ILSI Southeast Asia Region Newsletter - International Life Sciences ...

REPORTS FROM THE REGIONTraining Regulators in Vietnam to Develop NationalFood Safety StandardsOn April 7-8, 2010, ILSI SEA Region incollaboration with the Vietnam FoodAdministration (VFA) conducted a 2-dayNational Training Workshop onDevelopment of Food Safety Standardsto provide a practical training and handsonexperience for Vietnam regulators in thedevelopment of food safety standards. Heldat the Horison Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, theworkshop was well attended by approximately40 participants comprising VFA staff, provincialfood officers, food industry representatives,as well as FAO and WHO representatives. Theworkshop emphasized on: understanding theThe workshop was opened by MsPauline Chan, Director of ScientificPrograms at ILSI SEA Region, andDr Nguyen Cong Khan, Director ofVietnam Food Administration. DrPeter Abbott of Biosearch Consulting,Australia, and Dr Dedi Fardiaz of BogorAgricultural University, Indonesia, eachplayed a significant role by providingan overview of each session andfacilitating the group discussion. MsJiraratana Thesasilpa of Thai Food andDrug Administration also contributeda presentation on the development ofstandards for special food categories.All sessions were conducted in Englishwith Vietnamese translation for moreeffective learning.Workshop SessionsExploring a Range of FoodSafety IssuesAfter an initial discussion withinthe groups regarding food safetyissues for Vietnam and the needfor food standards (Session 1),the groups explored the Codexstandards and searched for specificinformation using the examplechemicals assigned to their group(Session 2). In the next session,the groups examined the riskanalysis framework and studiedthe principles used to establishfood standards by addressingquestions related to the examplechemicals (Session 3). This was followedby exercises searching for toxicity data(Session 4) and food consumptiondata, as well as doing a simple dietaryexposure calculation (Session 5).The groups then examined how thisinformation is used to determine ifthere is a health risk (Session 6) andway in which food standards can helpto manage the health risk (Session7). In the final session, the specificproblems associated with special foodcategories, such as infant foods, wasexamined (Session 8).Interactive FormatDr Dedi Fardiaz, Ms Jiraratana Thesasilpa, Ms Pauline Chan, Dr Peter Abbottand Mrs Boon Yee Yeongprinciples behind standard-setting; finding data on toxicity and dietary exposure; using this data to determinethe health risks; and examining the risk management options, with the emphasis on standard setting.The format of the workshopwas designed to give maximumopportunity to the participants todiscuss food safety issues throughapplication to specific examples offood additives and contaminants.Participants enjoying the interactive and hands-on exercisesduring the training workshopEach workshop session began witha short presentation providing theprinciples, assessment frameworks,data sources, methodology, etc,which was then followed by practicalexercises. Participants were dividedinto four groups and were tasked tocomplete the exercise sheets. Becauseeach group contained individualswith a range of knowledge andexperience, they were able to developa common understanding of the issuesthrough discussion and to assist eachother answering the questions andcompleting exercises. The groupsworked enthusiastically on the exercisesusing the internet resources, database,and the background informationprovided. The presentations werewell attended and there was goodparticipation in the group discussionsessions.RecommendationsThis workshop has been successfulin assisting the VFA officers indeveloping food safety standards.The training workshop can alsobe useful in helping other ASEANcountries where food standardsare being developed. It mayalso benefit the more developedASEAN countries where there isalways a need to train new staffin how to assess food safety issuesand develop standards.14INTERNATIONAL LIFE SCIENCES INSTITUTE SOUTH EAST ASIA REGION