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

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host a comprehensive technical review workshop coupled with an intensive training session to strengthen food safety assessment practices and tools.

As a cornerstone of the organization's agenda, the workshop – scheduled to take place in Rome during the week of June 17 – aims to ensure the continuous improvement and sustainability of FAO's food safety assessment programme.

Food control systems are key in advancing a country’s public health and economic development. As economies expand and new food safety challenges, like food fraud, antimicrobial resistances (AMR), water contamination emerge, ensuring the effectiveness and adaptability of control systems becomes increasingly urgent. The first step in guaranteeing operational and responsive food control systems is conducting a comprehensive assessment 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 evaluating their national food control systems.

Over the past five years, FAO has facilitated 25 country assessments with the FCSAT, evaluating the performance of national systems against internationally recognized best practices, and formulating strategies for improvement. Almost half of those countries have implemented the assessment thanks to an ongoing European Union (EU)-funded project currently ongoing in Africa called “Strengthening food control and phytosanitary capacities and governance.”

To ensure the Tool’s continued relevance and effectiveness, 12 experienced assessors joining the workshop will discuss and review the Tool and the overall assessment process, identifying strategies to address emerging issues within a One Health perspective which emphasizes a collaborative and multisectoral approach.

Valuable insights will be shared from the recent experiences under the EU-funded project.

The workshop will also feature a review of draft guidelines designed to enhance assessment implementation practices, addressing common issues encountered during assessments, and streamline interactions with stakeholders across different levels.

In conjunction with the technical review workshop, a dedicated training session, slated for June 19-21, will bring together a group of new assessors to deepen their understanding of the FCSAT and refine their assessment methodologies. The training session will equip participants with essential knowledge, skills, and strategic insights required to execute accurate assessments of national food control systems using the FCSAT. Through interactive discussions, group work, and knowledge-sharing activities, participants will gain proficiency in analyzing data and formulating recommendations that adhere to international standards.

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.