APEC Food Safety Modernization Framework to Facilitate Trade
The APEC FSCF and FSCF PTIN have had a year's long work stream focused on modernization of food safety systems, starting with a High Level industry regulator dialogue led by China in 2015. Initial roundtables and workshops focused on industry-regulator cooperation, transparency in rulemaking, and a shift to a preventive focus. Subsequently, Australia led a series of expert meetings from 2017 to 2019 to create a Framework to assist economies to modernize their food safety systems in a manner that facilitates trade. In 2019, Australia hosted a one-day workshop to highlight their self-funded work, including the presentation of a completed framework document with an aim toward using it to inform future FSCF work. Key points expressed at this event were: the need for modernization work to be guided by international standards from Codex, employing a whole of food chain approach, including all relevant stakeholders; the importance of using a risk-based approach to ensure that border management is coordinated across competent authorities; and recognizing the need for continuous improvement.
Article Link: APEC Food Safety Modernization Framework to Facilitate Trade, June 2019, Standard Version
Article Link: APEC Food Safety Modernization Framework to Facilitate Trade, June 2019, Interactive Version