THE food products that are produced and consumed daily must be safe and free from danger for consumers. To ensure such food is available in the market, the relevant authorities must regulate and monitor the situation, and it is necessary to take legal action against producers of harmful food in accordance with the law.
To ensure that the public can consume safe and hazard-free food, relevant departments across the food supply chain are carrying out their responsibilities according to their respective sectors. Primarily, six key areas are being implemented: controlling the illegal import of food across borders; monitoring food safety practices at university cafeterias and catering services; ensuring food safety at roadside eateries and rest stops along highways; inspecting food safety in restaurants within hotels and motels; overseeing the safety of wild animal meat, insects, and pests being sold in markets; and formulating food safety standards and regulations.
Foods that are considered safe refer to those that are free from biological, chemical, and physical hazards, and that are nutritionally adequate and beneficial to health. Foods sold from various markets may pose risks to consumers if they are expired, lack freshness, cause allergic reactions due to certain ingredients, or contain mould, bacteria, or viruses. Other hazards include the presence of pesticides, harmful drugs, antibiotics, additives, preservatives, pesticide residues or dangerous objects which can endanger the health of consumers.
To ensure food safety, it is essential to apply good practices throughout the entire food supply chain — from the stage of raw material production to the point where food reaches the consumer’s table. By implementing proper methods of cultivation, livestock raising, handling, storage, and preparation as per good practices, it is possible to provide consumers with food products that are safe, healthy, and free from hazards.
The National Food Safety Policy is not only aimed at protecting consumers from potential hazards for the sake of public health, but also aspires to promote the development of internationally aligned standards across sectors, encourage good agricultural and livestock practices, and enhance foreign exchange earnings for the country through export activities.
Just as relevant government departments are responsible for implementing their respective roles throughout the food supply chain that the public relies on daily, food producers, storage providers, processors and packagers, distributors and retailers, as well as consumers themselves, must also actively participate according to their respective roles. Only through the collective efforts of all stakeholders can the objectives of the National Food Safety Policy be fully achieved.
