DILI, 06 february 2023 (TATOLI)-The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the Inspection Authority for Economic, and Food Activities (AIFAESA) to provide training on Risk-Based Food Inspection to ensure food safety for the community.
AIFAESA Inspector General, Ernesto Monteiro said the training was supported by WHO and was provided specifically for technical staff from four government agencies such as AIFAESA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry. The training takes place from 06 – 17 February 2023.
“The trainers are qualified people and have high competence in the field of food safety, laboratory, and others. If we talk about food security and food safety, we need to realize that these two issues have different meanings,” said the Inspector General of AIFAESA in the Orchid Room, CBD1 Timor Plaza, this monday.
According to Monteiro food security focuses more on hunger, food storage, or food availability, but safety food is the quality of food and the contamination, if this is not considered, the risk will be very large for consumers.
He hopes that this training can reduce Food-Borne Diseases which pose a risk to human life. Food-Borne Diseases (food poisoning) are caused by contaminated food, drink, or water and can be in the form of various bacteria, parasites, viruses, and/or poisons that are consumed by consumers.
WHO Representative, Thelge Sudath Rohana Peiris stated that food safety is an important element of the public health system. Consumption of unsafe food has been associated with a large number of health problems.
Food inspection is a central function of supervision, to verify that all types and levels of food entrepreneurs in the country take their main responsibility only in producing food that is safe for consumers.
For that reason, skilled and knowledgeable food inspectors play an important role. Written procedures must be developed by referring to various guidance documents available as international benchmarks, supported by adequate facilities and infrastructure to carry out consistent control activities, and applying a risk-based approach.
“I wish you all a useful and enjoyable training for the next two weeks. Rest assured that WHO will continue to support the government of Timor-Leste in providing different initiatives to strengthen the national food system to promote national public health,” he said.
In the Southeast Asia region, the burden of foodborne diseases is estimated at more than 150 million cases, and 175,000 deaths annually. In addition, food safety is an integral part of food security. If the food is not safe, it is not fit for human consumption and becomes a food loss.
Therefore, the government must ensure that the food supply is not only sufficient but also safe and nutritious. The national food control system must be developed and strengthened, to protect consumers from various health risks due to unsafe food products.
It is the government’s responsibility to establish the legal and institutional framework that supports the national control system. Fundamental resources must be allocated to facilitate control functions at the national level, both for domestic production and for imported products.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
