Thumbnail Image

The Current Status of Consumer pariticipation in Food Safety Risk Analysis, and Opportunities for Improvements

Year of publication 2001

Author Nutrition Division

Product type Meeting

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Consumers International has participated in Codex work as an observer for three decades, and notes the importance of ongoing efforts by the Codex Commission to improve the participation of consumers in its activities. Sound goals have been established, but the details of implementation have yet to be worked out. Data need to be collected at regular intervals on objective measures to track progress in consumer participation at the national and international level. Some governments are more advanc ed than others in terms of the extent and mechanisms through which they facilitate consumer participation in their food safety risk analysis. Through forums such as this one and Codex Regional Coordinating Committees, successful experiences can be shared and perhaps, more widely adopted. In order to improve the quality of consumer participation, consumer NGOs should be given opportunities to take part in risk analysis training and similar workshops carried out by international agencies and natio nal governments. The risk assessment process, which has traditionally been closed to observers, should also be more open and transparent; bringing invited consumer participants into that process could both improve the results and add to the credibility of risk assessments.

Meeting symbol GF CRD CI-3

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Meeting
    Communicating food safety regulations and risk management: Involvement and pariticipation of consumers and other stakeholders - THE UK EXPERIENCE
    Conference Room Document submitted by the United Kingdom
    2001
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Food Standards Agency recognises the importance and value in involving consumers and other stakeholders effectively in the decision-making process. The involvement of key stakeholders at an early stage has helped the Agency to develop effective policies. The Agency recognises that it can be difficult for consumers to contribute effectively. The Agency has implemented a number of initiatives targeted specifically at helping consumers. In addition the Agency recognises that being open an d accessible has helped build trust in the decision-making process and helped to stimulate a wider debate on food issues.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Meeting
    The need to build the capacity of consumer organisations for improved participation in Codex 2001
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The role consumer organisations can have in strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of food safety and control systems in developing countries cannot be underestimated. From the standards setting process to the monitoring of foods in the marketplace, consumer organisations provide a critical yet neutral voice in supporting government efforts to improve the safety consumers face in the market place. Their involvement furthers consumer confidence in government systems and processes. Howe ver for them to play their full role, more work is needed to build the capacity of these organisations and also ensure their voice is heard within policy making processes. Consumers International has been successful in strengthening consumer organisations' ability to contribute to food safety issues. However these efforts need to be supported directly by Codex Alimentarius. Consumers International acknowledges the trust proposed by both FAO/WHO and are hopeful that some of the proceeds from this fund will be used to address the issues on capacity building of consumer organisations raised by this paper.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Meeting
    Sharing information on national experiences in the general field of risk management 2002
    Also available in:
    The subject of risk management is a broad one; the discussion group on "Sharing information on national experiences in the general field of risk management" is to discuss two specific topics in detail: "Reduction in foodborne hazards, including microbiological and others, with emphasis on emerging hazards" and "Integrated approaches to the management of food safety throughout the food chain". I would like to go beyond that in introducing the discussion group debates by touching on the various as pects of this subject and the ways in which risk managers and policy makers can approach it.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.