Food Safety Week showcases measures to mitigate risks
Food Safety Week 2024 commenced in Muscat on Monday, under the theme ‘Food Risk Assessment: Partnership, Awareness and Commitment’, aimed at highlighting risks and enhancing awareness and knowledge across all segments of society.
Inaugurated by H E Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, the event’s primary objective is to enhance human resource capabilities and optimise available resources to keep pace with the rapid advancements in food manufacturing.
Dr Hussein al Masrouri, Director General of Food Safety and Quality Centre, emphasised the fact that food safety hinges on the safety of its sources, and that preventive measures and adherence to good manufacturing practices significantly mitigate risks. He also noted the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources' supervision of various food establishments within the sultanate to enhance quality and ensure the implementation of robust food safety systems.
The Food Safety and Quality Centre actively monitors products in both local and central markets and stores. Through periodic campaigns and collaboration with relevant authorities, it conducts market surveys and implements product control programmes based on established risk assessment protocol.
Additionally, the centre conducts necessary confirmatory analyses either in government laboratories and private food laboratories across the sultanate. These efforts are in close coordination with relevant authorities, ensuring compliance with established procedures.
The first day of Food Safety Week 2024 featured three dialogue sessions, including good practices in fish farming and risk assessment in food regulatory decisions, besides a forum for food laboratory workers to coordinate efforts in addressing these risks.
The activities of Food Safety Week 2024 are being held across governorates in collaboration with institutions concerned with food safety and consumer health.