Proposal to develop a framework for international food safety laboratories' training and capacity building

This document aims to clarify how technical training by specialist regulatory-facing food analysis training establishments impact on the wider food safety capacity building agenda. It will provide the global food safety partnership (GFSP) with a complete food supply chain view of food testing training needs and related drivers for adoption of food safety standards. It rides with the assumption that only by having food move through regulated pathways, can food safety be assured for the public and the interest of private sector ventures be protected. This identifies with the particular challenge of food systems (national and regional) in developing countries, that is, the transition from informal food systems to those that have to meet regulatory standards. The report maps the various tiers of technology transfer to relevant stakeholders (trainees) in the agri-food supply chain. This report aims to identify some of the key players internationally and, in cooperation, attempt to align both content and resources to ensure sufficient consistency for the GFSP to support these programs globally. This work will also provide an approach for governments and countries to identify food safety laboratory needs as part of the national food safety training and capacity building needs assessments. Ultimately, the framework will lead to the development of a comprehensive set of laboratory training resources to be supported under the GFSP and starting with a few pilot programs to demonstrate the utility and efficiency of this approach.