at

Workshop on Development of Pesticide Residue Monitoring

Programme in Asian Countries

Beijing, China (21-22 July 2015)

Developing and Improving Food Safety and Pesticide Monitoring (PRM)

Programme - FAO Regional Perspective

Ms. Shashi Sareen Senior Food Safety & Nutrition Officer

FAO Regional Office for the Asia & the Pacific E-mail: shashi.sareen@fao.org

Contents

Introduction to food safety

1

Importance of PRM from regional perspective 3

Status of PRM programme in Asia 4

FAO regional activities 5

Some challenges 6

1

2 Significant issues related to pesticide residues

Introduction

Globalization - increasing demand by consumers for variety of foods

Creation of global market - transboundary movement and trade of food across countries – imports/exports

Potential for spread of contamination high with increasing challenges & risks to consumer health & safety

Quality, health, safety, environmental issues, labelling, food fraud incidents acquiring global focus

Governments mandate to ensure health & safety of populations (ensure safe food supply) – risk-based concept is important – risk analysis

FAO has an important leadership role in advancing the food safety agenda in the region – including risk concept

A Snapshot of Q & Safety

Residues/contaminants (pesticide residues)

Pathogens & spoilage micro-organisms

Zoonotic diseases

Technology issues – nanotech, GMOs

Physical contaminants

Persistent organic pollutants – eg dioxins

Food allergens

Labelling & claims – incorrect, BB date

Fraud

Significant issues related to

pesticide residue

High pesticide residues affect:

.

Food safety and health of consumer - long term health

impacts

Impact market access – national/regional/international

Increase food losses/wastes (destructions) resulting in

decreased food availability, lower stability and utilization

Have economic implications – both public health and

others

Impact consumer confidence and national reputation

negatively

Significant issues related to

pesticide residue

Market access: pesticide residue requirements MRLs) are increasingly important in trade

Meet the international standards (Codex) and importing countries

requirements for pesticide residue level

Rules & disciplines for imposing standards/ measures by

countries laid down in Non-tariff Agreements – WTO SPS & TBT

Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are the upper legal levels of a concentration for pesticide residues in or on food or feed based on GAPs and to ensure the lowest possible consumer exposure./ toxicological acceptability

SPS Article 3 Harmonization

Encourage use of international standards

Food safety & Animal health Plant health

Animal health & zoonoses

Codex OIE IPPC

SPS permits higher standards based on risk

assessment

Max limit for pesticide residues – ~3700; covering 250 pesticides

Codex texts, available at Codex homepage : http://www.codexalimentarius.org/standards/en/

Importance of PRM from regional

perspective

Agro-products: important food and export products for Asian countries

According to FAOSTAT data, the export value of Asian

fresh fruits and vegetable was about 6.2%-8.5% of its

export value of total agricultural products during 1994-2012.

Source: FAOSTAT

Fig. 1 Production and Yield of Vegetables Primary in Asia during 1994-2013

Importance of PRM from regional

perspective

Source: FAOSTAT

Fig. 2 Production and Yield of Fruit Primary in Asia during 1994-2013

Importance of PRM from regional

perspective

However, It’s often reported that overuse of pesticides is causing

pollution and food safety problems – long term health impacts

Many exporters in this region find it difficult to meet the market demand on safety.

The economic losses of trade rejection caused by high pesticide residues are considerable

Increased food losses/wastes (destructions)

Impact consumer confidence and national reputation negatively

. Monitoring and controlling pesticide residue in food is an

important step for food safety management

Importance of PRM from regional

perspective

Role of PRM

provide useful information to assess the safety to consumers,

and protect the credibility of exporters

residue monitoring data can also provide the basis to modify or

taking enforcement action for food safety management

Status of PRM programme in Asia

Many countries have developed food safety regulations, and some are linked to pesticide residue issues;

Certain countries are implementing PRM – especially for exports, for example, India, Korea, Thailand, China……

Status of PRM programme in Asia

In many countries, the

regulatory schemes are

systematic. But in practice,

there are gaps between the

policies and implementation.

The lack of facilities and

trained analysts does not

allow proper monitoring.

However, the enforcement generally remains weak,

and pesticide residue monitoring plans have been

developing very slowly.

