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The role of Government in Food. Renusha Chanda 2012. Principles and functions Jobs at the national level Related jobs International level Skills. Roadmap. The primary role of Government is to regulate food. Regulation is based on three principles: Safety Quality/Composition
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The role of Government in Food Renusha Chanda 2012
Principles and functions • Jobs at the national level • Related jobs • International level • Skills Roadmap
The primary role of Government is to regulate food. Regulation is based on three principles: • Safety • Quality/Composition • Prevention of misleading consumers • Functions are carried out under different legislation, i.e. Acts of law • All government functions related to regulation of food is known as a food control system Government and Food
Aim is to ensure that foods consumed are safe. Why? Public health initiative. • Regulates additives, contaminants and chemicals used in food production by legislating maximum limits or criteria for hygiene or registration. • Also legislates penalties if safety regulations are not complied with. Therefore enforcement inspectorate is required. • Safety related legislation in South Africa: Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972), Meat Safety Act, 2000. Safety of food
Relevant for classification of foods, regulates criteria for classification • Examples: • Fruit juices and drink classification based on percentage juice in the product (juice, nectar, drink etc) • Cake flour, industrial flour, brown bread wheat flour, white bread wheat flour etc. • Jams, jellies and marmalades • Also legislates penalties if regulations are not complied with. Therefore enforcement inspectorate is required. • Linked to prevention of misleading consumers • Agricultural Products Standards Act, 1990, National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008. Quality/composition of food
Usually applicable to labelling of foodstuffs and claims • Aim is to ensure consumers are informed of the true contents of a product. • Criteria published for claims and use of certain words on labels. Regulation of warning statements (polyols, caffeine etc) if certain ingredients are used. • Penalties are also legislated. • Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 and Agricultural Products Standards Act, 1990, Consumer Protection Act, 2008 Prevention of misleading consumers
Drafting legislation • Scientists: Microbiologists, biochemists, toxicologists, nutritionists, agricultural scientists, food scientists, veterinarians. • Enforcement • Environmental health practitioners, agricultural production technicians, chemists and analysts for lab testing • IECT/Promotion/Extension • Environmental health practitioners, agricultural production technicians, other Careers
Food security specialists • Agricultural input control: • Chemists & biologists for pesticide registration and evaluation • Veterinarians and pharmacists for veterinary drug registration and evaluation • Genetic scientists for registration and evaluation of genetically modified food • Animal health scientists • Public health specialists • Public administrators • Lawyers (consumer law) Other food related Government jobs
United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization • Public health specialists • Scientists: Toxicologists, chemists, nutritionists, agricultural scientists, pharmacologists International level
Technical knowledge • Legislative/regulatory knowledge. • Analytical thinkers • Contextual thinkers (government goals, public administration) • Systems thinkers Skills