“Minister Al-Awadhi” emphasized food safety a health responsibility and strategic priority

Kuwait hosted the ninth meeting of the Gulf Ministerial Committee for Food Safety today, Thursday. The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as ministers and representatives from the member countries. The discussion focused on key food safety issues and aimed to enhance cooperation in addressing the global changes and challenges impacting the food system.

Responsibility and strategy

The Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, who chaired the meeting, emphasized in his opening speech that food safety is not merely a regulatory matter, but a crucial health responsibility and strategy. He highlighted that ensuring safe food is a fundamental pillar of community health and sustainable development.

Al-Awadhi explained that the growing health and food challenges facing the world today highlight the urgent need for GCC countries to strengthen their collective efforts. This includes developing food legislation, improving control systems, and raising community awareness to ensure the provision of safe food for both citizens and residents, while also safeguarding public health from potential risks.

Moreover, Al-Awadhi added that the meeting provides a valuable opportunity to align perspectives and formulate decisions and recommendations that will help build a sustainable Gulf food system. This system must be capable of adapting to global changes and responding flexibly and effectively to emerging challenges.

Al-Awadhi stressed that strengthening Gulf integration in food safety requires continuous cooperation between member states, as it is crucial for achieving collective successes and improving food and health standards across the GCC countries.

Extending his heartfelt thanks to the participating ministers, delegations, and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Al-Awadhi appreciated their presence and valuable contributions to the success of the meeting, which highlights the GCC countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and integration in health and food safety.

Al-Awadhi also conveyed his gratitude to the sisterly State of Qatar for its outstanding leadership of the Committee in the previous session, acknowledging its significant efforts in strengthening food safety across the Gulf region and setting a model for successful joint cooperation.

Introduction to Priorities

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, emphasized that the GCC countries prioritize the health of their citizens and residents, considering food safety a strategic investment in public health, reflecting their commitment to ensuring a secure and sustainable food system.

The directives of GCC leaders emphasize continuous efforts to advance the region’s progress, build on past achievements, and enhance coordination, integration, and connectivity among member states to serve their nations and improve the well-being of their people.

Al-Budaiwi highlighted that the GCC countries have secured a prestigious position both regionally and internationally across various fields. He noted that they now rival many nations globally and rank among the highest in key sectors, particularly in their commitment to achieving top standards in food safety.

The significance of the GCC countries’ efforts in the food safety sector, and their strong regional and international standing has made them a sought-after destination for countries and organizations looking to establish strategic partnerships.

Al-Budaiwi highlighted that the meeting’s agenda includes several key topics requiring decisive actions to strengthen joint Gulf efforts in food safety. He noted that these discussions build upon the committee’s ongoing work on the unified food system law for GCC countries, the Gulf guide for controlling imported food, and progress made toward establishing the Gulf Centre for Food Risk Assessment.

Furthermore, Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the committee’s decisions on the discussed topics will strengthen joint Gulf efforts and will further advance their collective progress.

Main Station

The Chairperson and Director General of the Kuwait Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, Dr. Reem Al-Fulaij, stated in a press release on the meeting’s sidelines that this gathering serves as a key milestone in strengthening cooperation among GCC countries and advancing regulatory frameworks to align with the latest global food safety standards.

Dr. Al-Fulaij stated that the meeting addressed several key issues concerning food safety, with a particular focus on the draft unified food law for GCC countries. This initiative aims to standardize food safety laws and regulations across the region, strengthening consumer health protection.

The attendees also examined the Gulf Guide for Controlling Imported Foods, the Gulf Centre for Food Risk Assessment, and new food assessment mechanisms. These discussions aimed to align Gulf regulations with the best international practices to enhance food safety standards.

Dr. Al-Fulaij further added that the meeting also focused on evaluating food control systems within the GCC countries, recognizing it as a key factor for boosting inter-trade exchange. The discussion included mechanisms for imposing and lifting bans on importing animal-origin foods and their products, ensuring consumer protection while maintaining the integrity of trade between member states.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Fulaij expressed her gratitude for all the efforts that contributed to the success of the meeting, emphasizing Kuwait’s commitment to continuing collaborative work with its GCC counterparts. She highlighted the goal of achieving the best outcomes and recommendations that serve the interests of the Gulf peoples.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of sustaining joint Gulf cooperation in food safety. They highlighted the need to develop integrated control mechanisms that uphold the highest health and food safety standards, contributing to enhanced food security and consumer protection across all GCC countries.

They also stressed the importance of exchanging expertise among member states and leveraging successful experiences to develop food and regulatory systems, with the goal of achieving the desired integration in this crucial area.

Source: Al Rai