Market Surveillance and South Africa's listeriosis; NAFDAC, NAQS... Any Take away?
Market Surveillance and South Africa's listeriosis; NAFDAC, NAQS... Any Take away?
The recent outbreak of listeriosis which hit South Africa was pronounced to be the largest food poisonings, killing 180 people with verified sources of the pathogen delaying for days before authority interception, resulting to massive food recalls of high risk foods which are proven to harbor the microorganisms first from the hypermarkets and other value chains
Finally the source of 'world's worst outbreak' was found to be processed meat called "polony" and other related products like;
Russians
Viennas
Cold meat
Ham
Sausages
Meat spreads
Corned meat
Salami
Pepperoni
Most refrigerated uncooked food.
It is worrisome to note that delay in arresting outbreak of this nature probably give room to multiplicity of negative effect on the economy and citizenry perception on food safety management; more are possibly going to contract such sickness due to cross contamination while increasing the burden of the over stretched health facilities due to untimely intervention regarding promptness of clarity of which foods or drinks are contaminated in the phase of empirical data sighting possible food sources of the pathogen
This is one of the many reasons why countries imbibe marketing surveillances both for international and national trade across sectors with heightened sanity checks on foods, drugs, cosmetics and life related operations
In liberal democracy, food is a political, social and economic tool. It is part of a decisive factors in ascending elective offices. Hence food defense and food chain security measure must be prioritized in order to ensure food safety and quality among others
Mails sent to my inbox regarding recent happening on food and drug activities daily, (not from Nigerian Regulatory), show food recall taking the larger share of the mail, while import alert and warning letter fairly observed in the pharmaceutical industry is a bit moderate
It is on this note I would establish that outbreak of listeriosis has continuously be curtailed elsewhere due to blend of proactive and reactive marketing surveillance applications.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, mandatory HACCP certification for all food handlers, food safety whistleblower, and the likes are integrate measure of surveillances used to qualify food safety and track likely gaps within the value chains so as to minimize any incidents that could trigger public health concern
Market surveillance is defined by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 as the activities carried out and measures taken by public authorities to ensure that products comply with the applicable requirements and do not endanger health, safety or any other aspect of public interest protection.
It does ensure that products meet all legal requirements, design system that allows measures restricting the movement of non-compliant products in the market. Thereby guarantees the protection of all aspects of public interests, such as the health and safety of persons or the environment, while also ensuring fair competition.
NAFDAC, and NAQS are the first point of call whenever food poisoning plights unleash its effect in Nigeria because these regulatory agencies are the watchman of Ministry of Health
NAFDAC oversees safety of packaged (prepackaged) food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics within the nation while NAQS covers un-package foods, plants and animals to safeguarding the populace
Having pioneer a post marketing surveillance department in a leading flavored milk industry, I can authoritatively confirm that either the safety or quality of food products are below standard or consumers are not getting what food producers claimed as display on labels
Market surveillance verifies internal and external product which allows measures restricting the movement of non-compliant products. Hence, it does guarantee the protection of all aspects of public interests, such as the health and safety of persons or the environment, while also ensuring fair competition
South Africa recorded the greatest hit probably due to lapses in proper market surveillances
UK confiscation of Nigeria's compliant coke products would be a helpful hint in this scenario. If it's the other way round, would our regulatory bodies detect anything wrong with certified food products from Europe?
How come manufacturers still find it comfortable going against our regulatory requirements?
Violation of mandatory fortification of selected staple foods
Unwholesome display of fortified products which enhance denaturation
Undeclared Food Additive
Poor Storage Practice etc
It is of utmost important to have broad knowledge of the food chain from production to marketing in order to assess products conformity and required correction actions
Market surveillance entails efficient and intelligent monitoring of products (food products in this case) with the available resources, coupled with appropriate products targeting, control plans, consistent follow-up and measures that effectively meet objectives
Africa should be more proactive than reactive in managing issues relating to public health concerns, security and safety
The continent is reactive when it comes to surveillances; responding to listeria outbreak following death of 180 consumers, citizens outcry, lamentation, and national embarrassment is quite worrisome
It's very much germane for Market Surveillance Authority to assess the safety and quality of products as presented to customs authority as situation might apply with a view to be released for free circulation or enhance compliance by providing information on applicable legislation (e.g. via press releases, dedicated websites or information campaigns) at any stage of the design and production process and routine checks at open markets, malls, trade shows fairs and exhibitions
Market surveillance is not about checking every single product on the market but is about working efficiently, effectively, proactively and reactively on how to most effectively meet safety and quality objectives, having taking into account the level of non-compliance, risk assessment and possible impact e.g. severity of harm and probability of occurrence
The recent outbreak of listeriosis which hit South Africa was pronounced to be the largest food poisonings, killing 180 people with verified sources of the pathogen delaying for days before authority interception, resulting to massive food recalls of high risk foods which are proven to harbor the microorganisms first from the hypermarkets and other value chains
Finally the source of 'world's worst outbreak' was found to be processed meat called "polony" and other related products like;
Russians
Viennas
Cold meat
Ham
Sausages
Meat spreads
Corned meat
Salami
Pepperoni
Most refrigerated uncooked food.
