Food safety Food Standards Food Trade and development

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Food safety Food StandardsFood Tradeand
development

• Jørgen Schlundt
• Coordinator, WHO Food Safety Programme
• UNCTAD
• 3 Oct 2002

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Food Safety in the air
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WHO Surveillance Programme for Control of
Foodborne Diseases in Europe
Campylobacteriosis trends
BgVV Berlin
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FBD increase- evidence ?

• Exact evidence difficult
• Indications in many countries
• New decrease evidence from some countries
• However, the more important issue
• Is presently realized high level correct
• Is there a potential for reduction from
  presently realized high level

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Food safety

• Increasing burden of disease linked to foodborne
  hazards
• One of the top seven WHO priorities
• Food safety is a a public health function

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WHO GlobalFood Safety Strategy

• Surveillance of foodborne diseases
• Improving risk assessments
• Safety of new technologies
• Public health role in Codex
• Risk communication
• International cooperation
• Capacity building

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Capacity Building in Food Safety Systems

• Building food safety systems rather than segments
• Using countrys intersectoral approach
• Learn from developed countries experiences - take
  shortcuts
• gt Leap-frog lt

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Improved Food Safety Developing countries Win-Win
Improved food safety less illness, medical and
social costs, poverty
Improved health improved participation in
development
Health-based Standards protect public
health international trade capability
Trade access development and wealth, better
health
Development
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Macroeconomics and HealthInvesting in health for
economic development

• Health is a priority goal in its own right
• as well as a central input into economic
  development and poverty reduction
• Commission on Macroeconomics and Health
• Report of December 2001

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Macroeconomics and HealthNew estimations

• The importance of investing in health has been
  greatly underestimated
• by analysts
• by developing country governments
• by the international donor community

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Macroeconomics and HealthInvestment returns

• Increased investment in health would translate
  into
• massive economic returns in low-income countries
  
• large social benefits to all parts of society

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Biotechnology, GM Foods is it safe?

• Biotech products should not be evaluated as one
  common group - they are not inherently safe or
  inherently unsafe
• Each product should be evaluated in its own right
  - case by case -looking into both the specific
  benefits or risks

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BiotechnologySafety and nutrition

• Can increase the quantity and quality of
  available food
• and may have consequences for public health
• Ø () decrease allergenicity, natural toxicity
  or nutritional deficiencies
• Ø (-) change diversity, transfer genes,
  allergenicity, unintended effects

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• The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
• convenes international meetings to discuss
  specific aspects of food production and food
  trade based on expert advice
• Its mandate
• to develop scientifically sound international
  standards and norms for consumer health
  protection and fair food trade practices

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1962

• World Health Organization
• (WHO)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO)
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
2002 167 Member States
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The Codex Alimentarius

• Food standards for commodities 237
• Codes of Practice 41
• Limits for pesticide residues 3 274
• Limits for contaminants 25
• Limits for veterinary drugs 289

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• The Codex Alimentarius Commission has already
  identified 6 strategic objectives
• 1. Promoting a sound regulatory framework
• 2. Promoting widest and consistent application of
  scientific principles and risk analysis
• 3. Promoting linkages between Codex and other
  multilateral regulatory instruments and
  conventions
• 4. Enhancing capacity to respond effectively and
  expeditiously to new issues, concerns and
  developments in the food sector
• 5. Promoting maximum membership and participation
• 6. Promoting maximum application of Codex
  standards

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New challenges for Codex and national governments
are due to

• Growth in world food trade
• Increasing concern regarding foodborne diseases
• New food technologies and products in the
  marketplace
• Risk of food bioterrorism
• Status of Codex standards under WTO agreements

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Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment
Risk Management
? Science based Explanation
? Policy based Implementation
Risk Communication
? Interactive exchange of information and
opinions concerning risks
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Codex Alimentarius Commission Strategic Vision

• The Commission envisages a world afforded the
  highest attainable levels of consumer
  protection, including food safety and quality. To
  this end, the Commission will develop
  internationally agreed standards and related
  texts for use in domestic regulation and
  international trade in food that are based on
  scientific principles and fulfil the objectives
  of consumer health protection and fair practices
  in food trade.

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THE SITUATION TODAY

• There is broad international recognition that
  Codexs role will be more important than ever
• The process of strengthening Codexs
  effectiveness, management, efficiency and timing
  has begun and
• Important planning for Codexs future work is
  under way, with particular emphasis on the needs
  of developing countries.

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CODEX EVALUATION

• In 2001, the governing bodies of WHO and FAO and
  the Codex Alimentarius Commission called for a
  review.
• The review, jointly conducted by the Evaluation
  Services of WHO and FAO, began in March 2002.

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A comprehensive data gathering effort, including

• Visits to selected countries
• A formal questionnaire to all Member States of
  WHO, FAO and CAC
• A questionnaire to all organizations with
  observer status in CAC and all NGOs in official
  relations with FAO and WHO
• A questionnaire to all national organizations
  concerned with food safety
• A public call for comments

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Timetable for the evaluation

• First meeting of Evaluation Team
• First meeting of Independent Expert Panel
• Second meetings of both groups (incl. joint
  meeting)
• Analysis of data collected
• Third (joint) meeting of both groups to discuss
  results
• Writing of report
• Finalization of report

March 2002 April 2002 June 2002 Aug.
2002 Sept.2002 Sept./Oct. 2002 Nov. 2002
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Submission of report and recommendations to the
governing bodies of WHO and FAO and the CAC

• Jan 2003
• Feb 2003
• May 2003
• Nov 2003

WHO Executive Board (preliminary) Codex
Alimentarius Commission World Health Assembly FAO
Conference
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THE FAO/WHO CODEX TRUST FUND

• OVERALL GOAL
• Help regulators and food experts participate in
  Codex work.

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THE FAO/WHO CODEX TRUST FUND

• OBJECTIVES
• Assist countries to effectively govern their food
  standards systems
• Strengthen capacities to build strong and
  compatible food control systems
• To enhance the effective participation of all
  countries in Codex
• Expand the number of food experts, regulators and
  other specialists
• Sharing of essential information
• Create opportunities to decrease foodborne
  disease on a global basis

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THE FAO/WHO CODEX TRUST FUND

• OUTCOMES
• Increase country ability to participate in the
  establishment of global food safety standards
• Ensure that experts understand the current goals
  and objectives
• Enable countries to develop useful information
  for Codex, as well as prepare papers containing
  important information
• Reinforce participation in Codex