List of Activities and Impact in Relation to the Apec Fscf Goals

ANNEX I

LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT IN RELATION TO THE APEC FSCF GOALS

2006

Capacity Building Seminar on Good Agricultural Practices for APEC Developing Economies, Manila Philippines (19-21 September 2006) under the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG)

Impact/Outcomes:

The Philippine National GAP Program was revisited in order to harmonize it with existing international standards (i.e. Codex Guidelines, GLOBALGAP, ASEAN GAP).

The session on possible benchmarking strategies on EUREPGAP gave insights how developing countries can use this scheme to gain market access

2007

1stMeeting APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum, Hunter Valley, Australia ( 02-04 April 2007)

Impact/Outcomes:

The Philippines committed to participate actively in developing relevant project proposals under APEC which is geared towards compliance with international standards

Managing Microbiological Food Safety Risks and Follow-Up Workshop, Manila, Philippines (23-27 July 2007, 27-29 February 2008)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

It increased the level of competence of relevant regulatory staff and academicians on the conduct of microbiological risk assessment

The Philippines was able to identify representatives from government regulatory agencies and academe as an initial pool of risk assessors (i.e. those who attended the training).

The Philippines contributed to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Risk Assessment Tools for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus associated with Seafoods by providing its case study report which was the part of the output of the training.

Trainer’s Training: Capacity Building Needs of National Food Control Systems in APEC Developing Economies, Beijing, China (19-23 November 2007)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

As part of the commitment to conduct follow-up activities related to assessing the food control system of the each respective countries after the training, the Philippines was able to conduct two major projects for two consecutive years (2008 and 2009) which enabled the Philippine to assess the capacity building needs of its national food control system for agriculture and fisheries exports and strengthen its national food control system based on the capacity building action plans developed during the project.

2008

Follow up Project: “Assessing the Capacity Building Needs of the Philippine Food Control System” Philippines (January to October 2008)
Organized a Technical Working Group (TWG)- January to March 2008;
Conducted needs assessment workshops - April to June 2008;
Reported needs assessment results – 8 July 2008;
Conducted action planning workshop – 29 August 2008; and
Drafted bureau/ agency action plans and developed an integrated action plan – September to October 2008.
Technical Working Group Meetings – April to November 2008

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

The Philippines was able to create a platform and a coordination mechanism between the regulatory agencies of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health to address issues on compliance with international requirements following the five components of a national food control system. Particularly, a SWOT analysis was conducted to assess needs of the Philippine food control system, a vision statement was developed for the desired Philippine food control system, capacity building needs were identified and capacity building action plans were developed. The action plans were used as a roadmap in planning for future trainings, seminars and technical assistance.

Training Course on the Food Developing Food Laws, Standards and Enforcement Systems (8-12 September 2008) Hanoi, Viet Nam

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

Materials used during the training course were used as references in developing Philippine national standards and codes of practice (i.e. using simple language and provisions that are not prescriptive leaving room for future amendments)

Capacity Building Training on Food Safety Risk Communication for APEC Developing Economies, Manila, Philippines (23-27 June 2008) under the Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

It increased the level of knowledge of relevant regulatory staff on risk communication

2009

Follow up Project: “Strengthening the Philippine Food Control System” Philippines (January to December 2009)

Technical Working Group Meetings –March to December 2009
Updates on International Issues on Food Safety and Quality Seminar (co-sponsored by FAO RAP) – 16 July 2009
Development of Food Laws, Regulations and Standards Seminar-Workshop (co-sponsored by FSANZ) – 01 to 03 September 2009
ASEAN Risk-Based Inspection Training (co-sponsored by FAO RAP) – 27-29 October 2009

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

It strengthened the coordination and communication mechanism between Department of Health and Department of Agriculture on food safety issues by the creation of a Food Control Group;

It updated knowledge of relevant government agencies, academe and non-government organization on Codex, risk analysis and national food control systems

It increased level of competence of relevant regulatory staff on how to develop food laws, regulations and standards

It was able to providegeneral recommendations (based on the general principles learned during the training) for a proposed Philippine food safety law which was used as general reference to comment on a Food Safety Law currently being proposed by the Department of Agriculture; and

It has updated the knowledge of food inspectors on the concept of risk-based inspection

2nd Meeting APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum and APEC Workshop on Examination on Hot Issues on Risk Analysis, Singapore (30 July to 02 August 2009)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

The Philippines was able to present the findings of its field case studies on Salmonella in fresh pork, Bacillus cereus in cooked rice and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fresh/frozen uncooked shrimp which were the outputs of the Managing Microbiological Food Safety Risks (conducted in 2007 and 2008) during the PTIN first workshop.

2010

Seminar-Workshop on the Development and Strengthening of Food Recall System for APEC Member Economies conducted, Philippines (04-06 May 2010)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

The Philippines was the Project Proponent of this seminar-workshop which facilitated sharing of information on the current situationer on food recall systems among APEC member economies and will be used to develop and/or update recall standards in the Philippines in conformance to international standards

PTIN Expert Working Group Meeting on Best Practices in Food Safety Training for the Asia Pacific Region, Washington DC, United States (19-20 May 2010)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

Participants were able to develop a roadmap to be used for developing training materials. The training methods were found to be practical and will be applied to trainings/workshops to be conducted locally.

Developing Food Safety Plans for the Supply Chain, Beijing, China (5-7 November 2010)

Impact/Outcomes based on the 2 FSCF Goals:

It was recommended that the pending Draft Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) standard be approved by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and further training of farmers be conducted in order to enhance their understanding of the standard and its correlation to food safety. A project on “Capacity Building on Best Aquaculture Practices” will be proposed under ASEAN-Australian Development Cooperation Program this year.

The Training Program also highlighted the role of the National Food Control System (NFCS) in food safety. It was also highly recommended that the NFCS Technical Working Group (TWG) be revived and encouraged to continue their efforts towards strengthening the NFCS in the Philippines. This is with due consideration to the initial activities conducted and future activities identified by the TWG.