FOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS

Food Control Systems



Food Control Systems

1- Food control management

In most countries of the Near East region, responsibility over food safety is shared among several agencies. Issues directly related to public health, such as food hygiene and sanitation and food borne disease surveillance are dealt with by the health authorities at central and local/municipal levels, while matters related to food production, processing and distribution including the control of the quality and safety of foods of animal origin fall under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the Gulf States, because of the relatively limited importance of the agricultural sector in the overall economies of these countries, and the concentration of food- related operations in urban areas, the main responsibility over food control lies with the municipal authorities. Throughout the Region, efforts have been made or are underway to reform and improve food control systems. For instance, in Algeria, the government, with assistance from FAO, WHO and UNIDO, is carrying out a detailed study of the existing food control system and facilities with a view to recommending a national strategy to improve the efficiency of the current system and address the existing problems. Under the Technical Cooperation Programme2 (TCP), FAO is also assisting the country in the establishment and functioning of a National Codex Committee. In Jordan, special effort has been made by the Government in recent years to re-organize and streamline the food control activities at national and provincial level through the establishment of a Food and Drug Administration with authority over the control of the safety of foods and drugs in the country.

In Saudi Arabia, in 2003, the Government established the Food and Drug Administration which is responsible for the enforcement of the food and drug legislation in the country. The establishment of food standards remains with the Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO). In Tunisia, the National Agency for the Control of Food and Environmental Safety has been created with the objective, among others, of coordinating the relevant activities among the various agencies involved. Other countries, such as Kuwait, Oman and Syria have made special efforts to revive already existing coordinating mechanisms (inter-ministerial committee, food control council, etc.) to improve efficiency and minimize duplication or gaps. In Yemen, under a new FAO/TCP project4, a new national codex committee is under creation with coordinating responsibilities not only on Codex matters but also on national food control activities. In most countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and in particular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the municipal authorities play a central role in food control management. Other relevant ministries are involved mainly in the development of food legislation (regulations, standards) and in quarantine services. There is a definite trend towards the harmonization of the food safety systems in the different member countries of the GCC, starting with the food legislation and gradually covering the other aspects of the system.

2-Food legislation

Food laws, regulations and standards In general, food legislation in the countries of the region is characterized by a ...