The Standardization and Metrology Centre of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and FAO organized an international seminar in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, to mark World Food Safety Day. The seminar focused on food safety in the horticulture sector, which, as the organizers noted, provides “an important component of our diet and a wonderful source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals.”

In his opening remarks, Kuvatbek Bapaev, FAO Senior Policy Advisor made the point that “The safety of food products is the task facing all those involved in the food chain from the creation of food products to the sale of finished products to the consumer.” Contributors to the event underlined different ways in which producers and competent authorities can ensure food safety all along the supply chain. These include the application of good hygienic practices and compliance with norms and regulations, including those developed by Codex.

FAO’s Food Safety Expert, Gokce Akbalik also made a presentation, in which she said “Food security is inseparable from food safety. The availability of safe food contributes to the development of the national economy, trade and tourism, promotes food and nutrition security and is one of the factors of sustainable development.”

The following day, FAO experts gave a guest lecture at the Musa Ryskulbekov Kyrgyz Economic University in Bishkek. They spoke about the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and its principles, risk identification and monitoring, and answered questions from students and faculty.

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