Staff Correspondent:Food Safety and Antimicrobial resistance are global challenges for Public Health. Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in meat and egg production, and milk production is increasing day by day to meet the country’s demand, but product safety is still an issue. Ensuring food safety there are many challenges to overcome. Government has taken necessary steps to make it happen. Supplying fish and livestock food products from farm to table goes through many steps. All our stakeholders should be aware of these activities.
Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr Nahid Rashid was addressed these at the inaugural session of a three-day-long workshop at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel on Tuesday (22 November). The workshop titled "Policy dialogue Workshop on Food Safety and AMR Surveillance for Food of Animal Origin” organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Bank and Department of Livestock Services.
Dr. Rashid added livestock sector is very vast area. Our existing National Livestock Development Policy ’2007 has Ten (10) scope and we should not limited our scope of opportunities. Food safety related recommendation should be incorporated considering existing polcy she added.Dr Nahid Rashid hoped that the concerted effort of the national and international experts may find a solution to reduce this threat.
The inaugural session was presided over by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Country Representative Dr. Zaki Uz Zaman while Director General Department of Livestock Services Dr. Monjur Mohammad Shajada was present as Special guest. Welcome remarks made by Dr. Md. Aniul Haque, National Project coordinator, UNIDO.
UNIDO Project Officer Dr. Gabor Molner explained the project activities with special emphasis on Gap analysis of food safety laws and regulation. Livestock and Dairy Development Project Director, Joint Secretary Abdur Rahim expressed his hope to contribute to the overall development of the livestock sector and in the long-term target high-end mandate.
Nearly one hundred participants from the government and non-government sector, academicians, researchers, small and large farm owners, animal origin food businessmen are attending this workshop to add to the workshop objectives.The event will be continued till 24 November.
International experts delivered presentations on international good practices and systems of livestock production, while national experts explain the ways to implement those in Bangladesh's perspectives.
