image for the entire Region and serve as an important platform for future promotion of international food trade within and outside the Region.
Viet Nam
63. There has been the programme of revising Vietnamese Standards including national food standards. The Regulation on Responsibilities of Government Agencies on Quality Control including Food Quality Control was promulgated at the end of 1995. The Vietnamese Codex Alimentarius Committee and Codex Contact Points were established 2 years ago, the first of which will submit a draft of Food Law to the National Assembly for approval this year. The Consumer protection Ordinance will be accepted by the Standing Committee of National Assembly also this year.
United Nations University (UNU)
64. The Representative of UNU presented its activities. Headquartered in Tokyo, UNU has a mandate to promote postgraduate research, training and dissemination to respond to pressing global problems. In 1993, a “UNU Agenda 21” was created and identifies three entry points for UNU: (1) eco-restructuring; (2) capacity of ecosystems; and (3) environmental governance. In the third area, UNU is implementing its project on “Environmental Monitoring and Analysis in the East Asian Region: Technology Transfer and Environmental Governance.” With over 1000 international environmental accords existing, the project is concerned with monitoring systems to promote compliance with key agreements. Through technology and knowledge transfer, this project provides an opportunity to focus on capacity building and the intercalibration of monitoring technologies in laboratories in the Region. UNU continues to strive to achieve the objectives of the project with the cooperation of UNEP, FAO and WHO.
