Workshop on
Food Safety in South Asia: Situation Analysis, Challenges and Way Forward
(June 20-22, 2014)
Concept Paper
Introduction
Food safety is generally referred to the assurance that food will not cause harm to
the consumer when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use. It is usually
taken as an element of food security which is essential for human life in any part of the
world. It is equally important for rich and poor because everyone has the right to have safe
and nutritious food. The efforts aiming at improving food safety may also reduce food
losses, thereby increasing food availability and reducing poverty.
2.
Health hazards can arise along any part of the food chain that can affect human
health and retard the development process. Therefore, food safety risks need to be reduced
by preventing contamination throughout the food production, processing, storage, and
distribution chain. The food has to be carefully handled from the farm to the table. There is
a need to have a comprehensive and integrated multidisciplinary approach to food safety
that addresses problems at the source. Advances in food science and technology have
stimulated the growth of the food industry but in some cases, can also introduce new health
concerns.
3.
Food safety programs in South Asia generally lack some of the critical elements
including: identification of the nature and extent of national food safety problems;
understanding of the consequences of contaminated food on the nation’s health status,
socio-economic development and human resource development; and, awareness of the
urgency for the need to investigate and do research. There is a sound need of cost-effective
methods for identifying specific food safety problems and their impact on human
development in the SAARC Region. Sharing information, education, and advice among
stakeholders across the Region are essential to enable food safety programs which reduce
the incidence of food-related hazards.
4.
This purpose will be partly achieved if awareness campaigns on food safety are
organized and education materials are prepared for consumers and the food industry.
Information, communication channels and approaches need to be tailored to suit different
audiences, especially the high-risk consumers. Additionally, officials involved in national
food control programs need ongoing training to keep up with the international advances in
science and technology, the general trends in the food trade, and the legislative and other
developments in the region and the worldwide. The task may be accomplished by a multiinstitutional approach through engaging both the public and private sectors. In addition,
specific food safety policies and plans would be of great help to ensure food safety
measures in the region.
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5.
The food safety system is facing the new challenge, in particular potential hazards
arising from new technologies, globalization of food supply and use of anti-microbial.
New technologies like food irradiation through Gama Ray’s treatment will enhance the
shelf life, decontamination and disinfestations of food and will contribute towards food
safety and security.
6.
In this regard, SHRDC, Islamabad has planned to conduct the workshop on “Food
Safety in South Asia: Situation Analysis, Challenges, and Way Forward” The main
objective of the workshop is to facilitate a dialogue on the key issues of food safety in the
region. It may help to analyze scope of regional cooperation in devising policies related to
food safety. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to the participants to exchange
their views particularly the best practices of their countries with reference to food safety.
The participants of the workshop will discuss food safety as a key to human safety and
food security in South Asia.
Objectives of the Workshop
7.
The main objective of the workshop is to identify appropriate experiences and
lessons learnt that could be replicated to further enhance food safety initiatives through
dissemination of relevant information in the region. More specifically participants will:
i.
Discuss country specific information and statistics related to the workshop theme
during country report presentations;
Discus the best practices on food safety measures regionally and worldwide;
Identify gaps in designing, implementing and maintaining food safety measures in
the region;
Raise awareness about the potential value and role of food safety in human resource
development and poverty reduction;
Evaluate the progress made by Member States in implementing policies related to
food safety and security; and,
Suggest modalities for policymakers and other stakeholders to develop policies to
promote food safety initiatives in the region.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
In this regard the workshop specifically seeks to answer the following questions:
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
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What are the policies in place for food safety measures and what type of policies
would be required to respond to the prevailing challenges in the region?
What new skills are demanded of people to better engage in the activities planned
in this regard?
How to plan activities to achieve the set targets related to food safety at multiple
levels in a country or region?
How to ensure ownership and accountability of initiatives through implementing
policies and programmes in the domain of food safety in the region?
What are the critical barriers in ensuring food safety in the region?
SAARC Human Resource Development Centre, Islamabad - Pakistan
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Approach
8.
The workshop will be interactive and participatory in discussing concepts and
sharing of ideas. Experts from SAARC Member States will make presentations on various
aspects while discussion will take the agenda forward. The environment thus created will
be participant friendly in all respects. Resource Persons will explain concepts, discuss
policies and highlight connections, theories and practices related to the theme. Groups will
prepare reports and present their findings before the participants. The SHRDC will prepare
the workshop report later on.
Methodology
9.
To achieve the workshop objectives, a number of methodologies will be used
including lectures and demonstrations, peer work and group work. Resource Persons will
arrange activities according to the nature and requirement of their respective themes to
make the topics comprehensive and interesting for the participants. After every
presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session in which participants will ask
questions and/or give their inputs on the topic under discussion. Emphasis will also be
given to the group work in which participants are expected to come up with SAARC
specific suggestions and recommendations about food safety in the region.
Expected Outcome of the workshop
10.
This workshop will be of particular importance to institutions working on food
safety and authorities responsible for food safety measures at local, national and/or
regional levels. It is expected that participants will develop strategies to further enhance the
role and potential of food safety measures in the region. As a group of professionals, they
are expected to come up with practical suggestions and recommendations related to the
workshop theme.
Participants
11.
About 28 participants (3 participants each from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and 7 from India) are expected to attend the
workshop. Participants’ profiles include the following:
a) Mid-level
policymakers/functionaries,
trainers/professionals
from
government and semi-government organizations working in the field of
food safety, food security, nutrition, skills development, planning, HRD,
governance and areas related to poverty reduction;
b) Researchers and scholars from the relevant fields; and,
c) NGOs and private sector representatives.
SAARC Human Resource Development Centre, Islamabad - Pakistan
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Logistic Support:
12.
The SHRDC will provide free boarding and lodging to the participants/Resource
Persons, whereas, air travel and other expenses will be borne by the nominating
agency/Member State. Moreover, pick and drop service will also be provided by the
SHRDC.
Date and Duration
13.
The workshop is of three days duration w. e .f. June 20 -22, 2014.
Venue of the Workshop
14.
The workshop will be conducted in New Delhi, India and venue of the workshop
will be Indian Council of Social Science Research, (ICSSR) New Delhi, India.
Contact Persons
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Dr. Javed Humayun, Training Fellow, SHRDC, Islamabad
Ph: +92-51-9255385, Cell: +92-333-5192766, Fax: +92-51-9255160
E-mail: humayunjaved @yahoo.com
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Mr. Rehmat Wali Khan (Focal Person), Education Officer SHRDC,
Islamabad
Ph: +92-51-9255387, Cell: +92-344-2312524, Fax: +92-51-9255160
E-mail: rehmatwalikhan@yahoo.com

Dr. Riffat Aysha Anis, Director SHRDC, Islamabad
Ph: +92-51-9255159, Fax: +92-51-9255160
SAARC Human Resource Development Centre, Islamabad - Pakistan