Develop food safety standards

By DALCY LULUA

ACTING Deputy Secretary Technical Services of Agriculture and Livestock Mr Brown Konabe says it is important to develop food safety standards in alignment with Codex international standards.

Mr Konabe made this remarks while presenting a speech on behalf of the Acting Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), Dr Nelson Simbiken during the World Food Safety Day in Port Moresby on Wednesday.

This year’s World Food Safety Day theme is ‘Food Standard Saves Lives’.

“This theme means that it is important to develop food safety standards in alignment with Codex international standards to prevent consuming contaminated food,” Mr Konabe said.

“Safe food is essential to human health and well-being. Only when food is safe can we fully benefit from its nutritional value and from the mental and social benefits of sharing a safe meal.

“Safe food is one of the most critical guarantors of good health.”

He said using international recognized Food Standards are very important because unsafe foods are the cause of many diseases and contribute to other poor health conditions such as impaired growth and development, micronutrient deficiencies, noncommunicable or communicable diseases and mental illness.

“Globally, one in 10 people are affected by foodborne diseases annually. The good news is that most foodborne diseases are preventable,” he added.

The Codex Alimentarius standards or Food Code is the collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practices that are science-based recommendations in all areas related to food safety and quality and it ensures that food is safe and can be traded amongst the 188 Codex member countries in the world and PNG is a member country.

Mr Konabe added that the general standards, guidelines and codes of practices are the core Codex texts and apply to all products and product categories.

“These texts typically deal with hygiene practice, labelling, additives, inspections and certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides.

“The harmonization of food standards contributes to the protection of the consumer health and to the fullest possible facilitation of international trade.”