Background 
Increasingly, the global market place poses great challenges to ensuring the safety of foods.
As Codex standards are accepted as the reference point for food safety, countries have been aligning their national food safety standards to that of Codex. The lack of food consumption data necessary for country- or region-specific risk and exposure assessment remains one of the important issues in the harmonization of food safety standards in ASEAN, as the data can be used to justify deviations from Codex standards.
The Food Safety and Risk Assessment Task Force aims to address these issues by focusing on:
- Harmonizing Food Safety Standards in the Region
- Developing and Maintaining a Current Database of Food Additives and Level of Harmonization
- Risk Assessment Training
- Food Safety Assessment Along Farm-to-Fork Continuum
ILSI SEA Region has organized workshops, conferences and symposia to disseminate updated scientific information, enhance better understanding of the principles of risk assessment among the ASEAN countries, and set the basis for harmonization of food safety standards. An on-line database of ASEAN Food Safety Standards is available for systematic review and periodical updates by the participating countries.
The Task Force also plans to adopt broader perspectives on food and nutrition safety ranging from farm to table, by addressing issues such as the safety of inherent mycotoxins, the safety of nutrients and nonnutrients added to foods, exposure assessment of fortified foods, migration issues and other concerns from food packaging, and water quality and safety. Collaborative efforts in exposure assessment data development and its impact on food and nutrition safety is being explored.
Objectives
The Task Force’s objectives are to:
- Promote understanding and facilitate consensus building regarding the application and implementation of risk analysis, exposure assessment and Codex standards;
- Encourage science-based decision making on food quality and safety regulations;
- Promote harmonization of food safety standards within ASEAN based on international standards, guidelines and recommendations;
- Address emerging scientific issues relating to risk analysis and exposure assessment of food safety concerns and their impact on food and nutrition safety for target populatio; and.
- Provide a forum for knowledge sharing on quality and safety of water and food packaging.
Activities Undertaken
- Mycotoxin Symposium, in conjunction with 9th ASEAN Food Conference, August 10, 2005, Indonesia
- 5th ASEAN Food Safety Standards Harmonization Workshop, Sept 26-27, 2005, Thailand
- Publication of the Proceedings of the 4th Asian Conference on Food & Nutrition Safety
- Compilation of Report and Presentations of 5th ASEAN Food Safety Standards Harmonization Workshop in CD-ROM format
Upcoming Activities
- 6th ASEAN Food Safety Harmonization Workshop, 4th Quarter 2006, Vietnam
- Up-dating of Regional Database on Food Safety Standards, On-going
- Review of Proposal to WTO and ASEAN for Collaboration on Activities Relating to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Pesticides in the Region, On-going
- Collaboration with EU-Asia “Selamat” Food Safety Project in Relation to Microbial Risk Assessment, On-going
Latest Publications
- Report and Presentations of the 5th ASEAN Food Safety Standards Harmonization Workshop in CD-ROM format
- Proceeding of the 4th Asian Conference on Food & Nutrition Safety
Contact Person
Ms Pauline Chan
Scientific Program Manager
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
1 Newton Road, Goldhill Plaza
Podium Block #03-45
Singapore 308899
Tel: (65) 63525 220
Fax: (65) 63525 536
Email: paulinechan@ilsisea.org.sg