September 29, 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)
Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held one-day meeting Tuesday to discuss on how to strengthen Cambodia's food safety control systems and reduce the negative impact of food-borne diseases to consumers, producers, vendors and government authorities.
The meeting is aimed at improving the capacity of concerned national agencies to develop, implement and monitor national food control strategies that reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of food control, according to FAO.
At the opening of the forum, Chan Nora, secretary of state of Ministry of Commerce said improving food safety and its management is among the strategies adopted by the Royal Government of Cambodia to diversify its products and promote long term economic sustainability.
He said reducing the prevalence of food-borne diseases will improve consumer health and increase trade in food and agricultural products, and adding that adopting a policy of facilitating trade through risk management will allow the integration of Cambodia's economy into the region and the world.
The meeting participated by several dozens of officials and representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Health and Institute Pasteur du Cambodge who are involved in food safety participated.
"Food-borne diseases remain a leading cause of illness. Food safety problems such as intentional chemical adulteration, excessive and inappropriate use of pesticide in farming have a negative impact on public health, and subsequently on economic development," said Chan Nora.
FAO has been assisting the government in identifying how concerned agencies, scientists and staff can work together to analyze the problems and evaluate options for addressing them.
Dr. Lotfi Allal, acting FAO Representative, said FAO gives high priority to food safety and recommends the use of the risk analysis system.
Source:Xinhua
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