FAO TCP/SLC 3804 PROJECT FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION
Under the framework of the project TCP/SLC/3804 Assessing National Food Control Systems to enable enhanced food safety in the sub-region, FAO organized a sub-regional workshop to provide Caribbean countries with an overview of the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool and to share the experiences of Bahamas and Guyana. These two countries recently implemented an assessment of their national food control system. The workshop was held in Georgetown, Guyana over the period September 26-28, 2023. Attending on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda were Dr. Janil Gore-Francis, Chief Plant Protection Officer – Ministry of Agriculture and Mrs. Susan Gardner, Senior Nutritionist – Ministry of Health. Other participating countries included Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Dominica, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica.
In 2019, the Tool was published and the intention was to assist countries in assessing the effectiveness of their food control system, regardless of its level of maturity. The workshop was held from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 September 2023 in Georgetown, Guyana.
Overall Objective:
By referring to a common assessment instrument, build a regional understanding of national food control systems as a step towards harmonized controls in CARICOM countries.
Specific Objectives:
• Provide country representatives and senior officials with more details on the FAO/WHO food control system assessment tool, its structure and content, how it is used in a facilitated assessment and the roles and responsibilities of country officials.
• Present and discuss the competencies expected for a national food control system to function, ensuring a common understanding and integration of international principles and guidelines. • Share the experiences and lessons learned from the Bahamas and Guyana, the two countries in the region that have effectively implemented an assessment of their food control system, using the FAO/WHO tool.
• Set the scene for the use of the tool to assess the performance of food control systems for prioritizing capacity development investments.
• Contribute to building a regional vision of food safety and mutual recognition by promoting the use of the same food control terminology across the region and a common understanding of food control systems that will in turn facilitate regional dialogue and enhance contacts and cooperation among competent authorities.
The workshop focused on reviewing the technical content and the process for implementing a food control assessment. It included:
• Introductory considerations on the tool structure, the assessment process and its benefits, taking into account the international context of governance for food safety, trade and consumer protection
• Presentations and discussions on the competencies expected for a national food control system to function, that are assessed by the FAO/WHO tool
• Presentations and discussions about the process for the assessment of a national food control system, with firsthand experience by two countries (Guyana and The Bahamas) that have implemented an assessment recently.
Antigua and Barbuda recently served as a pilot under the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Project in the development of a national Agricultural Health and Food Safety Policy and Implementation Plan. It is anticipated that the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool will serve as a useful reference tool in the implementation of the country’s AHFS Policy and Implementation Plan. The FAO has signaled its willingness to facilitate the conduct of national assessments at the national level. Strong commitment of partners at the national level as well as identification of clear short and long-term objectives that are in line with national development strategies and priorities are key to the success of this implementation process.