The webinar Food safety implications from the use of environmental inhibitors in agrifood systems, hosted by FAO, took place on 9 May 2024. The event aimed to stimulate discussion on the food safety aspects that need to be considered and addressed when using environmental inhibitors in agrifood systems.

Magdalena Niegowska Conforti and Vittorio Fattori from the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division at FAO presented the findings of the FAO report Food safety implications from the use of environmental inhibitors in agrifood systems. They stressed the importance of science-based risk assessment and the harmonization of regulatory frameworks at a global level to ensure the food safety of environmental inhibitors and facilitate international fair trade.

In the panel discussion, four experts - Warren Hughes, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand; Claudio Nuñez, Agriculture and Livestock Service, Chile; Michael Dickinson, Food Standards Agency, United Kingdom; and Holly Erdely, Food and Drug Administration, United States of America - shared their perspectives on the trends, opportunities, challenges and potential food safety issues associated with environmental inhibitors.

Corinna Hawkes, Director of Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division at FAO highlighted that a systems approach is needed to address the trade-offs between environmental, socioeconomic, food security and safety objectives. “Residues of environmental inhibitors in food commodities can raise health concerns and disrupt trade if standards or appropriate measures are not established. Considering all these different factors, it is an example of how we can have foresight by taking a systems approach”.

Learn more

Watch the recording

Download the report Food safety implications from the use of environmental inhibitors in agrifood systems.

Read news about the release of the report on the FAO website and the Codex website.

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