Technical Assistance Needs

Food technology and science are complex, involving specialized knowledge in a wide range of fields such as chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, toxicology, physics, radiology, statistics and mathematics. As a consequence, food control measures are diverse and complicated. The technical dimensions are different for nearly every food product, for the various technologies used in food preparation, processing and manufacturing and for the various types of facilities in which food is produced.

In view of the many food safety concerns of consumers and the diversity in scope and dimensions of food quality and safety problems, technical assistance is often needed. Furthermore, new food products are created every day and new technologies are being developed and introduced rapidly, so the demand for keeping up with the scientific advancements in food technology is high. Emerging hazards such as antibiotic-resistant microbes and novel pathogenic bacteria present food control officials with new challenges in maintaining controls to ensure public health. With rapid shipping methods and the global distribution of food, serious public health risks and food hazards in one part of the world can be transferred to other parts of the world in a matter of hours or a few days.

Consumers expect the government to look after their interests in making sure that the food industry produces safe food and that economic fraud, unfair trade practices and risks to human health are minimized. Governments frequently do not have the financial and technical resources to provide such assurance, especially in developing countries. Many developing countries lack access to the latest knowledge and information about new food processing technologies. They may also lack technically trained staff, equipment, methods and facilities for testing or analysing food for contaminants, toxins, chemical or drug residues or microbiological contamination.

In some countries, there is a need to update and revise the existing legal framework regarding food quality and safety. Regulations governing food standards are often lacking or outdated. Food control infrastructure may be non-existent, poorly organized or inadequately supported because of the lack of sufficient financial resources. In many countries, different government ministries or agencies are involved in food regulation and control, but their failure to coordinate their activities results in a waste of resources because of overlapping and redundant work efforts. There is generally a need for improved regulatory food inspection and laboratory services, development of food control enforcement programmes and the administration and coordination of food control activities in developing countries. Training in technical areas of food control is nearly always needed in such countries.

Factors that affect the quality of non-food products and the quality of non-food products such as fibre and leather can also be negatively influenced.