Stakeholder consultations on imported food control situation in Myanmar

FAORAP

Stakeholder consultations on imported food control situation in Myanmar

Meeting summary report

Year of publication 2018

Place of publication Bangkok, Thailand ;

Pages 8

Author FAORAP

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Information on Myanmar’s national imported food control system was collected during previous projects and pre-consultation meetings with relevant government agencies. To build on these efforts and to validate the information collected, two one-day stakeholder consultations were held under the FAO project “Strengthening national capacity for risk-based food import control within a One Health Framework” in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on 7 and 9 November 2017, respectively. The consultations were attended by 30 participants from various governmental stakeholders whose work is relevant to imported food controls. Myanmar Inspection and Testing Service stated that currently, all foods are considered high risk and individually assessed, mostly based on documentation. A structured risk prioritization of imported commodities and risk-based inspections at borders is lacking in the current system. The laboratories of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department report that quarantine capacities are best developed in Yangon, and are absent at other border points. Laboratory capacities are limited and cannot be used by different government departments. There is a significant illegal trade of livestock that are in poor health. Myanmar Livestock Association highlighted the need for investing in and modernizing the infrastructure for livestock. Myanmar Fisheries Association stated that the national demand for fish is increasing but there are concerns about the risks to domestic fish stocks due to the illegal fish trade. Based on the critical issues raised by each agency during the consultations, immediate action recommendations include: 1) recognizing the significant illegal food import trade and addressing it in future actions; 2) improving plant and animal food clearances in line with international Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures; 3) developing procedures for sampling and inspecting imported foods; 4) developing and using a risk-based priority commodities list; and 5) improving quarantine and testing laboratory capacities. A national situation report with strengths, gaps and potential areas for improvement of the imported food control system in Myanmar was compiled by stakeholders in early 2018.

Language English

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