Serge R. Nakouzi *

As countries throughout the world celebrated 'World Health Day' on 7 April under the slogan 'from farm to plate, make food safe', communities were invited to reflect on the challenges and opportunities posed by food safety. As consumers, we individually all have expectations that the food made available to us in our local and domestic markets is safe and of a certain quality. However, these expectations are not being fully met. Recent data published on foodborne illnesses evidenced the rising global health threats posed by unsafe food and the increasing need for concerted measures to be taken across nations and borders to address effectively the existing risks all over the food supply chain.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food is linked to the deaths of an estimated 2 million people annually – including many children. Food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.

Food safety threats cause an enormous burden on economies globally due to frequent disruptions or restrictions of global and regional agri-food trade, loss of food and associated income as well as to increased cost in health care. These threats also contribute to food insecurity and aggravate the poverty cycle affecting the most vulnerable populations.

Ensuring food safety is not only a public health priority but it is also a collective responsibility, given its criticality in achieving food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has long been advocating, as part of its mandate, that effective food safety and quality management systems are key not only to safeguarding the health and well-being of people but also to fostering economic development and improving livelihoods by promoting access to domestic, regional and international markets.

In order to mitigate the growing threats posed to food safety, FAO has been assisting countries to build food safety emergencies prevention and management systems, thus contributing to strengthen country resilience to food chain crises. We, as an Organization, have been delivering a range of activities to support member countries implement or strengthen risk-based food inspection systems and related food safety and quality management systems. These activities include specific in-country capacity development projects, and the provision of broad policy and technical advice through the publication of a number of manuals, guidelines and training materials.

Inspection and monitoring programmes are at the heart of the enforcement in food safety regulatory systems. The shift of the modern food safety conception from "reactive" to "preventive" has led governments world-wide moving towards risk-based approaches to food control and requiring all operators in the food supply chain to share responsibility for food safety. This in particular requires food inspection programmes to prioritize controls based on risks posed by the food or food operator practices. In many countries, the shift to risk-based food inspection may require significant changes to food inspection policy, legislation as well as changes to inspector training programmes; and new education and information programmes targeting the private sector.

Since its inception FAO has led global efforts in the development of global food safety initiatives and translating these into action at the country level. The Food Safety and Quality Programme instituted by the Organization is a tangible example of the initiatives established to support an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to food safety management and holistic and feasible "food chain" solutions to specific threats to food safety. Such a programme can undoubtedly guide us in mobilising efforts in the Islamic Republic of Iran, together with government authorities, local industry and other relevant stakeholders, to improve the existing systems of food safety and quality management as well as to reduce foodborne illness and support food trade.

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* Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the Economic Cooperation Organization