Malawi joined the global campaign in the commemoration of the World Food Safety Day on 7th June 2021. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Codex Committee for Malawi, Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization – Malawi Country Offices organized a live panel discussion on Times TV, Times Radio and Times 360 Malawi Facebook page as main event to celebrate the day in Malawi. Under this year’s theme-slogan, “Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow - Food safety is everyone’s business”, the panelists (main picture) included various stakeholders of food safety in Malawi such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi Bureau of Standards, Department of Fisheries, National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi and the Consumers Association of Malawi.

The aim of the initiative was to bring together different stakeholders involved in the food chain and through the panel discussion to raise awareness for food safety as well as inform the public about the importance of preventing and managing the risks associated with food, promoting health, economic prosperity, agricultural development and markets.

The panelists gave their respective roles as far as food safety is concerned in Malawi and concurred on the point that food safety calls for collaborative and joint efforts among all stakeholders to prevent foodborne diseases. Therefore, the day is an excellent opportunity to highlight the responsibilities of each member along the food chain, as food safety is a shared responsibility. The panelists further highlighted that a weak food control system in Malawi is the major challenge for achieving food safety in the country.

Speaking during the panel discussion, Deputy Director of Preventive Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Allone Ganizani, addressed the audience that the Ministry is working on a project tilted “Strengthening the national Food Control Systems in Malawi”. He further said that the project is aimed at strengthening the policy and legal framework for food control in Malawi, establishing a national risk basis for the food control system and defining and implementing the food safety risk communication approach.

Event brochure

Link to the live Panel discussion that was held on Times TV on 7 June 2021.

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