Managing food control systems
Effective national food control systems are essential to ensure the safety
of food and to protect consumers. They are also critical in enabling countries
to assure the safety and quality of foods entering international trade and
to ensure that imported foods conform to national requirements.
The global environment for food trade places considerable obligations on both
importing and exporting countries to strengthen their food control systems,
to implement and enforce risk-based approaches and to comply with WTO Agreements.
Consumers are taking unprecedented interest in the way food is produced, processed
and marketed, and are increasingly calling for their Governments to accept
greater responsibility for food safety and consumer protection.
Food businesses and the agro-processing sector will be strengthened through
effective food control systems in helping them realise their business potential
and access new trading markets.
AGNS is committed to promoting national food control systems that are based on
sound science, and which address all sectors of the food chain. We work with
Member Countries in selecting the most suitable options for their food control
systems in terms of legislation, infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms,
their overall management in a coordinated manner and to ensure that they are
tailored to address the country's priority issues.
This is particularly important in developing countries as they seek to achieve
improved levels of food safety, quality and nutrition, which, as well as technical
competence, generally requires a high level of political and policy commitment.
Effective food control can be undermined by the existence of fragmented legislation,
multiple jurisdictions, and weaknesses in surveillance, monitoring and enforcement.
Guidelines produced by AGNS, in collaboration with WHO, seek to provide advice
to national authorities on strategies to strengthen food control systems to
protect consumers, prevent fraud and deception, avoid food adulteration and
facilitate trade.
See also
Integrated food control systems > Inspection
Integrated food control systems > Laboratory quality assurance
Food safety along the food chain |
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