Making Regulations work for regional and Global Trade ASEAN Perspective from Malaysia Harmonization of food safety in ASEAN Norrani Eksan Ministry of Health Malaysia Cii Regulatory summit India 16-17 Oct 2008
ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
ASEAN CHARTER To create a single market and production base which is stable, prosperous, highly competitive and economically integrated with effective facilitation for trade and investment in which there is free flow of goods, services and investment; Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter Kuala Lumpur, 12 December 2005 Signed by 10 AMC November 2007 in Singapore ASEAN structure and working bodies revised.
Two pillars : To facilitate and liberalize trade and investment in the region Harmonize national standards with international standards Implement mutual recognition arrangements on (MRA) conformity assessment To achieve its end-goal of One Standard, One Test, Accepted Everywhere.
Areas of Cooperation POLITICAL COOPERATION ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ASEAN COOPERATION ON STANDARDS AND CONFORMANCE TO FACILIATE TRADE IN THE REGION (ACCSQ) EXTERNAL RELATIONS
ASEAN initiatives on Food safety ASEAN Expert Group on Food Safety (AEGFS) ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (ACCSQ- PFPWG) ASEAN Task Force on CODEX (ATFC) Commodity Bodies under ASEAN
ASEAN FOOD BODY ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Livestock (ASWGL) ASEAB Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) ASEAN Experts Group on Food Safety (AEGFS) ACCSQ Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (ACCSQ PFPWG) ASEAN Task Force on Codex (ATFC) ASEAN Food Safety Network (AFSN) ASEAN Working Group on Halal (AGS Halal) ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Network (AGMF Net) ASEAN Sub Committee on Food Science and Technology (ASCFST) SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING SOM-AMAF SOM-AMAF SOM-AMAF SOMHD SEOM SOM-AMAF SOM-AMAF SOM-AMAF SOM-AMAF COST 1
ACCSQ Prepared Foodstuffs Product Working Group TRANSPARENCY IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIED AREA FOR MRA ENHANCING TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVING FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS FOOD SAFETY FACILITATION OF TRADE
Food Safety Policy Goal Increased protection of consumers health; and Enhanced competitiveness of the ASEAN food industry and improved food export potential globally. Objectives To strengthen the food control system from farm to table with the involvement of relevant stakeholders; To increase the level of credibility and competency of regulatory authorities; To enhance the industry and consumer awareness, and participation in food safety; To coordinate ASEAN common positions in international fora, as and when appropriate; To facilitate the alignment of member countries food safety policies with obligations under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements; and To facilitate the harmonization of national regulatory standards with Codex standards.
ASEAN Food Safety Policy Strategy support capacity building at the national level; and implement joint regional activities in food safety Identifying an AMC as a Programme Coordinator to facilitate a specific activity Identifying an AMC as Lead Country in a particular discipline or activity relevant to food safety. Facilitating accurate, relevant and timely information exchange amongst AMCs and the international community. Engaging relevant international organization or donor countries to mobilize resources for the implementation of the Plan; Promoting the sharing of resources including technical expertise among the AMCs ; and Emphasizing the use of cost-sharing as a modality for implementing priority projects.
