UAE, FAO collaborate to assess local food control system
This project will identify the necessary initiatives and actions for the Ministry and the local authorities, to enhance the existing systems in line with international best practices
UAE – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recently launched a comprehensive assessment of its food control system to enhance food safety and quality while ensuring alignment with international standards.
This initiative started with a five-day training workshop led by FAO experts in Dubai at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) headquarters.
Over 50 focal points from the country’s competent authorities attended the event, introducing participants to the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, which was jointly created in 2019 to allow member states to monitor and evaluate the performance of their national food control systems and identify areas for improvement.
During the workshop in Dubai, Dr. Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted the significance of the project and collaboration with FAO as a key step in strengthening UAE’s food control system and ensuring the protection of public health.
“This project will identify the necessary initiatives and actions for the Ministry and the local authorities to enhance the existing systems in line with international best practices,” he commented.
According to the FAO, the assessment will span approximately eight months, concluding with a final workshop where strategic recommendations and costed plans will be developed based on the evaluation findings.
The assessment tool is generally built around four main dimensions, with 160 assessment criteria developed to measure “system competencies” spanning food safety policy, legislative frameworks, monitoring and inspection systems, risk management, and traceability.
Key focus areas of the assessment
The UAE’s food control system assessment will focus on several key areas to enhance food safety and quality.
Regulation and compliance: Authorities will review laws, policies, and practices on food labeling, health certifications, traceability, and hygiene to ensure alignment with international standards like those set by the WHO and FAO.
Food inspection and monitoring: They will assess the efficiency of food inspections to strengthen the detection of contamination, adulteration, and other foodborne risks across the supply chain.
Traceability and transparency: The evaluation will also emphasise traceability, sustainability, and technological innovation in food safety. By improving traceability systems, the UAE aims to enhance accountability and consumer trust, particularly in food recalls.
Sustainability and environmental impact: The assessment will explore ways to reduce food waste, promote eco-friendly packaging, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, and lower the carbon footprint of food production and transportation.
Innovation and technology integration: Lastly, the UAE is considering integrating advanced technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data analytics to enhance monitoring, improve supply chain management, and ensure greater food safety oversight. The assessment will examine how these technologies can be incorporated into the UAE’s food control systems.
According to the FAO, the process concludes with developing a strategic improvement plan. While assessment results remain confidential, countries may share them with trading partners and stakeholders to foster transparency and continuously enhance food safety systems.
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