Transcript The role of Government on Food

The role of Government in
Food
Renusha Chanda
2012
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Principles and functions
Jobs at the national level
Related jobs
International level
Skills
Roadmap
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The primary role of Government is to regulate
food. Regulation is based on three principles:
◦ Safety
◦ Quality/Composition
◦ Prevention of misleading consumers
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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
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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
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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.
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Quality/composition of food
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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 of
legislation
Communicating
about
legislation.
Promoting food
safety
Jobs
Jobs per function
Enforcing
legislation
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Drafting legislation
◦ Scientists: Microbiologists, biochemists,
toxicologists, nutritionists, agricultural scientists,
food scientists, veterinarians.
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Enforcement
◦ Environmental health practitioners, agricultural
production technicians, chemists and analysts for
lab testing
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IECT/Promotion/Extension
◦ Environmental health practitioners, agricultural
production technicians, other
Careers
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Food security specialists
Agricultural input control:
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Public health specialists
Public administrators
Lawyers (consumer law)
◦ 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
Other food related Government jobs
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United Nations, Food and Agriculture
Organization, World Health Organization
◦ Public health specialists
◦ Scientists: Toxicologists, chemists, nutritionists,
agricultural scientists, pharmacologists
International level
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Technical knowledge
Legislative/regulatory knowledge.
Analytical thinkers
Contextual thinkers (government goals,
public administration)
Systems thinkers
Skills