2023-01-19-亚开行-加强中亚区域经济合作成员国的食品安全体系_现状_框架和未来战略（英）_59页_691kb

STRENGTHENING FOOD SAFETY SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION MEMBER COUNTRIES

Current Status and Framework

• The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) aims to enhance food safety to integrate member countries into global agricultural value chains and boost trade.
• Member countries (11 nations) have varied food safety systems, leading to challenges such as fragmented policies, outdated standards, and limited laboratory capacities.
• Food trade accounts for 8.3% of global trade with significant reliance on imports, increasing exposure to unsafe food products.

Key Challenges

• Legal Frameworks: Lack of harmonization with international Codex standards and weak regulatory reforms.
• Laboratories: Inadequate infrastructure, outdated equipment, and limited ISO accreditation.
• Value Chains: Insufficient adoption of HACCP, GMP, and GHP by farmers and processors.
• Networking: Limited information sharing and collaboration among member countries.

Forward Strategies

• Harmonize Legal Frameworks: Align national laws with Codex Alimentarius and strengthen regulatory environments.
• Laboratory Harmonization: Capacity building for ISO 17025 accreditation and standardized testing methods.
• Strengthen Value Chain Capacities: Enhance training on risk-based approaches and develop conformity assessment systems.
• Networking: Establish a CAREC Food Safety Network (CFSN) for information sharing and regional coordination.
• Holistic Wholesale Markets: Invest in modern wholesale markets to ensure food safety throughout distribution, focusing on high-risk products like meat and dairy.

Conclusion

• Strengthening food safety systems will enhance regional trade, improve public health, and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Effective implementation requires trans-territorial cooperation, infrastructure investments, and capacity building to meet international standards.