National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan (FSER), Thailand

Abstract

ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 will increase more trade on food commodities between the member countries and others. Therefore, Ministry of Public Health and related agencies in food safety and quality control system have to prepare a national food safety emergency response plan for incidents of food safety, either accidental or intentional, and caused by biological, chemical, radio nuclear or food hazards contaminated in water and raw materials. This descriptive study aimed to study the development of Food Safety Emergency Response Plan for Thailand which was adapted from the principles of FAO/WHO Framework for Developing National Food Safety Emergency Response plans (FSER plans), which will enable Thailand more actively and timely responses to food safety emergency events. The study was conducted during 2010 – 2012. With following the Thai FSER plans, food safety authorities will have working plan on preparedness monitoring and traceability guidelines which cover and identify responding authorities. In addition, an established Food Safety Rapid Response Team (FSRRT) will support situation analysis, causing from foods more effectively. FSRRT may also co-operate all authority levels and improve information exchanges by reporting epidemiological data, food products affected and infection news via their networks, associated with Surveillance and Rapid Response Team (SRRT) and International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN). The enhancement of related network will help to reduce negative impact to public health and national trading system, and make more ensuring in safety of food which produce and access for consumers both in domestically and internationally, that will be harmonized to IHR, 2005.