-----Original Message-----
From: VanDerWal, Londa (ESNS)
Sent: 06 June 2005 19:34
To: GF3-L@mailserv.fao.org
Subject: Comments from PAHO (GF3-L message #31)
NOTE from the Moderator:
We have received a few late comments on the e-forum and will circulate them as received. These comments will be reflected, to the extent possible, in the report of the e-discussion forum.
Message from Genaro W. Garcia, PAHO __________________________________________________________
I support the idea of Prof. George, concerning "the HEART of SPS agreement, namely Harmonization, Equivalence, Assessment of Risk and Transparency ".
There is a very good experience in the English Speaking Caribbean, which includes assessment of food safety systems as it relates to human, animal and plant issues; an strategic plan fro each country and a subregional plan, followed by updating, harmonization of legislation & capacity building focusing on science base procedures.
So, it is s vary good idea.
Thank you,
Genaro W. Garcia, DVM; MPVM; Ph.D.
Regional Food Safety Adviser
Veterinary Public Health Unit
PAHO/WHO
Fax : 1-202-974-3331
Tel: 1-2020-974-3193
-----Original Message-----
From: VanDerWal, Londa (ESNS)
Sent: 06 June 2005 19:36
To: GF3-L@mailserv.fao.org
Subject: Comments from the USA (GF3-L message #32)
NOTE from the Moderator:
We have received a few late comments on the e-forum and will circulate them as received. These comments will be reflected, to the extent possible, in the report of the e-discussion forum.
Message from Beth Eppinger, USA __________________________________________________________
Dear GF-3 E-forum Participants,
The following comments are from the collaborative work of HSS and USDA. I apologize for the delay in providing these and ask that you please post these comments on your website. Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Third Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators. As you know the United States has been an active participant since the inception of this biennial global meeting.
As announced in 2001, the firST-Ever Forum was intended to "...bring together senior food safety regulators to exchange information on approaches and experiences with food safety....[and also] stimulate science-based public consultations, and help build food safety capacity, particularly in developing countries." That same goal APPLIED to the second Global Forum.
While still a good goal, with two FORA behind us, there are lessons we have learned that can help us shape future FORA. Our suggestions fall into three
categories:
* Substance/Topics
* Organization
* Infrastructure
Overall, the FORA have been quite interesting, well-Attended, and diverse in subjects covered. Our view, however, is that the agenda has been too ambitious, and the diversity of the audience HAS made it extremely difficult to have comprehensive, productive and thoughtful discussion. Further, the size of the Forum yields inherent organizational and infrastructure issues BEST addressed in advance.
Substance/Topics:
We recommend a single topical area, with subtopics, break-out sessions, and, possibly, technical-level exchanges. While we could support the topic of "Doing More with Less," We prefer a different title, such as "Effective Food Safety Within Resource Limitations," with a focus on all elements of capacity-building. Such an Agenda could include the following topics:
* Establishing a food safety regulatory system
* Enhancing existing food safety regulatory systems (from minimum
to comprehensive)
* Capacity-building Work - perceptions from developing
countries that might desire such collaborations and from developed countries that provide such assistance
* Leveraging - including leveraging to build systems, to provide
capacity-building assistance, and on food safety matters
As a general comment about substance, we believe the Forum should adhere to its original objectives of information-exchange, science-based consultation, and capacity-building, and should not become a venue for organizations and countries to push for adoption of their (often controversial) viewpoints on specific food safety issues.
To accomplish this ovjective, it is important to use the expertise of the representatives from national governments as presenters and session leaders, to maintain focus on the sharing of experiences of actual food-Safety regulators. The Forum needs to be about practical, hands-on exchange, rather than an academic series of lectures.
Organization:
Recognition of the Audience: At past FORA, not all topics were relevant to all participants, and the agenda this year must recognize the differing levels of development among the participating countries. The structure of the presentations might be better if is included break-out sessions, or specific panels tied to an identified skill need, so there is a connection to the interests of more participants.
In past FORA, we often felt it was necessary for the organizers to short-cut discussion to keep the meetings on schedule. The real value in the Forum is open dialogue on topics of shared interest. Providing sufficient and ample time for all voices to be heard must be paramount. The agenda should
therefore include fewer topics and devote more time to discussion.
Infrastructure:
As with any large gathering, having sufficient staff support to accomplish all of the advance work and staff the actual sessions is critical to the success of the meeting. The Organizers must distribute Background papers on time (and in the appropriate languages), provide papers produced during the actual meeting in the appropriate languages and give sufficient time for review, if participants are to discuss them. To make all of that happen, planning and allocating sufficient staff prior to and during the meeting is important, and we trust the organizers will make a commitment to have the necessary level of staff dedicated to the preparation and execution of this year's forum.
*********************************
Beth Eppinger
Office of Global Health Affairs
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
202-690-6174 (phone)
202-690-7127 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: VanDerWal, Londa (ESNS)
Sent: 06 June 2005 19:39
To: GF3-L@mailserv.fao.org
Subject: Comments from Guinea (GF3-L message #33)
NOTE from the Moderator:
We have received a few late comments on the e-forum and will circulate them as received. These comments will be reflected, to the extent possible, in the report of the e-discussion forum.
Message from SOUMAH BAFODE, Republic of Guinee __________________________________________________________
La République de Guinée souhaite également une 3è GF3, toutefois pour ce qui est des thèmes à débattre, nous estimons qu'il est plus opportun que le Région Afrique tienne d'abord sa réunion sur la sécurité sanitaire des aliments. Alors seulement, nous pourrons avec pertinence faire des propositions sur des sujets qui intéressent notre continent. Pour mémoire, nous sommes actuellemnt en plein dans les préparatifs de ladite réunion au niveau des différents pays. Elle devrait avoir lieu au Zimbabwé du 03 au 06 octobre 2005.
