Strengthening Regulatory Capacity to Enforce Food Safety Regulations

1. Strengthening Regulatory Capacity to Enforce Food Safety Regulations Vivian Iwar Graduate Student, Walden University 3rd August, 2012 vivian iwar

2. Outline of Presentation vivian iwar Introduction Objective of Training Food Safety & Foodborne Diseases Sanitary & Phyto-sanitary (SPS) Provisions Challenges of Compliance with SPS Provision Regional Dimensions of Interventions Expected Outcomes of Capacity Building Efforts Further Action Conclusion

3. Introduction vivian iwar ECOWAS1 is an economic community of 15 Member States in West Africa covering an area of 5.2 million sqm Population: about 300 000 million2 Culture of street food vending of a variety of fried, roasted, grilled, cooked and uncooked foods; and drinks is common all over the region Regional SPS standards and regulations exist, but do not seem to be enforced Limited institutional and technical capacities seem to hamper enforcement efforts3 This exposes individuals and communities to environmental health hazards of exposure of such foods and drinks

4. Objective of Training vivian iwar Sensitize technical stakeholders on the existence of regional SPS standards and regulations Facilitate the effective enforcement of SPS standards and regulations Improve food safety standards of street foods and drinks distributed in the ECOWAS region Increase consumer confidence in products distributed by street vendors, and thus improve incomes and reduce poverty Reduce food safety related health problems, and therefore health expenses

5. Food Safety & Foodborne Diseases vivian iwar 1.8 million deaths are reported globally due to food contamination4 While documented evidence of foodborne disease is limited, the high diarrheal incidence (1.5 million deaths in 2004)indicates a problem in developing countries4 Up to 30 percent ofdisease is attributed to foodborne disease in developed countries4 76 million cases, 325 000 hospitalization, and 5000 deaths from foodborne diseases have been reported in the USA annually4 Foodborne diseases may be sporadic, but massive outbreaks were reported in the USA (224 000 affected due to Salmonellosis), and China (300 000 due to Hepatitis A) 4

6. Food Safety Contd vivian iwar Foodborne disease may also be due to toxins, unconventional substances (prions), persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and physical agents (strands of hair) Social and economic costs of foodborne diseases have been estimated at US$35 million annually, in addition to lost productivity in the USA4 Ghana, an ECOWAS Member State has reported 420 000 patients presenting with foodborne infections in emergencies, 65 000 annual deaths (25% children), costing the nation UD$59 million in 20125 Cholera has been reported in several ECOWAS MS including Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria; as well as contamination of beef with anthrax in Ghana, and scamfroid fish poisoning in Senegal6

7. ECOWAS SPS Provisions vivian iwar Chapter IV, Article 25 of the ECOWAS Treaty mandates food safety & security……, for citizens1. Three SPS regulations (C/REG.21/11/10, C/REG.22/11/10, C/REG.23/11/10), and one guideline(C/DIR.1/11/10) on the Safety of Foods, Management of Veterinary Drugs, Functioning of a Regional Veterinary Committee, and Guidelines on Veterinary Pharmacy1 respectively The establishment of National SPS/Food Safety Committees in ECOWAS Member countries1 Prioritization of evidence-based decision making on food safety issues (risk assessment and analysis)

8. Challenges of Compliance vivian iwar Inadequate technical capacity to develop and implement SPS activities Inadequate knowledge of stakeholders on SPS/food safety issues Low participation in international standards setting processes, and therefore lack of ownership Inadequate funding of SPS/food safety activities Lack of institutional collaboration and cooperation on SPS/food safety issues Absence of infrastructure for standards and quality testing

9. Challenges Ctnd vivian iwar The spot market nature of food supply chains results in limited coordination of such transactions hampering traceability Absence of strong institutions, weak public health systems, conflicting public health objectives and trade facilitation, lack of communication, and lack of surveillance and monitoring

10. Need for Regional Interventions vivian iwar Cost savings on shared infrastructure Funds mobilization for institutional strengthening and technical capacity building support Sensitization and dissemination of information to decision makers and citizens on food safety issues Trade facilitation and regional legal frameworks on food safety enabling further integration, a pillar of economic communities Increased regional coordination and collaboration among Member States on environmental and food safety policies and strategies Monitoring of implementation and adjudication where needed

11. Expected Outcomes vivian iwar • Strengthen capacities to effectively enforce food safety/SPS provisions • Strengthen technical capacity in identifying hazards, and assessing/analyzing risks through surveillance efforts • Improve record keeping of food safety and foodborne incidences • Improve communication with stakeholders (food vendors, consumers, decision makers, others) • Encourage inter-agency cooperation and collaboration

12. Future Actions vivian iwar Further regional training and sensitization activities Development of regional data base on food safety and SPS Sensitization workshop for decision makers, and other relevant stakeholders The establishment and strengthening of structures for coordinating food safety/foodborne issues such as National Standard and Phyto-sanitary Committees Training-of-trainer workshops to develop regional capacities

13. Future Actions vivian iwar Establishment of the regional technical advisory committees as provided for in the food safety/SPS regulations Mobilization of funding for strengthening food safety infrastructure Focus on farm-to-table approach in prevention of threats in the supply chain Development and implementation of HACCP system for street foods, and educate vendors on this Use of performance-based standards rather than command-control policies6

14. Future Development vivian iwar Actions taken • Sensitization workshop • Creation/Strengthening of NSPSC • Training-of-trainer Workshop Future Actions • Further training and sensitization • Development of regional Surveillance strategy • Sensitization workshop for decision-makers • Strengthening of NSPSC

15. Conclusion vivian iwar SPS measures, risk assessment and analysis are critical for food safety and security, and for trade facilitation These outcomes are important for health and poverty reduction, and therefore worth pursuing This requires vigilance and the meticulous application of skills, which must be developed through continuous capacity building

16. References vivian iwar Economic Community of West African States (2010). Harmonized Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Regulations. Sixty-fifth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers-Final Report, ECW/CM LXIV/19. www.ecowas.int Magalhaes, J. (2010). Regional SPS Frameworks and Strategies in Africa. Report for Standards and Trade Development Facilities. www.standardsfacility.org/files/publications Todd, E. C. D., & Narrod, C. (2006). Understanding the Links between Agriculture and Health: Agriculture, Food Safety & Foodborne Diseases. 2020 Vision for Food, Agric & Environment www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pub/2020/focus/focus13 Yeboah, L. (2010). Foodborne Diseases on the Increase (Graphic Business). www.lucyadoma.blog-spot.com/2010 World Health Organization (2012). Food Safety and Foodborne Diseases. www.who.int/foodsafety/foodborne_disease/en retrieved 19/7/12

17. Courtesy vivian iwar Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind attention