Efforts boost food testing ability in Asia Pacific

Nations in Asia Pacific have taken half in a challenge to determine or enhance meals security testing capabilities.

The Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) and Meals and Agricultural Group of the United Nations (FAO), coordinated efforts with laboratories in 14 nations.

Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, and Vietnam have been concerned.

“We used to outsource most of our analyses to laboratories overseas. Now we have now the sources to conduct them ourselves,” mentioned Moe Thein, head of the Veterinary Assay Laboratory in Myanmar.

The lab can now display meals and animal feed for the presence of veterinary drug residues and mycotoxins.

Boosting home capability
Jordan’s Meals and Drug Administration is ready to take a look at for 30 extra various kinds of antimicrobial residues, comparable to antibiotics, in imported and regionally produced agricultural merchandise.

In Papua New Guinea the Nationwide Agricultural Analysis Institute now has the flexibility to display and quantify drug residues in animal merchandise comparable to milk.

In Syria, the Division of Agriculture of the Atomic Power Fee is utilizing new meals security data to establish progress promoters used on animals to extend meat manufacturing which might be prohibited by sure worldwide buying and selling companions, such because the European Union.

For the reason that challenge started in 2016, greater than 200 consultants from taking part nations have been skilled in utilizing nuclear methods to investigate residues and meals contaminants, conduct high quality assurance and controls, and preserve gear. In addition they took half in inter-laboratory proficiency testing schemes, coaching on analytical strategies, lab high quality administration and gear upkeep and troubleshooting.

IAEA and FAO may also help nations within the area in a follow-up challenge to broaden the scope of testing past merchandise of animal origin to cowl plant merchandise, together with fruits, greens and grains.

South East Asia assembly
In the meantime, a digital assembly to debate meals security in South East Asia was held in October 2021.

The Framework for Motion on Meals Security within the World Well being Group (WHO) South-East Asia Area 2020 to 2025 was developed and finalized in November 2019. The occasion happened to debate progress in implementation of the technique.

A complete of 96 contributors registered for the assembly and 10 out of 11 nations from the area attended. Included nations are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

9 classes lined matters comparable to Codex commonplace setting, nationwide meals management methods, risk-based inspection, foodborne illnesses surveillance and response, meals security incident and emergency administration, worldwide meals commerce, and conventional markets.

Indonesia was the primary nation within the area to have an evaluation of its nationwide meals management system utilizing a WHO and FAO device. INFOSAN motion on a multi-country outbreak of listeriosis linked to enoki mushrooms imported from Korea was additionally offered.

Eight of the 11 nations in South East Asia have been concerned in a Requirements and Commerce Growth Facility (STDF) sanitary and phytosanitary challenge and the identical quantity had assessed foodborne illness surveillance.

Attendees heard there are 15 ministries and 20 businesses concerned in meals security in Bangladesh. Some points when adopting Codex requirements included restricted capability and sources for danger evaluation, restricted participation within the standard-setting course of, an absence of capacity-building applications, country-specific limitations, and absence of requirements for a lot of meals commodities.

Challenges listed by audio system lined meals fraud, the influence of local weather change, restricted capability to cope with social media scares round meals security, chemical contaminants in meals, and public training on points comparable to mycotoxins and mushroom poisoning.  

Really helpful follow-up actions for WHO included establishing a community of meals security authorities within the area, creating coaching modules on meals security danger evaluation and organizing webinars or workshops on precedence and rising points, comparable to antimicrobial resistance, veterinary drug residues, meals adulteration, novel meals, GM meals, and meals security in small and medium enterprises.

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