By ESWIN PLESIO
MORE than 50 representatives from food manufacturers, supermarkets, grocery stores, government agencies and other food businesses came together at Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby today for the opening of the 2026 NCD Food Safety Workshop.
Hosted by the NCDC Environmental Health Branch, the three-day workshop aims to strengthen food safety standards by encouraging closer collaboration between regulators and the food industry.
Opening the technical sessions, Senior Environmental Health Officer Ms Violet Loi reminded participants that food safety is about much more than preventing illness.
“As we begin today’s workshop, let’s remember that food safety is not just about preventing illness. It is about protecting families, strengthening communities and building trust with every meal that we share,” she said.
Ms Loi said the workshop builds on the achievements of the 2022 Food Safety Workshop, where food business operators committed to improving hygiene practices, strengthening compliance and developing better food safety management systems.
She said this year’s gathering provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on that progress, discuss emerging challenges and work together to improve food safety standards across the National Capital District.
Ms Loi also revealed that NCDC receives an average of 10 food-related complaints each month in each of the district’s three electorates, adding up to around 360 complaints every year.
“Many food safety incidents are never reported, which suggests the actual number of cases could be much higher,” she said.
She said the workshop is focused on improving regulatory compliance, reducing food safety risks and helping food business operators better understand Papua New Guinea’s food laws and licensing requirements.
Earlier, NCD City Manager Ravu Frank told participants that maintaining food safety is a shared responsibility and an essential part of protecting public health while supporting economic development.
“To have a vibrant economy and a healthy workforce, we need people in the health sector to make sure food safety standards are met and followed. The work you do is critical to nation building,” Mr Frank said.
The workshop continues until July 1, with participants taking part in discussions and presentations aimed at strengthening partnerships between regulators and the food industry while promoting safer food handling practices throughout the city.