Food inspection
Food inspection is an essential service to support the administration and implementation of food laws. Food inspectors are the key functionaries who have day-to-day contact with the food industry, trade and often the public. The reputation and integrity of the food control system depends, to a very large extent, on their integrity and skill. The responsibilities of the inspection services include: inspecting premises and processes; evaluating HACCP plans and their implementation; sampling food; identifying unsafe food; identifying and documenting noncompliance with existing legislation; encouraging voluntary compliance with legislation; and education and training. Consequently, proper training of food inspectors is a prerequisite for an efficient food control system.
This page provides links to information associated with the work of WHO and its partners to address this issue in countries and areas of the Western Pacific.
Fact sheets
No fact sheets available at this time.
News and press releases
14 October 2011
Putting food safety on the table
[full text]
08 November 2002
Protecting human health in today's global food market
[full text]
Relevant publications and documents
Stop the Spread - Measures to Stop the Spread of Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu at its Source
This document outlines strategies to minimise the disease in the production, distribution, processing and marketing of poultry, thereby reducing the risk to human health from Avian Influenza.The strategies where developed during the FAO/OIE/WHO Consultation on Avian Influenza and Human Health: Risk Reduction Measures in Producing, Marketing, and Living with Animals in Asia, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 4 to 6 July 2005 (full meeting report is below).
FAO/OIE/WHO Consultation on Avian Influenza and Human Health: Risk Reduction Measures in Producing, Marketing, and Living with Animals in Asia
This meeting report covers the presentations and discussions undertaken on the following:(1) the current practices employed in the production and marketing of live animals in Asia that might have potential human health implications;(2) the scope and effectiveness of current regulatory control measures applied to the production, distribution and marketing of live animals for food in Asia to minimize the human health risk;(3) the provision of guidance applicable in developing countries regarding appropriate regulatory controls in the production, distribution and marketing of live animals for food;(4) identification of effective interventions that would (a) enhance community awareness and understanding of high-risk human behaviors and practices contributing to the emergence and prevalence of avian influenza in humans and poultry; and (b) facilitate change aimed at reducing the risk of zoonoses to human health; and(5) determination of research that needs to be undertaken to strengthen regulatory controls.
Upcoming meetings and events
No meeting/event planned at this time.