The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department participated in a Subregional Workshop: Risk-based food inspection workshop held at Trinidad Hilton & Conference Centre Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. The Objectives were:
• To understand the use of profiles in a risk based inspection
• To build national capacity to develop risk profiles and risk inspection services to improve food safety;
• To provide an understanding of the different types of documents that food businesses develop and their uses in a risk based inspection
• To promote and strengthen an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to risk based inspections.
The food safety workshop included participants from several countries which included Belize, Saba, St. Martin, Jamaica, Aruba, Brazil, Suriname, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Guyana.
Topics discussed during the training included:
• Food Inspection Manual
• Risk Based Inspection Planning and Reporting
• Industry Profiles
• Risk Categorization, Reporting, Procedures, Document Review
• Rating Guide, Report Forms and Closing Meeting
The Next Step
• All participants (organization) are requested to review the draft manual and the presentation and to submit comments within the next 2 weeks, to PAHO.
• The next version (draft 4) will be submitted to PAWHO for review
In conclusion the overall aim of the workshop is to enhance capacity and develop a national policy towards risk- based inspections thereby improving food safety and reducing food borne diseases. It was also aimed at moving from traditional inspections to risk- based inspection of food entities. Additionally, the training was geared to equip participants with the requisite knowledge and skills to guide the drafting and implementation of a risk- based inspection system (for each country) which is consistent with international standards. Finally, the knowledge gained from the training would also assist in the implementation of policies and procedures for risk- based inspections in relation with the ISO17020 accreditation for the food inspectorate division.