Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture embraces World Food Safety Day

Jun 21, 2021, 15:04 PM by System

On 7 June this year, the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture dedicated itself to ensuring its staff and the general public were not only aware of World Food Safety Day but also that they understood the significance of ensuring food safety “to inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.”

The Ministry, which is home to the country’s National Codex Alimentarius Committee, involved every department from accounts and human resources to animal health and agricultural statistics, in celebrating World Food Safety Day. A celebration cake was also shared among staff, with an edible World Food Safety Day logo on top.

But the Ministry also ensured that the food safety message was well and truly delivered to “all the actors along the agricultural value chain,” as well as the general Fijian population. The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Ritesh Dass, wrote an article, which was published on the Ministry of Agriculture website, and he delivered a 10-minute video address on Facebook live (see below), where he underlined his key messaging about World Food Safety Day and its importance in connection with Fiji’s national planning: “This focus dovetails well into our five-year strategic development plan of the Ministry, which aims to deliver a demand-driven and resilient agricultural sector that delivers economic opportunities, environmental sustainability and food nutrition and security for all Fijians,” he said.

Mr Dass also told Ministry of Agriculture staff that World Food Safety Day celebrations were dedicated “to all those that have ensured the [COVID-19] crisis had not interrupted supply chains and that safe food remained available.”

 

Read more:

https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/News/FOOD-SAFETY-IS-EVERYONE%E2%80%99S-BUSINESS-DASS

At the heart of the Codex mandate are the core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Governmental and non-governmental, public and private organizations alike play a vital role in ensuring Codex texts are of the highest quality and based on sound science.

Codex would have little authority in the field of international standard setting if it did not welcome and acknowledge the valuable contributions made by observers. Expert technical bodies, industry and consumer associations contribute to the standard-setting process in a spirit of openness, collaboration and transparency.

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can apply for observer status in Codex in order to attend and put forward their views at every stage of the standard-setting process.

Current Codex Alimentarius Commission

240
Codex Observers
60
IGOs
164
NGOs
16
UN

Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture embraces World Food Safety Day

Jun 21, 2021, 15:04 PM by System

On 7 June this year, the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture dedicated itself to ensuring its staff and the general public were not only aware of World Food Safety Day but also that they understood the significance of ensuring food safety “to inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.”

The Ministry, which is home to the country’s National Codex Alimentarius Committee, involved every department from accounts and human resources to animal health and agricultural statistics, in celebrating World Food Safety Day. A celebration cake was also shared among staff, with an edible World Food Safety Day logo on top.

But the Ministry also ensured that the food safety message was well and truly delivered to “all the actors along the agricultural value chain,” as well as the general Fijian population. The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Ritesh Dass, wrote an article, which was published on the Ministry of Agriculture website, and he delivered a 10-minute video address on Facebook live (see below), where he underlined his key messaging about World Food Safety Day and its importance in connection with Fiji’s national planning: “This focus dovetails well into our five-year strategic development plan of the Ministry, which aims to deliver a demand-driven and resilient agricultural sector that delivers economic opportunities, environmental sustainability and food nutrition and security for all Fijians,” he said.

Mr Dass also told Ministry of Agriculture staff that World Food Safety Day celebrations were dedicated “to all those that have ensured the [COVID-19] crisis had not interrupted supply chains and that safe food remained available.”

 

Read more:

https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/News/FOOD-SAFETY-IS-EVERYONE%E2%80%99S-BUSINESS-DASS

Codex and Observer

Food is a sensitive commodity, which has travelled
around the world since ancient times.
We might not always know where it comes from,
but we expect it to be available, safe and of good quality.