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Zimbabwe
Codex Contact Point
Government Analyst Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Child Care, P.O. Box CY 231, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: +263 4 792026/7
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
National legislation on food safety: FAOLEX

Competent authorities

Name of authority
FOOD STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD FSAB
GOVERNMENT ANALYST LABORATORY
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH/PORT HEALTH
VETERINARY DEPARTMENT/MINISTRY OF HEALTH
PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICES
MEDICINES CONTROL AUTHORITY
NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY
MUNICIPAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES
Mandate/competence
-NATIONAL CODEX COMMITTEE -FOOD CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION -DRAFTING AND AMENDING OF FOOD LAWS AND REGULATIONS -FOOD SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT -IMPORT AND EXPORT FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY CERTIFICATION
NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY LABORATORY
ENFORCEMENT OF FOOD LAWS AND REGULATIONS -IMPORT AND EXPORT BORDER CONTROL -FOOD PREMISES INSPECTION
-ANIMAL HEALTH CONTROL -VETERINARY DIAGNOSTICS -ABBATOIR INSPECTIONS
-PLANT HEALTH -FARM FEEDS AND REMEDIES REGISTRATION -FARM FEEDS AND REMEDIES SAFETY AND QUALITY CONTROL -
VETERINARY DRUG REGISTRATION AND CONTROL
REGISTRATION AND CONTROL OF BIO AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. CONTROL OF GMO PLANTS AND FOODS.
ENFORCEMENT OF FOOD LAWS AND REGULATIONS -FOOD PREMISES INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION IN MUNICIPALITIES
INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point
DIRECTOR-ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT Ministry of Health and Child Care P.O.Box CY1122 Causeway , Harare. [email protected].

Food safety and consumer protection – laws and regulations

The current list of legislation, related to food safety and consumer protection in each country, is extracted from FAO's database on Food Legislation FAOLEX.
While FAOLEX makes every effort to serve as a high quality, reliable source of information, no guarantee is given that the information provided in FAOLEX is correct, complete, and up-to-date.

The national Codex programme

National Codex consultative mechanism
The NCC is made up of all stakeholders in food safety. The Ministry of Health and Child Care's FSAB acts as the NCC. The Government Analyst Laboratory's Deputy Director-Food Control is the Secretary to the NCC and provides secretariat services to all 9 Technical Committees. The TCs are hosted by different government departments which members of the NCC. 16 members of the NCC are drawn from Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Industry and Commerce, Science and Technology, as well as National Standards Body (SAZ) Consumer Council of Zimbabwe(CCZ) National Farmers Unions, Law Society of Zimbabwe, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Retailers Association of Zimbabwe. Each of the 9 Technical Committees draws membership from the above organisations and other interested stakeholders. Each TC was assigned relevant CODEX sub-committees to mirror. Having discussed the relevant sub-committee issues they forward their decisions to the NCC for approval and endorsement.
Providers of scientific and technical input to national consultation on Codex
In the Nutrition TC, various stakeholders listed below have given input into the development of the CODEX Definition for Biofortification. National Biotechnology Authority. Government Analyst Laboratory SIRDC- Scientific Industrial Research and Development's Food and Nutrition Council FAO Private Manufacturing companies University of Zimbabwe

Risk Assessments and Scientific Data

National bodies providing risk assessment and scientific advice
The FSAB provides some limited risk assessment to other competent authorities such as the inspectorate(Port Health/Environmental Health and Municipal Health Authorities), Nutrition Dept. The Universities e.g University of Zimbabwe also provide risk assessment data and information to the risk management institutions within the Ministry of Health and Child care.
Risk assessment, risk profiles, scientific opinions
Currently there are none available in public domain.
Official Laboratory
Goverment Analyst Laboratory
Central Veterinary Laboratory.
Research and Specialist Services Laboratory
Local Health Authorities Laboratories
National Biotechnology Laboratory
Official Competence
Major National Official Food Safety Laboratory for Zimbabwe. Analytical Services-Food Safety and Quality surveillance. Analysis of food and food products (locally manufactured, imported or for export) to determine suitability for consumption and for certification for import or export. Analysis of drinking water(including bottled water) to determine suitability for drinking prior to certification and for routine monitoring. Permanent member of FSAB, National Codex Committee, SPS and TBT Committees and Secretariat. Review Food Laws and Regulations. Product Analysis and Testing - Verify, Certify and Inform the Inspectorate, the Minister and Stakeholders. Defends Certificate of Analysis in Courts of Law. AMR surveillance in all foods tested.
Food testing services: Food microbiology; Food residue testing; AMR surveillance in foods
Tests agro-remedies for compliance with the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Act Chapter 18.12
Limited analysis of drinking water samples.
Testing of foods to check for GM content.

Surveillance of foodborne diseases and monitoring of food contamination

National surveillance systems – foodborne disease in humans
The national Intergrated Disease Surveillance and Reporting System
National monitoring systems – foodborne hazards in the food chain
No stand alone centralised and coordinated system for collecting and monitoring food-borne hazards along the supply chain. Done as per individual institution.