GF/INF 01
Report of the Preparatory Meeting for the Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators Malaysia Room, FAO Headquarters, 27 February 2001 Report of the Preparatory Meeting for the Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators Provisional Agenda List of Participants The meeting was held in FAO Headquarters on 27 February 2001. All members of the G-81 were represented, except Russia. Representatives of the European Community were also present. The list of participants is attached as Annex 2. The meeting was held at the joint invitation by FAO and WHO which were represented by Mrs. Anne Kern, Executive Director, Sustainable Development and Health Environments of WHO, and Mr. Hartwig de Haen, Assistant Director-General, Economic and Social Department of FAO. Mr. de Haen provided the participants with the meeting background in reference to the G8 Summit in Okinawa. The convenience/feasibility of holding regular global fora of food safety regulators was the main objective of the meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Hartwig de Haen and Mrs. Anne Kern. It approved the provisional agenda (see Annex 1) without change. The main outcome of the meeting is summarised below. 1. Proposed Concept of Global Fora of Food Safety Regulators The Meeting reviewed document PM/02, prepared by FAO and WHO on this item. Participants concurred that the proposal to convene global fora of food safety regulators, as described in the background note, was desirable, feasible and timely. The Meeting developed a consensus on the focus and purpose of such fora. These were defined as an exchange of information and experience acquired by countries on ways of dealing with food safety issues, methods of risk management and communication, information and rapid alert systems. The agendas of such fora should be clearly separated from activities of Codex Alimentarius; they should complement or support, but not duplicate, those of other meetings. It was further agreed that the global food safety fora would not make decisions, but exchange information, describe alternative options, share and learn from national experiences and seek mutual understanding on issues and response strategies with regard to food safety problems of common concern. While focussing on national approaches to food safety issues the fora would seek to identify a global perspective in coping with certain risks, including crisis management and prevention policies and measures,. 2. Preparatory Meeting for a First Global Forum The Meeting strongly recommended that another Preparatory Meeting be organised in Italy during the second week of May 2001, with the participation of representatives of all regions of the world, with 2-4 countries per region in addition to G-8 Members, in total not more than 30 countries. This second preparatory meeting would address details of the first Global Forum including agenda, participation, papers to be prepared, budget, etc. With regard to the selection of participating countries, FAO and WHO indicated that they would request their respective Regional Groups to propose two countries per region to be invited to the Preparatory Meeting. Only government officials will be invited to this meeting. 3. Arrangements for the First Forum Venue and Date The Meeting recommended that the first Global Forum be held in a developing country/country in transition. It requested FAO and WHO to explore possibilities, taking into account, among other factors, international transportation convenience and suitability of meeting facilities, and to present a concrete proposal at the Preparatory Meeting. Because of the importance of the subject matter, the Meeting recommended that the first Global Forum be held in October 2001. The exact timing would be decided at the Preparatory Meeting, in consultation with the prospective host government. The eventual host country should naturally be invited to attend the Preparatory Meeting. The Meeting took note that some of the ASEAN countries which could potentially host the Forum might not be available in the month of October due to an accumulation of other meetings in that period. Concerning the length of the Forum, the Meeting discussed that the Global Forum might have a duration of 2 to 3 days. The details would be decided at the Preparatory Meeting taking into account the Forum agenda/content. Attendees The Meeting recommended that these should be senior government officials involved in food safety/food control activities and in food safety risk management from all member countries of FAO and WHO, representatives of relevant international organizations and of INGOs. Languages It was recommended that, at least for the first Global Forum, the six official languages of FAO and WHO (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) be used. Reporting The Meeting felt that a formal reporting of the Forum to another Body or Organization would not be desirable. It was suggested that a Summary Report followed by a publication of the proceedings would be appropriate. Funding There was a general agreement that extra-budgetary support was needed to enable FAO and WHO to convene the Preparatory Meeting and the first Global Forum, and that all Members of the G-7 should contribute to this effort. The Italian Delegation indicated that Italy could consider to fund the May 2001 Preparatory Meeting. As regards the first Global Forum, FAO and WHO were asked to elaborate a revised budget estimate and to submit it to the G-7 members as soon as possible with the aim to have a commitment prior to the May 2001 meeting. The delegation of Japan informed that Japan might find it difficult to mobilize funds if the Forum was to be held within their next budget year (April to March). 