FAO/WHO Regional Conference on Food Safety for Asia and the Pacific

Annex 2

Revised Objectives and Themes

1. Objectives of the Conference

This Regional Conference on Food Safety for Asia and the Pacific will work to:

• Address and facilitate discussion on issues important to all countries of the Asian and Pacific region and identify practical actions (could include national policies to regulate food safety) and capacity building recommendations in support of food safety;
• Identify opportunities for regional cooperation related to agriculture, agribusiness, post-harvest production, food processing, food trade, public health, and consumer protection;
• Provide a platform for broad co-operation and mutual understanding;
• Promote increased exchange of information at all levels to improve transparency and capacity building and to more effectively communicate with consumers, producers, and industries to improve food safety.

2. Conference draft agenda themes

A) Food safety legislation- science and risk-based approaches to harmonization

• Coordination between and within national government ministries and with the private sector, which may eventually lead to regional harmonization and equivalence;
• Consideration of an entire food chain approach (primary production, processors, retailers, etc);
• Utilization of a risk-based system to determine acceptable levels of control;
• Empowering countries to enforce food legislation.
• Recognition of consumer's rights

Background information paper

• Economic impact of food safety measures
• Decreased health care costs, improved worker productivity due to decreased disease burden;
• Increase in availability of palatable, wholesome food;
• Increased consumer confidence in food supply;
• Increased trade opportunities and export premiums.
• Opportunity costs of lack of food safety measures

B) Application of risk analysis in food control- challenges and benefits

• Development of national science- based risk assessment capabilities and active participation in international risk assessment work;
• Appropriate risk management (including management of food safety and food security emergencies) and risk-based standard setting;
• Effective risk communication (including data reporting to other countries and to consumers).
• Risk analysis of foods derived from biotechnology

C) Prioritization and coordination of capacity building activities

• Accurate evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of national food control situations;
• Identification of specific urgent and important capacity building needs;
• Long-term sustainability of the results of capacity building activities;
• Prioritization for utilizing limited timeframes and budget;
• Networking with other regional and national activities to increase effectiveness;
• Fostering technical assistance among countries within the region.

D) Information exchange, education and communication

• Exchange of policy, information, research findings and training between and among research institutes, government bodies, food production sectors, and consumers, both within and among countries, as necessary;
• Food Safety education- all levels, formal and informal;
• Communication with food producers and consumers concerning food safety risks and means to prevent/mitigate them;
• Update on food safety issues in each country.

E) Food-borne disease monitoring and surveillance systems

• Importance of regional, national and local surveillance systems and reporting of information in detection, rapid response, and estimation of the burden of food- borne disease outbreaks;
• Use in establishing and evaluating priorities in food borne disease prevention and control;
• Need for collaboration, coordination, and communication between public health laboratories, government ministries, NGOs, and other local, national and regional partners;
• Importance of surveillance data in risk assessments.