ARISE Plus recently conducted a training course on 14th – 18th November 2022 to support ASEAN Member States’ Health Officials Managing Health and Nutrition Claims and Nutrition Labelling. There was keen interest in the training from ASEAN Member States with participation of more than fifty experts from all ten countries.
The training covered the different aspects of nutrition labelling, criteria for nutrition and health claims, nutrition reference values, dietary guidance and international standards and role of stakeholders.
The objective of the training course was to enhance the knowledge of ASEAN Officials in managing issues related to regulations in these matters and to support the development and implementation of related regulations. A key aspect of the training was the promotion of consumer understanding on how to use nutrition information. The training also provided a platform for an update on the status of efforts in ASEAN for harmonisations nutrition labelling, nutrition and health claims and an opportunity for the participants to share national experience through discussion sessions.
This was the sixth program in the series of training courses developed for ASEAN and two subsequent training courses on Food Safety Emergency Response and on Managing Food Recalls and on Monitoring and Managing Risks from Pesticide Residues are planned for delivery in the near future.
The capacity and capability of the food safety authorities to conduct their activities in a competent, effective and responsible manner is a critical factor for the improving food safety in Member States and 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.
