As part of its efforts to provide consumers with safe and secure food at par with international best practices, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), in cooperation with other competent local supervisory authorities, has organized a two-day workshop to discuss the current food safety procedures in the UAE. The workshop was attended by H.E. Sheikha Dr. Rasha Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Director of Sharjah Food Safety Program, Sharjah Municipality; H.E. Dr. Mariam Hareb Al Yousef, Executive Director of the Policies & Regulations Sector, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and representatives from other supervisory departments, municipalities and authorities – including the Ministry’s Food Safety Department.

H.E. Eng. Saif Al-Shara’, Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural and Livestock Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water and Chairman of the National Committee on Food Safety, inaugurated the workshop. He explained that the Ministry considers food safety as a national responsibility to boost consumer health and safety and is a priority within its ongoing efforts to achieve one of its strategic objectives of enhancing food safety and the sustainability of local production. Accordingly, the Ministry follows its mandate in cooperation with specialized authorities to establish technical regulations and legislations to ensure the health and safety of food. It will also develop food inspection and supervision systems, transfer extensive expertise and practices amongst food control units, and leverage them across the entire federal system to ensure their ultimate application, thereby contributing to higher levels of food quality in the UAE.

 Al-Shara’ further added that the workshop aims to boost communication with strategic partners in food safety and establish cooperative relations with local specialized supervisory authorities. It also featured the best practices and expertise in order to unify ongoing mechanisms for ensuring the provision of safe and secure food to consumers. It discussed ways to prevent risks affecting food products due to improper storage or preparation.

 The first day of the workshop included a presentation by H.E. Dr. Mariam Hareb Al Yousef on the Salamat Zadna project – a practical Food Safety Management System (FSMS) developed for small catering businesses in Abu Dhabi aimed at promoting proper food safety practices.

  H.E. Sheikha Dr. Rasha Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Director of Sharjah Municipality’s Sharjah Food Safety Program, spoke about the Program’s goal of promoting general consumer health, improving health practices, and increasing consumer confidence in food offered by local retail stores during the second day.

The workshop talked about how to prevent or handle current and future challenges, further shedding light on secure food handling practices through the exchange of expertise amongst local entities to achieve integrated application. It also included practical training courses for municipality inspectors on the application of these programs and their role in raising awareness among catering business owners on the importance of these initiatives and their positive impact on businesses.

 At the end of the workshop, H.E. Eng. Saif Al-Shara said that the Ministry will continue to host such workshops which contribute to achieving objectives of the Food Safety Rate project established by the MoEW in cooperation with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other food-related supervisory units to raise consumer confidence among both residents and visitors. This complements the national agenda of UAE Vision 2021 to achieve a world-class health system where the safety and health of society are reflected in the safety and quality of its food.