4. First Global Forum's Themes/Topics The four themes proposed by FAO/WHO were discussed and found generally acceptable. They include: Experiences in reduction of food-borne hazards A global food safety emergency communications network Precaution in risk management Consumer information and participation The Meeting agreed that the input of developing countries is vital to the development of a meaningful agenda. The Meeting agreed that the Forum is intended to complement, rather than duplicate, the work of Codex and that this must be taken into account in agenda development. It proposed that a more extensive list of potential themes should be prepared by the Secretariat as a starting point for consideration by participants at the May 2001 Preparatory Meeting. This list should include subjects/themes of interest to developing member countries. Additional potential agenda items were: interactions between food safety risk assessors and risk managers, food safety enforcement, emerging foodborne illnesses, new inspection models; and experiences with the implementation of Codex guidelines and standards. It was agreed that each possible agenda item should be communicated with an explanation of why it could be considered.Concern was expressed that to focus on controversial or sensitive topics on the agenda of the first Forum could unnessarily detract from its usefulness.   Preparatory meeting for the Global Fora of Food Safety Regulators Malaysia Room (B227), FAO Headquarters 0930 hours, 27 February 2001 Provisional Agenda Welcoming remarks The proposed concept of Global Fora of Food Safety Regulators The arrangements for the first Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators Proposed Agenda of the first Global Forum Venue and Date Participants Reporting Funding of the Global Fora Other matters   Preparatory meeting for the Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators Malaysia Room (B227), FAO Headquarters 0930 hours, 27 February 2001 List of Participants   MEMBER COUNTRIES PAYS MEMBRES PAÍSES MIEMBROS Canada Mr Paul Haddow Executive Director International Affairs Canadian Food Inspection Agency Tel. No. 613.225.2342 X 4203 Fax. No. 613.228.6634 E-mail: [email protected] Mr G. Orriss Director Bureau of Food Safety and Consumer Protection Canadian Food Inspection Agency Tel. No. 613.225.2342 Ext. 3795 Fax. No. 613.228.6611 E-mail: [email protected] Dr Marc Le Maguer Director-General Food Directorate Health Products and Food Branch Health Canada Tel. No. 613.957.1821 Fax. No. 613.957.1784 E-mail: [email protected] Mr R. Burke Director Bureau of Food Regulatory International and Interagency Affairs Food Directorate Health Canada Tel. No. 613.957.1748 Fax. No. 613.941.3537 E-mail: [email protected] Ms Josee Nadon Senior Adviser Food Directorate Bureau of Food Regulatory International and Interagency Affairs Health Canada Tel. No. 613.957.8917 Fax. No. 613.941.3537 E-mail: [email protected] Mr Peter Pauker Policy Analyst-Food Safety Strategic Policy Branch Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada France Francia M. Michel Thibier Représentant permanent Adjoint, Conseiller scientifique Représentation permanente de la France auprès de l’OAA Corso del Rinascimento 52 00186 Rome Tel. No. 06.68.69.303 Fax. No. 06.68.92.692 E-mail: [email protected] Mme Catherine Rogy Chef du Secteur des accords multilatéraux sanitaires e phytosanitaires Direction générale de l’alimentation Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche Paris Tel. No. 33.1.4955.8486 Fax. No. 33.1.4955.4462 E-mail: [email protected] M. Aristide Sun Chargé de mission Direction générale de la concurrence, de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances Paris Tel. No. 33.1.4497.2963 Fax. No. 33.1.4497.3036 E-mail: [email protected] Italy Italie Italia Dr Guglielmo Riva Expert General Directorate of Cooperation for Development Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rome Tel. No. 39.06.3691.8177 Fax. No. 39.06.320.8107 E-mail: [email protected] Dr Pier Giuseppe Facelli Department of Food, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Ministry of Health Rome Tel. No. 39.06.3691.8177 Fax. No. 39.06.320.8107 E-mail: [email protected] Dr Pier Giuseppe Picotto Department of Food, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Ministry of Health Rome Fax. No. 39.06.5994.3555 E-mail: [email protected] Mr A. Onorati Head of International Relations Cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture - MIPAF Tel. No. 39.06.482.4539 E-mail: [email protected] Germany Allemagne Alemania Dr Hans Dieter Böhm Head of Division Division of Food Hygiene and Food Trade Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture Bonn Germany Tel. No. 49.228.941.4220 Fax. No. 49.228.941.4944 E-mail: [email protected]   Japan Japon Mr Masaki Arai Assistant Director Developing Economies Division Economic Affairs Bureau Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tokyo