A training course on food safety management kicked off yesterday under the patronage of H E Minister of Environment Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aboud Al Madadi. The training, held at the Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel in Doha, is organised by the Ministry of Environment’s Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs division in partnership with GCC Standardisation Organisation. The course focuses on Food Safety Management System (Procedures for Granting and Accreditation of Conformity Assessment Certificates for Halal and Organic Food). The course aims at raising awareness regarding specifications and laboratories as well as the training level which could have a good impact in upgrading the quality of products in GCC countries. Assistant Under-secretary at Laboratories and Standardisation Affairs Mohammad bin Saif Al Kuwari opened the course with a speech in which he underlined that hosting the event stemmed from the Ministry’s leading role in raising the awareness of standards, specifications, laboratories and other related activities, as well as raising the level of training which have the greatest impact in upgrading the quality of products in GCC countries. He said the session would discuss the issue of food safety as well as procedures for granting certificates of conformity for Halal and Organic food products. It also aims to familiarise the participants with the necessary requirements for the international standards for managing food safety ISO 22000 and the procedures on how to grant ISO certificates and requirements for compliance certificates on food safety management and organic food, Dr Al Kuwari added. He noted that the great efforts of national standardisation bodies in member states in establishing concepts and practices and encouraging participation in efforts and activities of international standardization. These include participation in the development of specifications of international standard in the field of safety systems to achieve safety and security in the content of food stuff. Al Kuwari said that concerned authorities in the GCC Standardisation Organisation have to seek attention on increased awareness of management systems to ensure food safety and to harmonise regulations and international legislation in this area, and verification of application of knowledge of risk analysis methodology to ensure food contamination is prevented, as well as the application of Gulf-based technical regulations and standards for application and the requirements of ISO 22000 certificate. He expressed thanks and appreciation of the Ministry of Environment to the concerned authorities in Qatar, including Ministries of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Municipality and Urban Planning Ministry, Economy and Finance Ministry, the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Company for Meat and Livestock Trading (Mawashi), the General Administration of Customs and the Directorate of Research and Agricultural Development, which participated in the course and gave their ideas and suggestions. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Kuwari said that the member states at the GCC Standardisation Authority will take additional tight procedures regarding the imported meat which must be slaughtered according to the Islamic law. These procedures required new laws and legislation that oblige meat exporting countries to the GCC States to slaughter animals according to the Islamic law and Gulf-based standards, Dr Al Kuwari said. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/169551-training-on-food-safety-management-begins.html

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar