Risk analysis
Since the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
(SPS) came into force over a decade ago, the importance of risk analysis has
increased. For many years FAO and WHO have worked together to increase the
awareness of risk analysis principles, both as a tool for national food safety
authorities and also in the provision of scientific advice and evaluations.
Risk analysis offers a framework that national food safety authorities can
use to make significant gains in food safety. Encompassing three major components
(risk assessment, risk management and risk communication), risk analysis provides
a systematic and disciplined approach for making food safety decisions. It
is used to develop an estimate of the risks to human health and safety, to
identify and implement appropriate measures to control the risks, and to communicate
with stakeholders about the risks and measures applied.
Risk analysis can support and improve the development of standards (it is
an integral part of Codex's decision-making process), as well as address food
safety issues that result from emerging hazards or breakdowns in food control
systems. It provides food safety regulators with the information and evidence
they need for effective decision-making, contributing to better food safety
outcomes and improvements in public health.
FAO and WHO work together to develop material to assist food safety regulators'
understanding and use of risk analysis in national food safety frameworks,
and to provide training tools for capacity building in food safety risk analysis.
See also
Micro-organisms in food > JEMRA
Integrated food control systems > biosecurity |
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