Dr Tomoaki Imamura M.D. PH.D. Deputy Director Policy Planning Division Department of Food Sanitation Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Tokyo Mr Tomio Suzuki Deputy Director Consumers Life Division General Food Policy Bureau Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Tokyo Tel. No. 81.3.3502.5722 Fax. No. 81.3.3502.0438 E-mail: [email protected] Mr Noriyoshi Ojima Assistant Director International Economic Affairs Bureau General Food Policy Bureau MAFF Tokyo Tel. No. 81.3.3502.3408 Fax. No. 81.3.3502.0735 E-mail: [email protected] Ms Yasuko Taniguchi Assistant Director Animal Health Division Livestock Industry Department Agricultural Production Bureau MAFF Tokyo Tel. No. 81.3.3502.8111 (Ext. 4059) Fax. No. 81.3.3508.2546 E-mail: [email protected] Mr Masato Ito Minister Embassy of Japan Permanent Representative of Japan to FAO Rome Tel. No. 39.06.487.99410 Fax. No. 39.06.488.5109 E-mail: [email protected] Mr Hideya Yamada First Secretary Embassy of Japan Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to FAO Rome Tel. No. 39.06.487.99412 Fax. No. 39.06.488.5109 E-mail: [email protected] United Kingdom Royaume-Uni Reino Unido Mr Nick Tomlinson Novel Foods Division Food Standards Agency Ergon House, PO Box 31037 Horseferry Road London SW1P 3WG Tel. No: 44-207-238.6377 Fax No.: 44-207-238.6382 E-mail: [email protected]   United States of America Etats-Unis d’Amérique Estados Unidos de América Mr Mark Manis Senior Officer for International Food Safety Coordination Food Safety and Inspection Service US Department of Agriculture Washington D.C. USA Tel. No. 1.202.720.6415 Fax. No. 1.202.720.7990 E-mail: [email protected] Dr Cathy Carnevale Director Office of Constituent Operations Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Food and Drug Administration Washington D.C. USA Tel. No. 1.202.205.5164 Fax. No. 1.202.205.0165 E-mail: [email protected] Mr Richard White Director Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs USTR Washington D.C. USA Tel. No. 1.202.395.9582 Fax. No. 1.202.395.4579 E-mail: [email protected] Ms Marilyn Veek Associate Director International Relations Staff Office of International Programs FDA Rockville, MD 20857 USA Tel. No. 1.301.826.0906 Fax. No. 1.301.827.0003 E-mail: [email protected] Mr David P. Lambert Agricultural Counsellor United States Mission to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome Ms Lucy Tamlyn Alternate Permanent Representative United States Mission to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome European Community Communauté européen Comunidad européa Mr A. Checchi-Lang Health and Consumer Protection Dir. General Directorate for Food Safety: Plant Health, Animal Health and Welfare - International Questions Brussels Belgium Tel. No. 32.2.295.6838 E-mail: [email protected] Ms V. du Marteau Permanent Representative of the European Community to FAO Delegation of the European Commission to FAO Via IV Novembre 149 00187 Rome Tel. No. 39.06.679.3755 Fax. No. 39.06.679.7830 E-mail: [email protected] Mr A. Byrne Alternate Permanent Representative of the European Community to FAO Delegation of the European Commission to FAO Via IV Novembre 149 00187 Rome Tel. No. 39.06.679.3755 Fax. No. 39.06.679.7830 E-mail: [email protected] World Health Organization Ms Anne Kern Executive Director Sustainable Development and Health Environments World Health Organization CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Dr Jorgen Schlundt Food Safety Unit World Health Organization CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Dr Y. Sahara Food Safety Unit World Health Organization CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Mr Dean Mahoney Food Safety Unit World Health Organization CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Dr Monica Brown-Reid Food Safety Unit World Health Organization CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland FAO Mr H. de Haen Assistant Director-General Economic and Social Department FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr K. Tontisirin Director Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr E. Boutrif Officer-in-Charge Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr A.W. Randell Secretary Codex Alimentarius Commission Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Mr G. Pucci Legal Counsel Legal Office Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr N.A. Van der Graaff Chief Plant Protection Service Secretary International Plant Protection Convention Plant Production and Protection Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Ms M.L.Costarrica Senior Officer Food Quality Liaison Group Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr Maya Piñeiro Nutrition Officer Food Quality and Consumer Protection Group Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Dr Sarah Cahill Associate Professional Officer Food Quality and Consumer Protection Group Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy Ms Catherine Bessy Associate Professional Officer Food Quality and Consumer Protection Group Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy   Dr Niek Schelling Food Safety and Quality Expert Food Quality and Standards Service Food and Nutrition Division FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy   1 Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and USA.