FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: INITIATIVES OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, WEST INDIES, PHILIPPINES AND BANGLADESH

Protecting human health in today's global food market is an important challenge and one which must be addressed through internationally recognized food safety systems. The overall responsibility for food safety is shared by all segments of the food system, including the various industry sectors, government regulatory agencies and consumers in general. Any threat to the food supply, whether by intentional or unintentional contamination could result in danger to health, considerable cost to food chain suppliers and could also affect trade. This paper will highlight some food safety management initiatives of three countries -- Trinidad and Tobago; the Philippines, and Bangladesh in protecting the food supply from hazards. The initiatives of some non-governmental organizations in Trinidad and Tobago are presented. In the Philippines both the public and private sector are active in encouraging strict adherence to the food legislations. A non-government agency has successfully used inventions and innovative training kits under the “4-in-1 Food Safety Training system: 5S, GAP (Good Agricultural Practice), GMP (Good Management Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) in the last decade to help the food industries meet the safety and quality requirements of national and international trade. For Bangladesh, the challenges and opportunities of the frozen fish trade through implementing principles of HACCP and some updated food safety legislations are highlighted.