The common term dioxins is often used for a number of chemically related lipophilic compounds (polychlorinated dibenzo-para dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), including certain dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with similar toxic properties. However, the denomination of dioxin is given to 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD). Of the identified 419 types of dioxin-related compounds, which have a dioxin-like chemical structure, only about 30 are considered to have significant toxicity, with TCDD being the most toxic. Although dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (for convenience herein after referred to as "dioxins") show similarities in their toxicological and chemical behaviour, their sources may be different.

Desde el 2007 la FAO y el IICA han venido desarrollando esfuerzos para promover la generación y el intercambio de información respecto a políticas, los procesos de calificación y el impacto de su aplicación y de experiencias, entre las autoridades encargadas del tema de las indicaciones geográficas en los países, los investigadores y actores locales. Lo anterior se ha basado en la realización de ocho estudios de caso, que evidencian el desarrollo del tema de las IG y las Denominaciones de Origen (DO) en América Latina. Estos documentos permiten identificar y analizar los antecedentes y motivaciones para comenzar el proceso hasta alcanzar la certificación, además presentar a los actores y el papel que han desempeñado. Adicionalmente, se describen los procesos...

Quality Linked to Geographical Origin offers a unique view of agriculture and food products, by linking them to their geographical heritage. This means recognizing the value of their unique indigenous features that have made them important locally - their traditions and generations of improvement that have built their reputations - as well as the influence of natural factors such as soil, water and weather.

This toolkit provides practical guidance and support to develop and implement national biosecurity frameworks at the country level. It presents the benefits of a harmonized and integrated approach to biosecurity and illustrates the experiences of countries, including Belize, Norway and New Zealand, which have adopted such an approach in recent times. By providing a framework to identify cross-cutting biosecurity capacity needs based on an integrated approach, this toolkit addresses the gaps inherent in a purely sectoral approach to biosecurity. The purpose is to support governments to better manage biosecurity as a means to protect public health, agricultural production and the environment. At the same time, this will enhance the ability of countries to comply with international agreements, regulations and requirements...

This guide is a companion document to the FAO Guidelines to assess capacity needs in the core components of a food control system1, and builds on and complement the FAO/WHO Guidelines for strengthening national food control systems2, which focus on the development of an integrated regulatory system for food control founded on a transparent, risk-based approach and the involvement of all the concerned stakeholders from farm to table. By providing a systematic approach to identify and prioritize needs and produce an action plan to strengthen the capacity of the food control system, this guide will improve the ability of food safety regulatory authorities to plan, implement and monitor their activities. It will also help to make the use of available...