FAO’s Regional Food safety & Quality

Programme - Approaches

Food chain approach – hazards may arise at different stages of the food supply

Preventative risk-based approach is followed rather than a reactive one based on sampling & testing (GAP, GMP, HACCP)

Sound national food control & regulatory systems essential – standards & implementation - Codex standards – referenced as baseline in SPS Agreement

Roles and responsibilities for food safety - all actors in the food chain namely- farmer or producer, processor, handlers, government, consumer

Around 15 - 20 projects/ programmes on food safety & quality

(national/ regional) & tools & GL developed

Broadly cover:

Food safety policies, legislation, governance (including

coordination mechanisms)

SPS/standards & norms/ Codex related activities

Enforcement/surveillance-inspection, testing, FBDS

Food safety in various agro food supply chains (including

street foods/ retail); linkage to primary production

Food safety emergency management/ recall systems

Certifications and accreditation

Trainings/ awareness/ education

FAO’s Regional Food safety & Quality

Programme

FAORAP’s activities

Activities related to food safety and pesticide residue

Monitoring of FAO in Asia Regional & country projects

Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) Standards & Certification Scheme (SAARC)

Support to CB & Implementation of International Food Safety Standards in ASEAN Countries”(ASEAN)

Promotion of rural development through development of Geographical indications at regional level in Asia (GMS)

Evidence-based food safety decision making & policy development using multi criteria approaches, with Thailand as a pilot country

Enhancing Lab Capacity on Food Safety in Primary Production (Thailand)

Improving food safety & Institutionalization of Food Safety in Bangladesh for safer Food (Bangladesh)

Enhancing SPS Capacity of Ginger Exports through PPP and Policy assistance for bio-secure agro-food supply chain (Nepal)

Strengthening SPS capacity for trade – improving safety & Q of fresh vegetables through value chain approach (Vietnam)

FAORAP’s activities

Activities related to food safety and pesticide residue

Monitoring of FAO in Asia – other activities Training manual on Implementing ASEANGAP in the fruit and vegetables sector (2014)

Regional Consultation on Guidelines for Development of Food Safety Policies for Countries in

Asia (Bangkok, 2012)

Regional Consultation on Enhancing Inter-ministerial Coordination for Strengthening Food

Safety (Bangkok, 2015)

Regional Training on Enhancing Risk Communication In Food Safety (Bangkok, 2015)

Technical Training on Risk Analysis for SAARC Countries (India, 2013)

Technical WS on Chemical Risk Analysis in the Food Chain (Beijing, 2013)

Training WS on Food recall and traceability -Application in National food safety control:

(Thailand, 2013)

Strengthening Capacity in Data Collection and Generation for Food Safety Risk Analysis

(Japan, 2013)

Guidelines for risk categorization of food & food establishments (ASEAN, Bangladesh)

Guidance for Harmonizing Pesticide Regulatory Management in SE Asia (Bangkok, 2012)

Implementation, Monitoring and Observance of the International Code of Conduct on the

Distribution and Use of Pesticides (Bangkok, 2005)

Increasing concerns

related to food & risks

associated with the p.r –

new hazards

Training at various

levels - administration,

technical & producers

Lack of suitable

infrastructure – p.r

test labs insufficient/

inappropriate

Links b/w PP &

processing – food

chain

Awareness at different levels -

government, research

institutes, farmers

Lack of systematic

monitoring system/

programmes

Cross cutting area -

coordination – whose

role

Important Challenges in Pesticide

Residue issues in the Region Lack of data on

monitoring & surveillance,

poor data sharing

Case studies

Some regional publications on food safety

Guidance documents

Workshop reports

Important websites

FAO Food Safety and quality home page http://www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/home-page/en/

Web page on Vet & Public Health, Feed & Food Safety; www.fao.org/ag/AGAinfo/programmes/en/A6.html

Emergency prevention & early warning in area of food safety (EMPRES Food Safety): EMPRES-FS@fao.org

INFOSAN – International food safety authorities network – for dissemmination of important global food safety information – INFOSAN Community Network https://extranet.who.int/infosan/

*FAO Regional office for Asia and the Pacific http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/home/en/

*Capacity Building and implementation of international food safety standards in ASEAN countries http://foodsafetyasiapacific.net/

Food retail network in Asia http://foodretailnetwork.asia