Food chain information: let's make it work

摘要

The veterinary profession has a major role to play in the enhancement of food safety and animal health through utilisation of food chain information, herd health planning and modernisation of meat inspection. Frank O'Sullivan, Veterinary Ireland, andChair of the Food Safety and Quality Working Group at the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, previews a forthcoming paper by the groupThe purpose of the Working Group's paper is to promote the meaningful use of FCI as part of modernisation. It will explore the historical, scientific and legislative drivers prompting change and modernisation in meat inspection and, in particular, the opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) risk assessments. The paper will consider the positive role of the veterinary profession in utilising modernisation and FCI for the enhancement of food safety as well as animal health, public health andthe environment. It will explore how modernisation with effective FCI can set benchmarks and targets that assist in key decision making throughout the food chain (Figure 1). In particular, it is envisaged that modernisation will confer a number of advantages: firstly by promoting a longitudinally integrated approach to food safety; and, secondly, by demonstrating how FCI can act as a key constructive link to herd health on farm. The paper will also explore how HEI from the farm can inform the food business operator (FBO) and the official veterinarian (OV) about key parameters that may influence decisions around methods of slaughter. In addition, the paper will consider the inherent flexibility and adaptability in modernisation in consideration of thevarying socioeconomic and cultural factors that exist in the member states in the EU.