These strategies supplement but don’t replace the efforts of individual countries and government agencies in charge of food safety. The model, based on sound scientific information, takes advantage of the processes already established and administered by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is accredited in the United States by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
GLOBALGAP and GFSI Defined
GLOBALGAP, www.globalgap.org, is a private sector organization that sets voluntary standards for farm certification worldwide. The GLOBALGAP standard is designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm, ensuring food safety and animal welfare, minimizing environmental impacts of farming operations, and taking a responsible approach to worker health and safety.
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), www.mygfsi.com, pursues continuous improvement in food safety management systems, cost efficiency in the supply chain, and, above all, safe food for consumers worldwide. GFSI benchmarks existing food standards against food safety criteria, and looks to develop mechanisms to exchange information in the supply chain, to raise consumer awareness, and to review existing good retail practices.
If it is recognized by the regulatory agencies worldwide, this movement would help these organizations maximize their resources and sharpen their focus, allowing time and energy to be spent on developing risk-minimizing strategies that can target the areas and products that need more attention. All of this would benefit the end consumer.
Simply put, like supplemental insurance policies, GLOBALGAP and GFSI seek to fill the gaps in coverage and allow regulatory agencies to focus in high-risk practices.
This approach is succeeding. In July 2009, the number of countries with GLOBALGAP-certified producers passed the 100 mark, with more than 100,000 producers participating. But, while we’ve made great progress, we have much more to do.
Challenges
There are difficult issues to overcome. Among them are language barriers, cultural differences, ineffective tracking and recall systems, and inconsistent regulatory standards.
Bananas, for example, are grown in tropical areas and imported by countries in temperate regions. The countries importing the bananas likely have little to no experience with the pesticides used in banana growing. Without safety standards, the bananas could be dangerous but accepted, or, conversely, harmless but rejected.
Simply put, like supplemental insurance policies, GLOBALGAP and GFSI seek to fill the gaps in coverage and allow regulatory agencies to focus on the high-risk practices.
GLOBALGAP and GFSI initiatives are designed to ensure that all foreign producers, exporters, and importers are held accountable for compliance with the same food safety standards as producers and distributors in the United States. Consistent with international trade rules and longstanding U.S. practices, the initiatives rely on a transparent process, are based on available scientific and technical information, and do not promote domestic products over imported products.
Above all, we need to guarantee that a global food safety mechanism does not add so much to the cost of food that individual producers can no longer deliver their products or that consumers like you and I can no longer afford to buy the foods we enjoy.
These are solvable problems. We simply have to remain focused on the goal and summon up the will and the sense of urgency needed to solve them.
Working Together
The Mission of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Codex Alimentarius Commission develops food standards, guidelines, and related texts such as codes of practice under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Food Standards Programme. The Commission protects consumer health, ensures fair trade practices in the food trade, and promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
ACCESS THE FULL VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE
To view this article and gain unlimited access to premium content on the FQ&S website, register for your FREE account. Build your profile and create a personalized experience today! Sign up is easy!
GET STARTED
Already have an account? LOGIN