NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEM ASSESSMENT TOOL

National food control systems are designed to protect the health of consumer and to ensure fair practices in the food trade. However, every country has flexibility in determining, designing and implementing the national food control system within the territory. Different countries have adopted different food control systems in the world. It is important to design a tool to measure the effectiveness of national food control system. 

Codex has formulated two relevant guidelines in this area: “Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems (CAC/GL 82-2013)” and “Principles and Guidelines for Monitoring the Performance of national Food Control Systems (CAC/GL 91-2017)”. Based on these principles and guidelines, FAO and WHO (2019) has recently designed a very useful National Food Control System Assessment Tool.

The tool is divided into four dimensions as shown in the figure:

Dimension A: Are system resources and inputs adequate?

Dimension B: How do the controls function?

Dimension C: How does the system interact with stakeholders?
Dimension D: Is the system evidence based ? Does it support continuous improvements?

(Source: FAO/WHO 2019)

We will use this tool to evaluate the national food control system of Nepal in the following posts.

1. National Food Control System of Nepal: Part 1
2. National Food Control System of Nepal: Part 2
3. National Food Control System of Nepal: Part 3
4. National Food Control System of Nepal: Part 4

5. National Food Control System of Nepal: Final Part

References:

FAO and WHO. 2019. Food control system assessment tool: Introduction and glossary. Food safety and quality series No. 7/1. Rome.