International Forum on Food Safety and Trade

10:00 - 13:00

PRE-EVENT SESSION

As a curtain raiser to the main event, FAO and WHO have organized the following presentations building on key issues discussed at the First FAO/WHO/AU International Food Safety Conference:

Welcome by the Host

• Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Director-General
  Speech

Webcasting

10:00 – 11:30

ESTIMATION OF THE NATIONAL BURDEN OF FOODBORNE DISEASES – AN INVESTMENT FOR BETTER FOOD SAFETY SYSTEMS

Concept Note

Welcome and Introduction

• Kazuaki Miyagishima, Director, Food Safety and Zoonoses Department, WHO (Moderator)

Keynote

• Barbara Kowalcyk, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Ohio State University, USA
  Presentation

Panel themes

The burden of foodborne disease and estimating its impact – Global and national perspective

• Rob Lake, Manager, Risk Assessment and Social Systems, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, New Zealand
  Presentation

Addressing the economic burden of foodborne disease

• Delia Grace, Co-Leader, Animal and Human Health, International Livestock Research Institute
  Presentation

Disease burden estimation in practice – A country perspective

• Lindita Molla, Head, Food Safety & Nutrition, Health & Environmental Department, Institute of Public Health, Albania
  Presentation

Questions from the floor

Closing remarks

• Naoko Yamamoto, ADG, Healthier Populations, WHO

11:30 – 13:00

FOOD SAFETY, HEALTHY DIETS AND TRADE

Concept Note

Welcome and Introduction

• Máximo Torero Cullen, ADG, Economic and Social Development Department, FAO (Moderator)
• Naoko Yamamoto, ADG, Healthier Populations, WHO

Panel themes

Effectiveness of policies targeted at promoting healthier diets

• Mario Mazzocchi, Professor, Department of Statistical Sciences “Paolo Fortunati”, University of Bologna
  Presentation

Critical issues on food safety and healthy diets at international trade fora

• Erik Wijkström, Counsellor, Division on Trade and Environment, World Trade Organization, Secretary of the WTO
  Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee
  Presentation

Aligning national food safety policies to promote food security

• Angela Parry Hanson Kunadu, Lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana
  Presentation

Questions from the floor

Closing remarks

• Máximo Torero Cullen, ADG, Economic and Social Development Department, FAO

15:30-17:15

OPENING SESSION

FOOD SAFETY AND TRADE

This session will open the event and make the link between the Addis Ababa and the Geneva meetings

Webcasting

• Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Director-General
  Speech
• José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
• Monique Eloit, Director General, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

Overview of the Addis Ababa Conference

• Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture

Statements by Ministers

17:30 – 18:30

RECEPTION

Participants are invited to a welcome drink in the WTO Atrium.

10:00-11:30

THEMATIC SESSION 1

DIGITALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON FOOD SAFETY AND TRADE

Participants will learn about the potential and actual use of new technologies in the realm of food safety and trade; from e-commerce and electronic certification to big data and blockchain. Discussions will be framed in the context of today’s complex and evolving food systems considering both opportunities and obstacles of digitalization. Speakers will also explore the contributions of big data and computational tools for building consensus on science-based food safety regulations. Attention will be focused on challenges, in particular from the point of view of developing countries on issues such as the technology divide.

Webcasting

MODERATOR:

• Ousmane Badiane, The Regional Director for Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute

SPEAKERS:

• Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, United States Food and Drug Administration
• Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini, Senior Expert on International Relations at the Agency for Digital Italy - Presidency of the Council of Ministers
• Lynn Frewer, Professor of Food and Society, Newcastle University
• Simon Cook, Professor, Curtin University and Murdoch University

11:30-13:00

THEMATIC SESSION 2

ENSURING SYNERGIES BETWEEN FOOD SAFETY AND TRADE FACILITATION

This session will provide an overview of the different areas in which synergies between food safety and trade facilitation are possible. The way in which food safety measures are designed and enforced is key in this respect, including the use of science-based measures and international standards. Risk-based inspections and simplified procedures can help ensure that resources available for inspections and controls are focused where they have the biggest impact. Transparency assists producers and traders in finding information on relevant food safety measures and procedures. Cooperation among border agencies can ensure effective and efficient food safety controls, facilitating safe trade.

Live Webcasting

MODERATOR:

• Evdokia Moise, Senior Trade Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

SPEAKERS:

• France Pégeot, Executive Vice President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Tan Lee Kim, Director-General, Food Administration & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Food Agency
• Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief, Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business, International Trade Centre
• Elizabeth Murugi Nderitu, TradeMark East Africa

15:00-17:00

THEMATIC SESSION 3

PROMOTING HARMONIZED FOOD SAFETY REGULATION IN A PERIOD OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION

Reiterating the importance of internationally harmonized food safety regulation based on Codex standards and scientific risk assessment from different perspectives, this session will also look at the future challenges for the Codex Alimentarius. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss challenges and experiences in aligning food safety regulations across sectors using a One Health approach, adapting to innovation and change as well as in harmonizing regulations across borders and dealing with regulatory divergence.

Live Webcasting

MODERATOR:

• Guilherme da Costa, Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission
  Presentation

SPEAKERS:

• Rebecca Jane Irwin, Head, Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Division, Public Health Agency of Canada
  Presentation
• Anne Bucher, Director-General, Directorate- General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
• Anthony Huggett, Board Member, The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
• Reri Indriani, Acting Deputy Chairperson, Drug, Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Addictive Substance Control, National Agency for Drug and Food Control of the Republic of Indonesia
  Presentation

17:00-18:00

CLOSING SESSION

Presentations by rapporteurs from each thematic session will wrap up the proceedings, followed by closing remarks and farewell messages.