Mrs Maria del Rocio Saenz, Minister of Health,
Mr Gilberto Barrantes, Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce,
Mr Kraisid Tontisirin, Director of the FAO Food and Nutrition Division, Rome,
Mr Alan Bojanic, FAO Representative in Costa Rica,
Mr Jorgen Schlundt, Director of the Department of Food Safety of the World Health Organization, Washington D.C.
Mr Carlos Samayoa, PAHO/WHO Representative in Costa Rica,
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in our country,
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
WELCOME TO OUR COUNTRY
It is a great pleasure to have you here with us. We appreciate your presence at this ceremony and the subsequent work of the members of the delegations of countries here at this meeting to share, in an arduous period of work lasting almost one week, their knowledge and experience of food safety and quality, their achievements and the difficulties they are overcoming to obtain optimal levels of production and management of food products so that they can compete successfully on the demanding markets of countries more developed than many of ours, while at the same time offering our domestic consumers wholesome food that will help to improve their quality of life.
The production and trade of food products have changed considerably in the last decade. Many mechanisms and processes have been designed and introduced to improve the efficiency of systems to control the quality and safety of products from production point to consumer.
Although the cost has been high for many of our producers, the public institutions are gradually teaming up with the private sector to implement the mechanisms that have been established to achieve the safety objectives and goals of our countries. These partnerships have been very effective in raising productivity in all links of the agroindustrial chain, in both the large and in the small and medium enterprises, and in enhancing their competitiveness and ability to remain on the local market.
All the agriculture and livestock institutions of our country have moved resolutely forward towards obtaining and guaranteeing quality and safety standards, incorporating the new operating standards specified in the body of law regulating their activity, and towards strengthening the control of animal and plant health, the registration of agrochemicals, the training of agribusinesses in managing the quality and safety of their products, the training of professionals and technicians, the preparation and implementation of quality manuals, and the establishment of measures to counter bioterrorism. There is still a lot to be done but the important thing is that something is being done.
We must of course emphasize the support that has been given to building a national food safety system in concrete response to one of the most important commitments contracted at the Thirteenth Inter-American Meeting, at the Ministerial Level, on Health and Agriculture - RIMSA 13 - held in 2003.
This forum, which served as a platform for the health and agriculture sectors to address the subject of food safety and quality, provided an opportunity to declare our support to the creation and development of such systems, which is on the point of being achieved in Costa Rica through the issue of a Presidential Decree.
We wish to herald the Intersectoral Food Safety Commission (CIIA), made up of representatives of 24 public and private institutions associated with the thematic issues before this Conference, on account of its commitment in drafting the legislation that will streamline, accelerate and facilitate the coordination of intersectoral actions to ensure the safety and quality of agrifood production. We need to continue to be able to rely on the support of international organizations and governments in carrying out further modernization actions, in consolidating what has been done and in moving forward in areas that form part of our current and future plans of action.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honour for Costa Rica to host your reflections on the subject of this meeting. Let me once again warmly welcome you to our country during the particularly delightful Christmas season.
Thank you.