It is worrisome to note that delay in arresting outbreak of this nature probably give room to multiplicity of negative effect on the economy and citizenry perception on food safety management; more are possibly going to contract such sickness due to cross contamination while increasing the burden of the over stretched health facilities due to untimely intervention regarding promptness of clarity of which foods or drinks are contaminated in the phase of empirical data sighting possible food sources of the pathogen
This is one of the many reasons why countries imbibe marketing surveillances both for international and national trade across sectors with heightened sanity checks on foods, drugs, cosmetics and life related operations
In liberal democracy, food is a political, social and economic tool. It is part of a decisive factors in ascending elective offices. Hence food defense and food chain security measure must be prioritized in order to ensure food safety and quality among others
Mails sent to my inbox regarding recent happening on food and drug activities daily, (not from Nigerian Regulatory), show food recall taking the larger share of the mail, while import alert and warning letter fairly observed in the pharmaceutical industry is a bit moderate
It is on this note I would establish that outbreak of listeriosis has continuously be curtailed elsewhere due to blend of proactive and reactive marketing surveillance applications.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, mandatory HACCP certification for all food handlers, food safety whistleblower, and the likes are integrate measure of surveillances used to qualify food safety and track likely gaps within the value chains so as to minimize any incidents that could trigger public health concern
Market surveillance is defined by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 as the activities carried out and measures taken by public authorities to ensure that products comply with the applicable requirements and do not endanger health, safety or any other aspect of public interest protection.
It does ensure that products meet all legal requirements, design system that allows measures restricting the movement of non-compliant products in the market. Thereby guarantees the protection of all aspects of public interests, such as the health and safety of persons or the environment, while also ensuring fair competition.
NAFDAC, and NAQS are the first point of call whenever food poisoning plights unleash its effect in Nigeria because these regulatory agencies are the watchman of Ministry of Health
NAFDAC oversees safety of packaged (prepackaged) food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics within the nation while NAQS covers un-package foods, plants and animals to safeguarding the populace
Having pioneer a post marketing surveillance department in a leading flavored milk industry, I can authoritatively confirm that either the safety or quality of food products are below standard or consumers are not getting what food producers claimed as display on labels
Market surveillance verifies internal and external product which allows measures restricting the movement of non-compliant products. Hence, it does guarantee the protection of all aspects of public interests, such as the health and safety of persons or the environment, while also ensuring fair competition
South Africa recorded the greatest hit probably due to lapses in proper market surveillances
UK confiscation of Nigeria's compliant coke products would be a helpful hint in this scenario. If it's the other way round, would our regulatory bodies detect anything wrong with certified food products from Europe?
How come manufacturers still find it comfortable going against our regulatory requirements?
Violation of mandatory fortification of selected staple foods
Unwholesome display of fortified products which enhance denaturation
Undeclared Food Additive
Poor Storage Practice etc
It is of utmost important to have broad knowledge of the food chain from production to marketing in order to assess products conformity and required correction actions
Market surveillance entails efficient and intelligent monitoring of products (food products in this case) with the available resources, coupled with appropriate products targeting, control plans, consistent follow-up and measures that effectively meet objectives
Africa should be more proactive than reactive in managing issues relating to public health concerns, security and safety
The continent is reactive when it comes to surveillances; responding to listeria outbreak following death of 180 consumers, citizens outcry, lamentation, and national embarrassment is quite worrisome
It's very much germane for Market Surveillance Authority to assess the safety and quality of products as presented to customs authority as situation might apply with a view to be released for free circulation or enhance compliance by providing information on applicable legislation (e.g. via press releases, dedicated websites or information campaigns) at any stage of the design and production process and routine checks at open markets, malls, trade shows fairs and exhibitions
Market surveillance is not about checking every single product on the market but is about working efficiently, effectively, proactively and reactively on how to most effectively meet safety and quality objectives, having taking into account the level of non-compliance, risk assessment and possible impact e.g. severity of harm and probability of occurrence
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