English only
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| Conference Room Document 50 English only | |
second fao/who global forum of food safety regulators
Bangkok, Thailand, 12-14 October 2004
(Prepared by Liberia)
The Republic of Liberia is situated on the southwest corner of the West Coast of Africa between longitude 7°30 inch and 11°30 inch west and latitude 4°18 inch and 8°30 inch north. It covers a surface of about 111,370-km. Liberia is limited on the West by Sierra Leone, on the north by Guinea, on the east by Ivory Coast and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. Total land boundaries extend to 1,585 km, (990 miles); Guinea, 563 or 352 miles; Ivory Coast 716 km or 446 miles and Sierra Leone, 306 km or 191 miles.
Liberia has a population estimated at 3.3 million. The average population growth rate fell from 3.3% in 1980-1987 to 2.5% in 1990-2000 and 2% in 2002 (UNEP 2004). The population is young, 51.9% is less than 18 years old while children less than 5 year account for 14.4%. women 14-49 years constitute 45.3% of the female population. Approximately 3% of the population is above 65 years. The fertility rate is 6.2% and childbearing is early and widespread; three out of four women 20-24 years of age have had a child. The use of modern family planning methods among women is 11.3%. average household size is 5.1%. men constitute 80% of heads of households compared to women who account for 20%. Approximately 32% of the population resides in urban communities, compare to 68% that reside in rural areas. Montserrado County is the most populated sub-division accounting for 30% of the total population (LDHS, 2000).
Liberia is divided into 15 counties namely Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Bong, Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Rivercess, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, Gbarpolu and River Gee. There are seventeen (17) major ethnic groups (including the Congo or Americo-Liberians) in the country.
There are four topographical regions, each having its own distinct physical features and height above sea level. Along the seacoast is a coastal plain of 350 miles or (560km), an almost unbroken sand strip, which starts from the lowest elevation up to 30 meters above sea level. Next is the belt of inundated plateaus followed by the belt of high lands in the north and northeast. The highest elevations are the northern high lands and rolling hills, which includes Mounts Wologsi (1,350 meters), the maximum elevation in Liberia.
Liberia has an equatorial climate that consists of two seasons (rainy and dry). Each season runs for approximately six months a year. The rainy season begins mid-may and ends mid-October each year; while the dry season begins mid-October and runs to mid-may. Average annual rainfall along the coastal belt is over 400 mm and declines to 1300 mm at the forest savanna boundary in the north (Bongers, F.et al, 1999). Relative humidity is generally high throughout the country; on the coastal belt, it does not drop below 80% and on the average is above 90%. There is a wider variation in the interior; it may fall below 20% during the harmattan period (December-February). A relative air humidity of 90% to 100% is common during the rainy season. During the dry season it decreases between 80% and 85%.
Food safety has emerged as a major consumer concern in Liberia. Food borne diseases do not only pose tremendous threats to consumer health but they can also cause serious economic damages. In this regard, risk analysis has become an integral part in ensuring food safety.
In Liberia, Government continues to encourage the involvement and participation of the stakeholders and members of the communities and consumer groups through the use of effective risk communication and feedback mechanism with consideration to factors that serve as obstacles to risk communication, other popular media channels are utilized in order to gather comments, opinions and suggestions from the stakeholders. The conduct of consultation meetings for drafting of country position papers regarding food safety concerns is a very good example of effective feedback mechanism as exemplified by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry Agriculture. These are Government Agencies mandated to protect the welfare of the consuming Public through the formulation, harmonization and adoption of safety and quality standards for foods.
The functions of the Ministry of Health in setting standards for food, food establishment and water quality is specified in the Public Health and Safety Laws of Liberia. These functions include:
The functions of this Ministry in regard to food control services in Liberia include:
The Ministry of Agriculture has been one of the key collaborating institutions of government with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Two of its operational units have similar functions with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health. They are:
From a historical point of view, the development of food safety evaluation has reached an important crossroad. For the first time, modern biology is being applied to the issues of food safety. Distinctions among chemistry, toxicology, nutrition and microbiology are being removed. Evaluation of food safety through this integrated mechanism will permit generic and, ultimately, predictive outcomes. To a significant extent, all of these processes have come to focus on this evaluative framework, namely risk assessment.
The Division of Environmental and Occupational Health (DEOH) of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Liberia is to protect and promote health ensuring sanitary safety of products and services especially for food and their corresponding manufacturing units. It is worth nothing that the actions for food sanitary control in Liberia are shared by the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Commerce.
The initiatives of the food sector of the Division to set risk analysis in motion have been directed towards for certain products. The risk analysis process seeks to estimate the risk for human health associated with the presented scenario as well as to select and implement the appropriate measures to control such risks with the aim to ensure safe food for the population. The impact on human health is the main concern of the risk analysis.
The risk analysis process is achieved through the participation of the different parties involved- as recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Directives – including Health, Agriculture, Commerce, and Representative Entities from the productive sector, and consumers’ protection organization, all of them are essential to ensure the transparency of the whole process as well as the decision making.
Strengthening food safety and quality control system, promoting good manufacturing practices and educating food retailers and consumers about appropriate food handling are also essential for food and consumer protection. Proper food control measures promote the health and nutritional status of the population and contribute to their productivity and well being.
Establishing a high standard of safety is the shared responsibility of the government, the food industry and consumer. The government should have up-to-date food Legislation and Regulations which are properly enforced. Industry and trade have responsibility for producing safe food for adopting code of hygienic practices, and complying with regulations. However, the Government oversight is essential in promoting voluntary measures while making sure that unsafe food does not reach the consumer.
Many food borne diseases occur because of some basic error in preparing meals, whether in restaurants, canteens or homes. Nearly all could have been avoided if those who prepare meals were trained in elementary food safety. Therefore the Government should undertake intensive efforts to educate food handlers, consumers too should learn how to ensure that only safe food reaches their tables, public education and community participation recognized as important strategies to improve food safety and prevent food borne diseases.
Liberia needs to achieve economic growth to reduce poverty and meet basic needs in a sustainable manner, i.e. without depleting the resource base that underpins health and development. The agricultural sector dominates the economics of Liberia in terms of export earnings.
Strengthening food safety and quality control systems, promoting good manufacturing practices and educating food retailers and consumers about appropriate food handling are also essential for health and consumer protection. Proper food control measures promote the health and nutritional status of the population and contribute to their productivity and well being.