The CCNASWP Region
Regional Coordinator Fiji
The 18th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held in 1989, agreed to establish a new Coordinating Committee for North America and the South West Pacific, bringing together, in the words of the New Zealand delegation "far flung countries ... which have many common interests".
CCNASWP is a remarkably diverse region combining fully mature economies such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with 10 small island states. The largest of these is Papua New Guinea (population over 7 million) and the smallest, the Cook Islands and Nauru with populations of around 10 000.
The regional coordinator is based within the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture.
Fiji looks forward to applying standards at the national level and supporting all countries in the region, especially the small island developing states, to establish a sound policy framework for food safety. These initiatives will support improvements in public health, ensure that imported food is safe and of the expected quality and develop increased access to international markets.
The regional coordinator will continue supporting work on regional standards and seeks to strengthen participation of the region in Codex in general. This can be achieved by continuing to develop capacity at the national level by enhancing the role of national coordinators and contact points for increased and effective participation in Codex.
CCNASWP Coordinator
All information on Codex is public and free.
For regional enquiries contact:
CCNASWP Secretariat
Ministry of Agriculture
Private Mail Bag
Hugh Robinson Complex
Raiwaqa,
Suva.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.agriculture.gov.fj
Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture embraces World Food Safety Day
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
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