Components of the ASEAN Food Safety Improvement Plan 1. Food Safety Policy 2. Establishment of Capacity Building database (existing/ proposed/ offered/ needed) 3. Identification of Program Areas and priorities 4. Food Safety Improvement Plan 4.1 Proposed Activities and Priorities at Regional 4.2 Proposed Activities under Each Programme Identification of countries as programme coordinators (in stages) Matrix of Proposed Lead Countries/Regional Reference centers Terms of Reference of the Programme Coordinator and the Lead Country
2.Capacity Building Database Country Existing Proposed Expertise Expertise Activities Activities Offered Needed Programme 1. Standards 2. Legislation (Philippines) 3. Laboratories (Singapore) 4. Monitoring And Surveillance (Malaysia) 5. Implementation Of Food Safety Systems 6. Inspection and Certification (Malaysia) 7. Education And Training 8. Information Sharing 9. Research & Development 10.International Participation 11.Consumer Participation (Indonesia) AFSIP Master Plan
EC-ASEAN Project on Implementation of HACCP Guidelines for HACCP, GMP and GHP for ASEAN SME s APRIS 2 ASEAN EC Programme for regional support Pilot Projects
EU-ASEAN Rapid Alert System ASEAN Rapid Alert System for Food (ARASF) meeting on 24-25 April 2007 in Bangkok Pilot Project Objective of this project develop information exchange software establish an information network on food safety among ASEAN members countries ARASF is a tool to exchange information among the ASEAN members country when a food safety risk is identified. Rapid prevention measures taken by competent authorities to ensure food safety among Asean member countries real time and using web based application. http://wwww.arasf.net
ASEAN Reference Laboratory Field of Expertise Food Laboratory, Centre for Analytical Science, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore (CAS). Mycotoxins Veterinary Public Health Laboratory, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (VPHL, S) Pesticide Residues Department of Chemistry, Malaysia (DOC) GMOs Veterinary Public Health Laboratory, Dpt. of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Thailand (VPHL, T) Bureau of Quality and Safety of Food, Dpt. of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand (BQSF) Veterinary Drug Residues Heavy Metals and Trace Elements Quality Assurance & Testing Centre 3, (QUATEST3) MOST, Vietnam Microbiology Extended APRIS 2 (Agro-Food and Fisheries) ASEAN General Handbook on Testing Services in Agro-based products Training for ASEAN ARL (Planned) Capacity Building for ASEAN Fish Reference Lab AFSIP Master Plan
AMAF Initiatives ARASF Thailand -EC ASEAN Harmonized Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) ASEAN Criteria for Accreditation of Sheep and Goats for Breeding, Sheep and Goats for Slaughter, Ducks for Slaughter, and Cattle Slaughterhouses for the Production of Frozen or Chilled Beef. Work plan for the ASEAN Genetically Modified Food Testing Network The ASEAN Good Agricultural Practices (ASEAN GAP) Promotion of HACCP, Good Aquaculture Practice (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) for fishery industry, especially SMEs. ASEAN Network on Aquatic Animal Health Centre(29 AMAF) Asean Network for diagnostic and certification capabilities for live aquatic animals (29 AMAF)
Programme area : Monitoring & Surveillance Strengthening ASEAN Risk Assessment Capability to Support Food Safety Measures Project - (2 nd Phase) ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP) : AEGF S Capacity Building in Risk Analysis 1 st phase just ended. Final strategies Workshop (22-24/8/2007) To be follow through with Phase II. 6 case studies completed under Phase 1 Chemical risk assessment: 1.Chloropropanols in soy sauce and other food 2.Cyclamate in food 3.Aflatoxin in food Microbiology Risk Assessment 1.Salmonella sp. In chicken meat 2.Vibro parahaemolyticus in shrimps 3.Bacillus cereus in cooked rice
ACCSQ-PFPWG Harmonization of Import-Export Certification and registeration Procedure Guidance document based on CCFICS
Implementation of Food Safety Systems Thailand to consider role as program coordinator AFSIP Master Plan
Consumer Participation and Empowerment in Food safety Framework endorsed Indonesia to develop project proposal AFSIP Master Plan
ASEAN Common Food Control Requirements Developed in the EC-ASEAN Cooperation in ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) Harmonization Initiatives under ACCSQ Three Documents developed - 1. ASEAN Common Principles Food Hygiene. (ACR for compliance of Food Establishments in Gen Principles of Good Hygiene ) 2. ASEAN Common Principles Food Control Systems 3. ASEAN Common Principles Food labeling 4. Apris 2 Training in CLV on Food Safety Legislation (Agro-foos and Fisheries)
Establishment of ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Food Safety (ACCFS) A single coordinating mechanism on food safety To strengthen coordination among ASEAN bodies AFSIP Master Plan
Proposed Objective of ACCFS to formulate and review the ASEAN food safety policy and agreements which are in line with the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements; to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the ASEAN food safety policy and agreements effectively at the national and regional levels; to coordinate the work and responsibilities of the various ASEAN bodies related to food safety to avoid duplications of efforts; to facilitate the process of economic integration in the food sector, through the implementation of mutual recognition amongst food control systems of Member States; to facilitate Member States in meeting international trade requirements related to food safety; to promote cooperation of food safety matters with other international and regional organizations.
Challenges and Conclusions Food safety, being an issue from farm to table, cuts across the sectors of trade, health, agriculture, and science and technology, involving various ministries in ASEAN Member Countries (AMC) AMC have different food safety systems, regulations, standards and coordination mechanisms Existing capacity of the national food control system in AMC need to be review and analyze
Thank you E-mail norrani@moh.gov.my Website http://fsq.moh.gov.my Tel:603-8883-3511 Fax:603-8889-3815