ARISE Plus developed a training course in cooperation with ASEAN Health Officials in building capacity of Member States Officials on Food Hygiene covering all aspects including Food Hygiene principle, International and ASEAN guidelines and Inspection approach.
The training course was developed by ARISE Plus experts in close consultation with ASEAN Secretariat officials to provide comprehensive hygiene management system knowledge and alternative approach to Codex decision tree. The objective of the training course is to build competence of the AMS national competent authorities in the carrying out of Food Hygiene Inspections in harmonised manner and tools to implement hygiene principles during assessments.
The training course was delivered from 21st – 30th June 2021 through video conferencing facility due to the travel restrictions in place. There was good participation in the training from ASEAN Member States with around thirty-five experts from ten member-states. The group exercises and discussions conducted during the training, provided an opportunity for participants to have hands on experience on inspection planning and conduct for Hygiene practices and hazard analysis in food business. The participants very much appreciated the practical guidance provided by the expert on hygiene approach in an easily understandable form. The training material for the courses was developed delivered on pilot basis will be compiled and provided to ASEAN Secretariat and to training institutions in ASEAN for future use after it is reviewed and improved based on the feedback from the pilot training.
This was the second program in the series of pilot training courses developed for ASEAN. The program on Food Borne Disease outbreak was delivered successfully in April 2021 and training course on Risk Based Inspections is planned for delivery in July this year. The three training courses were selected from priorities identified by through a survey conducted.
The capacity and capability of the food safety authorities to conduct their activities in a competent, effective and responsible manner is a critical factor not only for the improving food safety in Member States and additionally is essential in building mutual confidence to support the on-going initiatives in harmonisation of food safety measures as part of the regional market integration in the food trade in ASEAN.
