The project aimed to build the capacity of low income countries in the Asia-Pacific region to develop food standards based on international requirements and effective risk analysis, and to participate in Codex activities.
The FAO/WHO Regional Conference on Food Safety for Asia and the Pacific in May 2004 underlined the importance of risk-based standards and recommended that FAO and WHO roll out training and capacity building for countries in the region to develop food standards.
The project led to national needs assessments and the development of a training Manual on Food Safety Risk Analysis. Two training courses were held in Asia and the Pacific, with an evaluation to apply the model to other regions. The course in the Pacific was the first capacity building event on food safety risk analysis in the region and supported ongoing efforts to revise/update national food legislation and standards.
Technical follow-up support is needed to assist countries to integrate risk analysis as food control systems are modernized.