FAO Workshop and Training Session to Enhance Food Safety Assessment Practices and Tools

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a workshop in June 2024 aimed at strengthening food safety assessment practices and tools. The event included a technical review workshop complemented by an intensive training session.

Food control systems are key in advancing a country’s public health and economic development and the first step in guaranteeing their effectiveness is conducting comprehensive assessments using up-to-date tools and guidelines to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system and plan accordingly.

In 2019, FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Food Control System Assessment Tool (FCSAT) to support member countries in assessing their national food control systems. Over the past five years, FAO has facilitated 25 country assessments with the FCSAT, evaluating the performance of national food control systems against internationally recognized best practices, and formulating strategies for improvement.

During the workshop, held from 17-21 July 2024 in Rome, eleven experienced assessors convened to review the FCSAT, discuss encountered challenges, and address emerging issues within a One Health collaborative and multisectoral approach.

Samia Zrelli, one of the newer assessors that was trained in 2022, remarked, "This workshop is for me very interesting because it allows us to share our experiences,” underscoring the value of cross-learning among assessors and their problem-solving approaches.

The assessors highlighted the adaptability of the FCSAT across different contexts and countries. Oumou Barry, a senior assessor, praised the FCSAT’s holistic approach as it encompasses various dimensions of the system. “Other tools don’t do that because they are really focused on one angle, one institution, one aspect of the food control system. But this one has it all,” Barry said in an interview.

Echoing these thoughts, David Eboku, another assessor at the workshop said, "We are working together, for the same objective. The assessment brings the stakeholders together,” adding, “I am doing my part but until my colleague does his part, it is not complete."

The workshop was also a chance to discuss the knowledge and lessons learned across 10 African countries that are conducting assessments as part of a European Union-funded project called “Strengthening food control and phytosanitary capacities and governance.”

Victoria Ndolo, a Professor at the University of Malawi and recently trained assessor, talked about the assessments helping countries manage their food control systems “so they can complement each other, address gaps” to make sure that “the public is safe and that they can be able to get their food products on the international market.”

Concluding the programme, a training session was conducted from June 19-21 as a first phase to expand the pool of assessors. The trainees will need to shadow an experienced assessor to complete their training and conduct assessments independently.

The two events, focused on refining assessment practices, enhancing the Tool, and fostering knowledge exchange, will improve food safety control systems towards better health and more economic progress.

Photo: ©Claudia Trezza