ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL-SYSTEM

A safe, high quality and nutritious food supply is required to enhance and facilitate human, economic and social development. A well structured, effective and efficiently administered national food control system provides the necessary assurances to consumers that health and safety risks from food are minimized or prevented. It ensures that the quality of food gives good value for its cost while meeting consumer expectations and protects against fraudulent practices in the marketplace. Finally, it provides greater opportunity for national and international trade, increasing potential for national economic growth. This paper describes the important elements required of an effective national food control system. Further, if identifies the mechanisms for the integration of the various activities in food control to assure overall food quality, including food safety, by food control officials.