PH-New Zealand food safety pact
PH-NZ signing of food safety pact
THE PHILIPPINES and New Zealand – which mark 50 years of diplomatic ties this year – have signed a food safety cooperation arrangement as part of efforts to enhance trade relations.
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) signed a food safety cooperation arrangement on Tuesday, building on the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nation)-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
“Signing of the food safety Arrangement demonstrates our interest in growing trade and our commitment to deepening the excellent relationship between our countries,” New Zealand Minister for Food Safety Jo Goodhew said in a press statement.
New Zealand Ambassador Strachan said: “The Arrangement would facilitate greater engagement between our agencies with responsibility for food safety through increased engagement between experts, information sharing and cooperation in areas of best practice. Over time our traders will benefit from this important work.
Stratchan added that “signing this arrangement is an excellent way to start 2016, the year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines”.
The arrangement was signed by the Philippines’ Secretary of Health Janette PLoreto-Garin for the FDA and New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan who signed on behalf of MPI.
The objective of this arrangement is to create and consolidate cooperation in the field of food safety particularly as it relates to trade between the two countries. The areas of cooperation may include exchange of information on food safety policy (including laws, regulations and standards); recognition of the equivalence of measures; cooperation in the field of formal post graduate education on food science and technology; regulatory assessments and registration processes; and, direct and timely notification of cases of serious and immediate concern with respect to public health associated with food traded between the countries.
Based on the arrangement, cooperation programs may cover food safety risk analysis, food inspection and certification systems, food monitoring and surveillance systems, crisis management including rapid alerts and emergency response, food standard setting systems, food labelling systems, food safety/research and food testing laboratories.
To implement this cooperation program, the two countries agreed to establish a consultation forum to jointly decide implementing arrangements, aiming to initially develop and recommend an action plan outlining the joint work programs for the next two years. The forum may establish technical working groups or other meetings of officials to further facilitate the programs of cooperation and the wider objectives of this arrangement. It will also monitor and review the implementation of this arrangement on a periodic basis and prepare written reports as and where required on the progress of the cooperation.
