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highlightsSEPTEMBER 2014

Assessing national food control systems: measuring effectiveness and planning for improvements

The issueNational food control systems play a pivotal role in protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in trade. While the Codex Alimentarius provides the Principles and guidelines for National Food Control Systems (CAC/GL 82-2003), countries are free to determine how to best design their food control system and implement specific control measures. These systems must fit the specific national situations (e.g. appropriate level of public health protection; legal and institutional set up; availability of support services, such as analytical resources, etc) therefore no two systems are alike. However, whatever the architecture of the national food control system, measuring its effectiveness is universally important to verify that resources are being well-used and to inform plans for further strengthening of the system. Being able to demonstrate performance can also be very important, while discussing with potential trading partners, to open new markets or improve trading relationships and in building stakeholder confidence domestically.

Challenges of assessing food ConTrol sysTemsIt must not be overly cumbersome or complex, and at the same time, it must be specific enough to be useful in monitoring progress.

fao/Who approaChFAO, in collaboration with WHO, is developing an assessment tool, along with guidance on its application, which is primarily intended to be used by countries for self-assessment and monitoring the development of their food control systems. Upon request by countries, FAO/WHO also envisage provision of technical support to countries to facilitate the assessment process. While the purpose of the

What is a national food control system?

Food control can be defined as a

mandatory regulatory activity of en-

forcement by national or local authori-

ties to provide consumer protection and

ensure that all foods during production,

handling, storage, processing, and dis-

tribution are safe, wholesome, and fit

for human consumption, conform to

safety and quality requirements, and

are honestly and accurately labelled as

prescribed by law.

A national food control system en-

tails the integration of a mandatory reg-

ulatory approach with preventive and

educational strategies that protect the

whole food chain.

NOTE: From FNP 76: “Assuring food safety and quality: guidelines for strengthening national food control systems” ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/006/y8705e/y8705e00.pdf

Measuring the effectiveness of food

control systems is universally important to

verify that resources are being well-used and

to inform plans for further strengthening

of the system.

The purpose of the tool is to facilitate self-assessment.

However, countries may choose to share the

results of the assessment with trading partners

or other stakeholders to demonstrate

openness, transparency and commitment to

continuous improvement.

for more informaTion ConTaCT:

Food-Quality@fao.org www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality

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tool is to facilitate self-assessment, countries may choose to share the results of the assessment with trading partners or other stakeholders to demonstrate openness, transparency, and commitment to continuous improvement. In the context of food safety capacity development projects, an initial assessment can provide the baseline against which the impact of the project activities can later be measured.

proCess To develop ToolIn developing this tool FAO and WHO sought to learn from and build upon existing tools. Thus an initial review of all publicly available tools assessing either SPS functions (including the Performance-Vision-Strategy tool of IICA, the OIE tool for the evaluation of the Performance of Veterinary Services, and the IPPC Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation tool) or related to the food chain was performed to identify possible approaches and build on existing knowledge and experience. A consultative approach was used through the establishment of a Review Committee involving other international, regional, and national agencies and academia to regularly review progress. Practical application is being assessed and refined through pilot testing in countries at progressive stages of the tool’s development. As of August 2014, pilot testing has occurred in Zambia and Morocco and is being organized in Chile, Sierra Leone, Iran, and The Gambia.

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national food Control systemsassessment Tool

Current structure of the tool

looking aheadIt is expected that Version 1 of the Tool, and associated guidance, will be finalized within 2015. FAO/WHO will promote its use including through the provision of technical support to countries to facilitate the assessment process.