AFR/RC53/R5 4 September 2003 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-third session Johannesburg, South Africa, 1–5 September 2003 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH: A SITUATION ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES The Regional Committee, Mindful of the WHO Constitution which includes food safety as part of the Organization’s mandate; Recalling the World Health Assembly resolution WHA53.15 (May 2000) that recognized food safety as an essential public health function; Considering that the major risks associated with food in the region are microbiological, chemical, physical, radioactive and biotechnological; Acknowledging that foodborne illness significantly contributes to the burden of disease, particularly among high-risk groups such as the poor, children, travellers and victims of disasters; Concerned that the lack of adequate research on food safety hinders the development of evidence-based preventive and control strategies and policies; Approving the document AFR/RC53/12 entitled “Food Safety and Health: Situation Analysis and Perspectives”; 1. URGES Member States: (a) to develop or update food safety policies and legislation that are based on scientific risk assessment and prevention along the entire food chain; (b) to ensure the harmonization of food safety regulations with international food standards and norms, including active participation in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its committees; (c) to incorporate or strengthen food safety education and information into training programmes for food handlers at all levels, consumers, producers and farmers; (d) to integrate or strengthen food safety matters in the curricula from the primary school level to higher learning institutions; AFR/RC53/R5 Page 2 (e) to provide functional laboratory facilities, adequate resources and networks as part of the national surveillance system ensuring the preparedness and response of countries to food hazards; (f) to ensure national, intercountry and regional coordination and networking among the various stakeholders, including the private sector; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to advocate for inclusion of food safety in the overall national development goals and strategies; (b) to provide technical support for the development and implementation of food safety policies and legislation; (c) to promote food safety research and surveillance; (d) to strengthen collaboration with other international partners and relevant bodies to make scientific decisions on food safety and health issues relating to new technologies, including genetically modified foods; (e) to report to the Regional Committee at its fifty-fifth session, in 2005.
AFR/RC53/R5 4 September 2003 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-third session Johannesburg, South Africa, 1–5 September 2003 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH: A SITUATION ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES The Regional Committee, Mindful of the WHO Constitution which includes food safety as part of the Organization’s mandate; Recalling the World Health Assembly resolution WHA53.15 (May 2000) that recognized food safety as an essential public health function; Considering that the major risks associated with food in the region are microbiological, chemical, physical, radioactive and biotechnological; Acknowledging that foodborne illness significantly contributes to the burden of disease, particularly among high-risk groups such as the poor, children, travellers and victims of disasters; Concerned that the lack of adequate research on food safety hinders the development of evidence-based preventive and control strategies and policies; Approving the document AFR/RC53/12 entitled “Food Safety and Health: Situation Analysis and Perspectives”; 1. URGES Member States: (a) to develop or update food safety policies and legislation that are based on scientific risk assessment and prevention along the entire food chain; (b) to ensure the harmonization of food safety regulations with international food standards and norms, including active participation in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its committees; (c) to incorporate or strengthen food safety education and information into training programmes for food handlers at all levels, consumers, producers and farmers; (d) to integrate or strengthen food safety matters in the curricula from the primary school level to higher learning institutions; AFR/RC53/R5 Page 2 (e) to provide functional laboratory facilities, adequate resources and networks as part of the national surveillance system ensuring the preparedness and response of countries to food hazards; (f) to ensure national, intercountry and regional coordination and networking among the various stakeholders, including the private sector; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to advocate for inclusion of food safety in the overall national development goals and strategies; (b) to provide technical support for the development and implementation of food safety policies and legislation; (c) to promote food safety research and surveillance; (d) to strengthen collaboration with other international partners and relevant bodies to make scientific decisions on food safety and health issues relating to new technologies, including genetically modified foods; (e) to report to the Regional Committee at its fifty-fifth session, in 2005.