OIE/FAO-APHCA Regional Workshop on Food Safety (Animal Origin)
(Chiang Mai, Thailand, 22-24 October 2007)
The Workshop is jointly organised by the OIE and the Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-APHCA), as a follow-up to the initial FAO/OIE Regional Workshop on Food and Feed Safety held in Bangkok, Thailand in July 2004.
The objectives of the Workshop are to provide information and training to government technical officials (at policy levels) in the Asia and Pacific region on technical issues related to food (of animal origin) safety and to identify priority issues on food safety in the Region.
The Workshop was attended by 48 participants: 17 country representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, PR China, India, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam; 4 observers from the private sector, DLD Regional Bureau and the University; 11 international master course students of VPH; and 5 speakers including Dr Willem Droppers from OIE Headquarters and 11 from the organisers.
Opening addresses were delivered by Assistant Professor Dr Khwanchai Kreausukon, Director of VPHCAP, Dr Fujita, OIE Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Dr Carolyn Benigno, Animal Health Officer of FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP), and Associate Professor Dr Pong-In Rakariyatham, Vice President of Chiang Mai University, for the rationale and expectations to the participants. Closing remarks and presentations were delivered by Dr Fujita, Dr Vishnu Songkitti, Liaison Officer for APHCA, FAO-RAP and Dr Lertrak Srikijkarn, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University.
Special topics were presented by Dr J. Copland, FAO consultant from Australia, on the Food Safety issues and the role of Veterinary Services in the Southeast/South Asian region, and particularly on the Food Safety Legislation; by Dr S. Page, Director of Advanced Veterinary Therapeutics, Australia, on Requirements for the Control of Veterinary Drugs in Food Safety and for a Residue Monitoring System; by Dr Pennapa Matayompong, DLD, Thailand on Requirements for an Food Safety Certification Systems (Animal Origin) for export market; by two country representatives, Dr K Wangi, Bhutan and Dr K Nookaya, Malaysia on the Design and Operation of Abattoirs from their experience, the former for domestic market and the latter for international market.
As a resource person, Dr W. Droppers, OIE, introduced OIE mission and the Food Safety work coordinated by Animal Production Food Safety Working Group, and Ms N. Morgan, FAO-RAP for trends on SPS livestock notifications, FAO Food Safety activities and food policy challenges for the regional livestock sector.
Two-day discussions elucidated significant difference in Food Safety legislation and programmes of the participating countries, thus the following grouping was proposed to discuss priorities for Food Safety issues, i.e. gaps and needs, and their proposed solutions: Group A: Cambodia, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar and Samoa; Group B: Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; Group C: Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; and Group D: China and India.
Each group reported back to the plenary as follows:
Group A, where veterinary services are committed to food production rather than safety, pointed out the needs for harmonising or drafting Food Safety legislation; capacity building in meat inspection and drug residue testing; improvement of design and operations of slaughter facilities; and adequate funding for laboratory facilities.
Group B, where countries having basic Food Safety programme and export market for livestock product, identified the needs for strengthening commodities’ boards to mobilize resource and contribution from the private sector; promotion of consumer awareness to be the driving forces for Food Safety; and coordination between Health and Veterinary Services, by establishing a joint Commission, legalising each roles and responsibilities and information sharing.
Group C gave priority to the needs for updating their legislations to ensure enforcement, such as meat inspection; strengthening of Veterinary Services by increasing veterinarians and modernise abattoirs; and training respective authorities for technical know-how.
Group D prioritised needs for concept of Food Safety by including post-harvest technology in veterinary curricula/education; coordination for Food Safety issues between stakeholders by legislations; and public awareness in rural areas.
Overall priority needs for enhanced Food Safety were: (1) establishing/updating/harmonising legislations; (2) coordination of public veterinary services between private sector and between health services; (3) capacity building of veterinary services; (4) improvement of abattoir operations and facilities; and (5) creation of consumer awareness. Whereas (1) legislation (till abattoir) and (3) capacity building are possible areas of concern for OIE and FAO to support jointly, others such as (2) coordination and (5) awareness creation needs tripartite action with WHO.
Participants were encouraged to discuss the draft recommendations with their respective Chief Veterinary Officers prior to/after FAO-APHCA meeting for their actions and proposals.