Macedonian Producers Embrace Food Safety Standards
In September 2008, USAID’s AgBiz Program organized a three-day workshop on Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) system implementation, verification and maintenance in Macedonia. The objective of this capacity enhacmenement activity was to introduce HACCP to Macedonian agribusiness and preset the advantages of proper application of this system, which ultimately effects the production of safe food products.
According to the Macedonian food safety regulations, all food operators the Republic of Macedonia must introduce, implement and maintain food safety assurance systems based on HACCP principles as of January 1, 2009. This requirement is applicable to all food operators regardless of whether they produce only for the domestic market or they export to European Union.
The goal of the USAID-sponsored training was to help company managers and HACCP team members to easily acknowledge where and what type of problems can arise concerning food safety, and how to prevent them from happening. Workshop participants represented a range of firms such as agribusiness working in the table grape, wild gathered products, and fresh vegetables value chains. A certification company and an organic products producer organization also participated in the training. Sixteen representatives from the eight companies were able to obtain in-depth information about what a HACCP system is, its value, and how it may be implemented and maintained.
“We gained information on where to go and how to use the HACCP standard, and how to improve our production control. Meeting this food safty standard, will assure more added-value for our products, and [enable us to be] more competitive in regional and global markets,” said one participant.
“The main feature of the HACCP system is prevention, not inspection. HACCP represents a system of self-imposed control of food safety in our facilities. In other words, the people responsible for food production holds the primary responsibility for food safety,” emphasized Vladimir Kakurinov, Ph.D,. one of the trainers.
USAID’s AgBiz Program provides a range of support to agribusiness firms to enhance their export competitiveness by supporting training, marketing activities, technical assistance, physical facilities expansion and advanced equipment acquisition.
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| Implementation of HACCP practices will enable Macedonian agribusinesses to be more competitive in regional and global markets. |
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