Food Safety Constituent Update

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - Food and Drug Administration June 2001

Under African Skies

Photograph of the African Savannah

FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM EXTENDS OUTREACH TO AFRICA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted a successful outreach meeting titled "Food Safety Initiatives Influencing Public Health and Trade" in Midrand, South Africa, March 27 through 29, 2001. The meeting, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health of South Africa, attracted over a 100 representatives from 23 African countries. African delegates included senior and mid-level officials from African governments, representatives of industry, academia, and consumer groups. "This meeting not only served to communicate important food safety messages, but also helped to solidify relationships with our African colleagues. The outreach meeting was a marvelous example of cooperation among many government organizations, from both the U.S. and South Africa." remarked Joseph A. Levitt, Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "The U.S. delegation consisted of representatives from FDA, the United States Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Department of Health of South Africa co-hosted the meeting and the U.S. Embassy in South Africa helped organize the event. The U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Delano E. Lewis opened the meeting and African delegates participated as discussants on every panel.

The U.S. delegation provided information on key U.S. safety issues. The meeting provided a forum for

Louis J. Carson, Acting Director of the Food Safety Initiative, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) noted, "Our regional outreach meetings on food safety are the heart of our ongoing program to address food safety at the source of production. The realities of global trade and the fact that Americans enjoy a variety of foods from all of the world dictate that we assertively engage other countries in a dialogue on mutual food safety concerns." The meeting, which was funded by CFSAN and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), consisted of plenary sessions with presentations on: the U.S. National Food Safety Initiative, Foodborne Disease Surveillance, the U.S. Produce Initiative, USDA Food Safety Activities, Exporting Foods to the U.S., HACCP Systems, Food Safety Education, and Food Safety Research, Implementing the SPS Agreement, and the Importance of Codex. Following each panel presentation, African delegates presented country and regional perspectives on the topics discussed. Concurrent sessions were held on: the Role and Uses of Risk Analysis, Foodborne Disease Surveillance, Produce, Processed Foods, Seafood, and Meat, Dairy, and Egg Safety.

Photograph of worker on model produce farm

The U.S. embassy arranged a visit to a model produce farm for the U.S. delegates to observe production practices. In addition, following the FDA sponsored meeting, representatives from the U.S. delegation participated in a seminar on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) sponsored by the South African Grocery Manufacturers Association. FDA staffers gave presentations on the Food Safety Initiative and Import Requirements. The Africa food safety outreach meeting follows three other successful regional outreach meetings on food safety: North and Central America (Mexico City, Mexico, 1999) South America (Santiago, Chile, 1999), Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia (Auckland, New Zealand, 2000)

Photograph of people in the meeting room

Comments from participants

"I am taking this opportunity to thank you, the US and SA Governments for organizing the Food Safety Conference for Africa.
In spite of my short duration of participation due to my late arrival, the conference was an eye opener. I hope this initiative is the beginning for the US focus to Africa on food safety issues. I also believe there is a lot to learn from the US experience in this area. Hence I kindly ask you and your colleagues to keep us posted with information and programmes that you think could be useful to Africa and our people.
Indeed it was a pleasure to meet you all; and I hope you had a comfortable flight back home. Next time you are in Africa please come to East Africa; specifically Tanzania."

Kind Regards,

Faustine SK Masaga

Photograph of farm production

"First of all I would like to say how much I enjoyed meeting you. I appreciated the open discussions and information shared. I do hope we can another opportunity to meet again to further discuss food safety. I have discussed the concept of a Food Safety Initiative at Pretoria University with our Rector… who was fully supportive of the idea… I would like put forward a collaborative research program. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions from your side.

Professor Lisa Korsten

"May I take the liberty of extending my sincere thanks and appreciation for the various presentations and discussions held at the Sub-Saharan Food Workshop in South Africa last week.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Conference and found it informative and relevant to my job as Port Health Manager and Provincial Food C-coordinator.
I have Business Card and will correspond with you.
Looking forward to a return visit by your group.
May I also apologize for not getting the opportunity for complementing you for Organizing an excellent conference…
Thank you."

Jay Maniram

Photograph of the U.S. delegation

The U.S. delegation was lead by Dr. Beverly Corey, Director of International Planning and Resource Management Staff, OC. Other FDA delegates included Mary Ayling, Nega Beru, Mary Snyder, John Jones, Marjorie Davidson, Arthur Miller, Camille Brewer (CFSAN) Linda Tollefson (CVM), Patrick Wilson (OC). Dr. Emilio Esteban represented CDC and Ms. Judith Riggins represented FSIS. Richard Helm, Agricultural Counselor, U.S. Embassy in South Africa and Dr. Theo Van De Venter were local organizers. Ms. Cheryl Jackson, Senior Advisor for Food and Nutrition, USAID was an official U.S. observer.

Dr. Catherine Carnevale, Director, Office of Constituent Operations, CFSAN, noted the following:

"The recent Food Safety "Road Show" in Africa was a grand success in spreading the food safety message.

Because FDA does not receive much in the way of food imports from African nations, FDA has not in the past worked with these countries on food safety. However, increased importance of global food safety on public health, economic stability of nations, and trade, and a strong desire by South Africa (host country) and other the other nations to discuss food safety and trade with FDA, in particular, led to this visit and a mutually beneficial educational opportunity. We now have a food safety network within Africa to work with and build on.

The team should be recognized for a job well done!"

Congratulations to the entire team and all of the organizers and participants. Well done indeed!

 


Food Safety Initiative Staff
E-mail: chall@cfsan.fda.gov
Office Number: (202) 260-8920 · FAX (202) 260-9653
CFSAN Web site: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/

 


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