Dr Bernhard Schwartlander, WHO Representative in China, gives speech at 2015 International Conference on Food Safety, June 15, 2015. (China Economic Net/Wang Zebiao)
Beijing, Jun. 15 (China Economic Net) - Dr Bernhard Schwartlander, WHO Representative in China, has called for enhancing the communication, trust, and international cooperation to safeguard food safty during the 2015 International Conference on Food Safety held on Monday.
Dr Bernhard Schwartlander stressed that food safety is a global issue and all parties must help each other and work together to move ahead."The risk communication, trust, and international cooperation are essential to help ensure food safety", he said.
With "food safety, international governance" as the theme, this conference was convened with distinguished guests from four major food-safety-related international organizations and regulatory authorities of more than 20 countries and regions, officials from Chinese government and its food-safety-related ministries, and representatives from hundreds of academic institutions and the food industry all over the world, who shared their views about the food safety supervision.
While addressing the conference, Dr Bernhard Schwartlander said that "Risk communication is a theme at this Forum, and rightly so, for economic as well as health reasons".
Decades of experience tell us this: Once a particular food item, be it beef, milk, or boxes of fresh raspberries, gets implicated in an incident of foodborne disease, consumer confidence is extremely difficult to restore.
That lack of confidence can extend not only to the food item itself, but also to the government in its role of safeguarding the safety of the food supply.
Well-informed consumers help drive food safety by making smart choices and adopting cautious behaviours, whether in restaurants, shops, markets, or homes.
Good communication is also important between risk assessors and risk managers, between regulatory authorities and the food business, and between regulatory authorities and consumers.
"No system for safeguarding the food supply can work well in the absence of transparent information and teamwork among all stakeholders. Transparent information and a team approach are also priorities for China", said Dr Bernhard Schwartlander.
"China's recent transformations, especially in securing an adequate, safe, healthy, and nutritious food supply, have raised the expectations of WHO and the international community for more engagement by this country beyond its borders", he said.
"I would also encourage China to contribute to international experiences, knowledge, and strategies, especially in the areas of risk assessment, the setting of food standards, and the exchange of information during emergencies caused by foodborne disease", he added.
This conference is hosted by CFDA, and co-organized by UNIDO, WHO and the Netherlands Embassy to China. It is undertaken by China Center for Food and Drug International Exchange and China Economy Net.
