Food Safety Training in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia
From 16 to 20 April 2012, WHO supported the implementation of the 9th Biennial National Food Safety and Health Certification Training which took place in the State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The training brought together Environmental Health Officers and Food Inspectors from the four states of FSM; Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap as well as Environmental Health Specialists and Technicians from Palau. A total of 31 participants attended the training. The purpose of the training was to strengthen food control at state and national levels using modern risk-based approaches and to improve the participants’ understanding of risk-based food inspection. The training also aimed at improving collaboration and exchange of information between states in FSM and between FSM and Palau.
The training was opened by Hon. Sebastian L. Anefal, Governor of the State of Yap and Dr. Vita Skilling, Secretary of Health, FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs.
During the five days training, the participants were introduced to food safety and quality concepts and terminology as well as approaches and techniques related to risk-based food inspection. This included risk categorization of food products and businesses and identification of risk factors and control measures in food premises. Other issues covered included labeling and date marking, food import inspection, the role of food inspectors during food safety emergences and ethics applied to food inspection. A series of interactive group discussions and plenary discussion sessions were also conducted as well as a practical session of food inspection in a restaurant; bakery; fish processing plant; and kitchen producing ready-to-eat meals for takeout.
At the end of the training, the participants identified national and state level options and issues related to risk-based food inspection implementation approaches in FSM and Palau.