Source: aqsiq

11-28-2007 16:53

Adopted by consensus[1] by the High-level International Food Safety Forum - "Enhancing Food Safety in a Global Community" held in Beijing, the People's Republic of China on 26 and 27 November 2007

In recalling that access to safe food and a nutritionally adequate diet is a right of each individual[2]1 and in recognition that:

Oversight of food safety is an essential public health function that protects consumers from health risks posed by biological, chemical and physical hazards in food as well as by conditions of food;

Foodborne risks, if not controlled, can be major causes of disease and premature death as well as lost productivity and heavy economic burdens;

Equal application of food safety measures between countries as well as within countries can improve global food safety;

Integrated food safety systems are best suited to address potential risks across the entire food chain from production to consumption;

Food safety measures should be based on sound scientific evidence and risk analysis principles and should not unnecessarily create barriers to trade;

Production of safe food is primarily the responsibility of the food industry;

Education of consumers is critical in promoting safe food practices in the home; and,

Interactive communication with consumers is important for assuring that societal values and expectations are considered in the decision-making process.

Therefore, all countries are urged to:

Establish competent food safety authorities as independent and trusted public health bodies within a comprehensive production to consumption legislative framework;

Develop transparent regulation and other measures based on risk analysis to ensure safety of the food supply from production to consumption, harmonized with the guidance of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant international standards-setting bodies;

Ensure adequate and effective enforcement of food safety legislation using risk-based methods, such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system, where possible;

Establish food and total diet monitoring programmes with linkages to human and food-animal disease surveillance systems to obtain rapid and reliable information on prevalence and emergence of foodborne diseases and hazards in the food supply;

Establish procedures, including tracing and recall systems in conjunction with industry, to rapidly identify, investigate and control food safety incidents and to advise WHO of those that fall under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the National IHR Focal Point;

Communicate and consult effectively with consumers, the food industry, and other stakeholders in developing, implementing and reviewing food safety policies and priorities, including education and other matters of concern; and

Expedite the strengthening of food safety capacities through effective cooperation between developing and developed countries as well as among developing countries, thus promoting safer food for all.

[1]The Australian delegation was unable to speak on behalf of the Australian Government because of caretaker conventions following the recent election.

[2]World Declaration on Nutrition (1992) FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition, Rome

 

Editor:Xiong Qu