FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ASSURING FOOD SAFETY
AND QUALITY:
GUIDELINES FOR STRENGTHENING NATIONAL
FOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS
Joint FAO/WHO Publication
Page iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
PREAMBLE
1
2.
INTRODUCTION
2
3.
IMPORTANT FOOD ISSUES
3
3.1 Food Safety, Quality and Consumer Protection
3
3.2 Global Considerations
4
(a) International Trade
4
(b) Codex Alimentarius Commission
4
(c) SPS and TBT Agreements
4
4.
ELEMENTS OF A NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEM
6
4.1 Objectives
6
4.2 Scope
6
4.3 Building Blocks
6
(a) Food Law and Regulations
6
(b) Food Control Management
7
(c) Inspection Services
7
(d) Laboratory Services: Food Monitoring and Epidemiological Data
8
(e) Information, Education, Communication and Training
9
5.
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS
10
5.1 Principles of Food Control: Issues for Consideration
10
(a) Integrated farm-to-table concept
10
(b) Risk Analysis
11
(c) Transparency
11
(d) Regulatory Impact Assessment
11
5.2 Developing a National Food Control Strategy
12
(a) Collection of Information
12
(b) Development of Strategy
12
5.3 Strengthening Organizational Structures for National Food Control
Systems
13
(a) Multiple Agency System
13
(b) Single Agency System
15
(c) Integrated System
15
5.4 Funding National Food Control Systems
16
6.
SPECIFIC ISSUES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
17
6.1 Food Systems
17
6.2 Food Processing Industry
17
6.3 Street Foods
17
6.4 Food Control Infrastructure and Resources
20
6.5 Technical Assistance: Role of International Agencies
20
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ANNEX 1. Glossary
20
ANNEX 2.
Addresses and Key Contacts
23
ANNEX 3.
Considerations of Food Safety and Consumer Protection
25
ANNEX 4.
Understanding the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius
Commission
29
ANNEX 5.
Introducing the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements
36
ANNEX 6. Guidelines for Developing a National Food Law
54
ANNEX 7.
Introducing JECFA, JMPR, JEMRA, and GM Food Risk
Assessment
58
ANNEX 8.
A Country Profile – Collection of Information
63
ANNEX 9.
Case Studies – National Food Control Sys