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Measuring the state of food safety in Belgium with a food safety barometer

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Budapest, Hungary ;

Pages 5p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) This publication document discusses the development and implementation of a food safety barometer in Belgium. The purpose of the barometer is to measure the state of food safety in the country and enable evidence-informed risk management and policy decisions. The barometer consists of 30 indicators that cover various aspects of food safety from farm to fork. These indicators are based on expert opinions and contribute to the measurement of food safety in a science-based and broadly accepted manner. The barometer uses quantifiable indicators that are easily available and unambiguous. It relies on data collected from the control program of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and the National Reference Centre for disease data. The indicators are expressed as positive or negative changes compared to the previous year and are also compared to a reference year to assess long-term progress in food safety. The development of the barometer involved collaboration with stakeholders representing the entire food chain, which ensured participation and gathering of the best knowledge. However, it also presented challenges due to different emphasis on food safety risks. The weighting of the indicators is subjective but based on expert opinions, and a more objective methodology could be developed in the future. The Food Safety Barometer has been a valuable tool in communicating food safety to stakeholders and consumers. It enables trend analyses and provides insights into the food safety system in Belgium. However, the dynamic nature of the food chain necessitates a flexible system that can adapt to changes in food safety risks and incorporate new indicators as needed. This document was developed within the framework of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and University of Helsinki collaboration on “Call for collecting good practices in improving food safety management”, launched in June 2022. This call aimed to empower organizations to showcase innovative solutions and good practices to improve specific aspects of food safety management in Europe and Central Asia. It facilitates experience sharing and co-learning amongst the Member countries in the region. Five good practices were identified under three categories:  i) Measuring effectiveness of food control; ii) Solutions to support small-scale producers to comply with food safety requirements; iii)  Use of digital solutions to improve food safety management.

Language English

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