33. Ms Jennifer Lee, Costa Rica, presented a document on “Assuring food safety at the production/processing level” (AC 05/4). The speaker noted that assuring food safety and quality can be challenging for the countries of the region, and must be dealt with through innovative approaches and public/private sector cooperation. The need to address issues of food safety and quality across all the links of the food chain, thus necessitating a multisectoral approach, was emphasized. The speaker outlined the importance of the application of appropriate safety and quality assurance systems, including GAPs, GMPs and HACCP, as well as key considerations for their application. A number of examples of the application of these systems in the countries of the region were cited. The importance and challenges in assuring food safety and quality in small and medium enterprises, as well as in street-vended foods was also addressed. A number of recommendations for countries to apply good practices to ensure food safety and quality were also listed.
34. The delegates thanked Costa Rica for preparing the paper and expressed their appreciation for the clarity, practicality and usefulness of the paper to the member countries of the region.
35. The Conference noted that the important elements/approaches that can best promote food safety and quality at the production/processing level include the following: a) the application of an integrated system with a “total food chain” approach; b) the recognition of the responsibilities of various stakeholders; and c) the promotion of GAPs, GMPs and HACCP-based systems.
36. The importance of appropriate and targeted training programmes in food safety and quality was emphasized, as well as the expertise available in this regard in academia. The Conference emphasized the importance of technical assistance in this regard and encouraged FAO, WHO and other relevant organizations to continue to provide this support. It was also noted that less developed countries should solicit assistance from developed countries to strengthen their ability to meet their obligations under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements that may otherwise be difficult to attain.
37. The Conference underlined the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in ensuring food safety and quality. In particular, participants emphasized the need for a management commitment to change for the successful implementation of GAP/GMP/HACCP programmes and noted that adequate education can assist countries in this regard.
38. The Conference highlighted the importance of harmonizing national requirements and measures to relevant international food safety standards (i.e. Codex), as this can contribute to reducing the situations where exporting countries need to comply with a multitude of different requirements.
39. The safety of street-vended foods was noted as an issue of great concern for the region, thus necessitating formal recognition of this activity in order to improve the technical assistance, sanitary surveillance and financial support of regional/national programmes to ensure food safety and quality. In this regard, FAO mentioned the existence of codes of practice on the safety of street-vended foods as well as a training manual that are available to assist any regional/national initiatives.
