Importance of Codex standards showcased at the 8th Shenzhen Food Safety Forum

by Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

The 8th Shenzhen Food Safety Forum 2024, which took place on 5-6 November 2024 in Shenzhen (China) highlighted the importance of ensuring food safety in future in light of the rapid innovations and constant new developments in the food industry. On this occasion, the “Safety Supervision of Food Production” book was also launched.

This High-level Forum was hosted by the Shenzhen Food and Drug Safety Commission Office with the full support provided by Director-General Cai Yingquan and the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation, and it was organised by the Shenzhen Institute of Standards and Technology. The presentations and discussions were held in three specific sessions: Academic, International and Industry-University-Research Sessions.

In his opening address, Mr Chen Shaozhou, Deputy-Director of the Food Safety Sampling and Monitoring Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, stressed the fact that food was the foundation of the livelihood of all people and he called upon food producers to play an active role in ensuring food safety along the entire food chain. Dr Fan Yongxiang, Chairperson of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), emphasised the importance of promoting consumer education about health and food safety, while noting that food safety played an essential role in the sustainable development of China. Dr Fan also highlighted the importance of risk assessment, which should be conducted in a timely manner in view of the new challenges, in order to ensure the protection of the health of consumers. Prof. Junshi Chen, former Chairperson of the CCFA, highlighted the importance of the risk analysis framework and he also drew attention to the gravity of foodborne diseases worldwide and the global public health threat related to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as well as the importance of the One Health Approach in this regard.

In his keynote address in the International Session, Mr Steve Wearne, Chairperson of the CAC noted that the global food trade was crucial to support the planet’s rapidly increasing population, and, in this regard, noted that food producers should comply with national standards based on the internationally harmonised and science-based Codex standards in order to protect the health of consumers world-wide.

Numerous eminent speakers participated in the International Session of the Forum. These included H.E. Prof. Hisham Aljadhey, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO of the Food and Drug Authority of Saudi Arabia, Mrs Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Former Chairperson of the CAC, Mr Tom Heilandt, Former Secretary of the CAC, Prof. Patrick Wall, University College Dublin and Former President of the European Food Safety Authority, Dr Chow Chor-yiu, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Chan Kit Hong, Macao Special Administrative Region and Mr Fan Shenggen, President of the Institute for Global Food Economics and Policy.

Several speakers noted that the Shenzhen Food Safety Forum had succeeded in establishing itself over the past eight years as an excellent platform, which brought together relevant stakeholders including policy makers, food producers, the academia, etc. to exchange about the pressing issues related to food safety.

Photo credit © Shenzhen Institute of Standards and Technology, SIST