Journal of Food: Microbiology, Safety & Hygiene
Open Access

Internationalization of food safety laws and regulations: Implications to Botswana as a developing country

8^th International Conference on Food Safety and Regulatory Measures

June 11-12, 2018 | Barcelona, Spain

Barulaganye Sebata

Environmental Health Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Lobatse, Botswana

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Microbiol Saf Hyg

Abstract :

Food safety laws and regulations are the basis of the building blocks of any food safety regulatory measure. These laws and regulations should be adequate, relevant, and enforceable, based on scientific risk assessment and provide a legal frame work for an integrated approach covering the whole food chain. The world has become a global village, whereby sourcing, production and distribution of food are rapid both locally and internationally. This necessitates harmonization of food safety regulatory measures to counter act possible regulatory gaps within the local food control system. The internationalization of food and food trade has instigated the need for stringent food safety regulatory measures. It is a necessity for countries around the globe to have standardized food safety standards for them to envisage success in food trade. This paper provides an insight on the need for internationalization of food safety regulatory measures. The paper further reviews and synthesizes existing literature on the impacts and challenges faced by developing countries in trying to meet internationalization of food safety regulatory measures. Botswana will be used as an example as a developing country. Harmonized standards are necessary to give consumers confidence in the safety of what they eat, regardless of where it was produced. There is availability of international bodies (Food Agricultural Organization, World Trade Organization and Codex Alimentarius Commission) which provide frameworks on internationally agreed food standards and countries can tap on those to make their own. However, countries have their uniqueness in terms of prevailing conditions, situations and challenges and need to tailor make their laws and regulations to the local context in trying to harmonize their food safety regulatory frameworks/measures. Most developing countries which have some food safety regulatory measures in place are still faced with uncoordinated approaches to food control, poor enforcement of legislation and regulatory limits as well as fragmented systems which do not cover the farm to table continuum. Others are still fighting food insecurity and disease epidemics like HIV/AIDS and non-communicable disease hence ensuring food safety becomes the least of their concerns. The above challenges are an impediment to developing countries as it creates unequal conditions for trade competition. The international community should appreciate challenges faced by the developing world and assist them in developing affordable and sustainable food safety regulatory strategies in harmony with international standards. samebs78@gmail.com