Fao Who Framework For The Provision Of Scientific Advice On Food Safety And Nutrition

This framework document describes the principles, practices and procedures currently applied by FAO and WHO for the provision of scientific advice.

This framework document describes the principles, practices and procedures currently applied by FAO and WHO for the provision of scientific advice through the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, the Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Pesticide Specifications, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Nutrition and ad hoc expert consultations and meetings organized in response to specific ad hoc requests or emergency situations. It has been prepared to enhance the transparency of the processes and procedures used by FAO and WHO to deliver scientific advice in food safety and nutrition. The framework continues to be reviewed periodically and amended as appropriate, to take account of new developments and procedures as part of the process to continually improve the provision of scientific advice.

FAO and WHO have a long history of providing scientific advice on food safety and nutrition to Codex Alimentarius and FAO/WHO member countries. Since 2003, both organizations have been implementing a consultative process to guide their efforts to improve the quality, quantity and timeless of the scientific advice provided. The consultative process has followed several steps, including a planning meeting, an electronic forum and a workshop, facilitating an open and transparent review process that considered the opinions of all interested parties. Through this process, two key issues have been identified - the urgent need to enhance the participation of experts from developing countries in the discussions and expert meetings used to generate and provide the advice, and the importance of considering data and information from developing countries in all deliberations. FAO and WHO therefore held a meeting on this matter in December 2005 in Belgrade to address these needs. The report highlights the mechanisms identified by the meeting to reach out better to qualified experts and institutions in developing countries, including mechanisms to search for information and experts that may not be easily accessible through normal channels, and suggested plans to strengthen the capacity of developing country experts to participate effectively in expert meetings, including training efforts at international and national levels, involving governmental, non-governmental and scientific institutions. The report calls on commitment from governments, industry and academia at national and regional levels to generate scientific data from developing countries and facilitate their input to international FAO/WHO scientific advice.

With the world’s growing population, the provision of a safe, nutritious and wholesome food supply for all has become a major challenge. To achieve this, effective risk management based on sound science and unbiased information is required by all stakeholders, including the food industry, governments and consumers themselves. In addition, the globalization of the food supply requires the harmonization of policies and standards based on a common understanding of food safety among authorities in countries around the world. With some 280 chapters, the Encyclopedia of Food Safety provides unbiased and concise overviews which form in total a comprehensive coverage of a broad range of food safety topics, which may be grouped under the following general categories: History and basic sciences that support food safety; Foodborne diseases, including surveillance and investigation; Foodborne hazards, including microbiological and chemical agents; Substances added to food, both directly and indirectly; Food technologies, including the latest developments; Food commodities, including their potential hazards and controls; Food safety management systems, including their elements and the roles of stakeholders. The Encyclopedia provides a platform for experts from the field of food safety and related fields, such as nutrition, food science and technology and environment to share and learn from state-of-the art expertise with the rest of the food safety community. Assembled with the objective of facilitating the work of those working in the field of food safety and related fields, such as nutrition, food science and technology and environment - this work covers the entire spectrum of food safety topics into one comprehensive reference work The Editors have made every effort to ensure that this work meets strict quality and pedagogical thresholds such as: contributions by the foremost authorities in their fields; unbiased and concise overviews on a multitude of food safety subjects; references for further information, and specialized and general definitions for food safety terminology In maintaining confidence in the safety of the food supply, sound scientific information is key to effectively and efficiently assessing, managing and communicating on food safety risks. Yet, professionals and other specialists working in this multidisciplinary field are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with developments outside their immediate areas of expertise. This single source of concise, reliable and authoritative information on food safety has, more than ever, become a necessity

The Encyclopedia of Food and Health, Five Volume Set provides users with a solid bridge of current and accurate information spanning food production and processing, from distribution and consumption to health effects. The Encyclopedia comprises five volumes, each containing comprehensive, thorough coverage, and a writing style that is succinct and straightforward. Users will find this to be a meticulously organized resource of the best available summary and conclusions on each topic. Written from a truly international perspective, and covering of all areas of food science and health in over 550 articles, with extensive cross-referencing and further reading at the end of each chapter, this updated encyclopedia is an invaluable resource for both research and educational needs. Identifies the essential nutrients and how to avoid their deficiencies Explores the use of diet to reduce disease risk and optimize health Compiles methods for detection and quantitation of food constituents, food additives and nutrients, and contaminants Contains coverage of all areas of food science and health in nearly 700 articles, with extensive cross-referencing and further reading at the end of each chapter

The role of animal feed in the production of safe food is recognised worldwide, and several events have underlined its impact on public health, feed and food trade, and food security. The Expert Meeting was convened to review current knowledge on animal feed and its impact on food safety, and provide orientation and advice on this matter to international organisations. This is the report of the meeting, with the experts' conclusions and recommendations.

This addition to the 'Law and Global Governance Series' examines participation of stakeholders in treaty-based intergovernmental organizations. Readers are offered a comprehensive account of what has been done to facilitate the participation of previously neglected stakeholders.

Agrifood systems are undergoing a transformation with the aim to provide safer, more affordable, and healthier diets for all, produced in a sustainable manner while delivering just and equitable livelihoods: a key to achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, this transformation needs to be executed in the global context of major challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors, with drivers such as climate change, population growth, urbanization, and natural resources depletion compounding these challenges. Food safety is a keystone to agrifood systems and all food safety actors need to keep pace with the ongoing transformation while preparing to navigate the potential threats, disruptions, and challenges that may arise. Foresight in food safety facilitates the proactive identification of drivers and related trends, both within and outside agrifood systems, that have implications for food safety and therefore also for consumer health, the national economy, and international trade. Early identification and evaluation of drivers and trends promote strategic planning and preparedness to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address challenges in food safety. In this publication, the FAO Food Safety Foresight programme provides an overview of the major global drivers and trends by describing their implications for food safety in particular and for agrifood systems by extrapolation. The various drivers and trends reported include climate change, changing consumer behaviour and preferences, new food sources and production systems, technological advances, microbiome, circular economy, food fraud, among others. The intended audience for this publication is broad – from the policymakers, academia, food business operators, private sector, to all of us, the consumers.