Baku, Azerbaijan, May 11
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is ready to support the formation and functioning of the Food Safety Agency in Azerbaijan, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Vladimir Rakhmanin said in an interview with Trend.
“I am pleased that the government of Azerbaijan has decided to create a Food Safety Agency – through a presidential decree based on the preparatory work of the Food Safety Commission – as of January 2018,” he noted.
Rakhmanin pointed out that this is a critical and positive decision taken by the government to ensure efficient and effective food safety system in an area that lies at the core of FAO’s mandate.
Establishment of this agency will yield improved food safety standards in the country and support the export capacity of Azerbaijan, he added.
“FAO is ready to support the formation and functioning of the Food Safety Agency by strengthening national food control regulatory frameworks and enhancing Azerbaijan’s participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission,” said Rakhmanin.
Support can take the form of independent scientific advice to support the standard-setting work of Codex; enhancing food safety management along the food chain to prevent diseases and trade disruptions; and promoting food safety emergency preparedness to build resilient agrifood chains, he explained.
Rakhmanin noted that FAO also develops online platforms for global networking, databases for information sharing, and tools to support food safety management from which Azerbaijan can benefit.
On February 10, 2017, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on additional measures to improve food safety system in the country.
In order to ensure the implementation of state control for all stages of food production in Azerbaijan, Food Safety Agency will be created, according to the decree.
A Food Security Commission was created under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov for ensuring the activity of the agency.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn