WHAT BANGLADESH HAS RECENTLY DONE IN AQUACULTURE FOOD SAFETY
Aquaculture in Bangladesh significantly contributes to food security, export, employment, poverty reduction and overall economic development. Globally, however, aquaculture is often subject to negative analysis because aquaculture products are sometimes contaminated with various drugs and chemicals hazardous to human health. Other criticisms relate to environmental and social issues. Having considered the above, FAO/UN has formulated International Principles of Responsible Aquaculture to address the above issues. Some organizations and countries have designed specific management measures fashioned as Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP), Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP), etc to address food safety, environmental sustainability and social issues at the production level.
Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), a non-profit private sector research organization and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), a multidisciplinary research, education and outreach program, jointly administered by U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland signed in March 2010 an Agreement of Cooperation, countersigned by Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock (MoFL). Under this agreement, JIFSAN-FDA experts conducted four ToT (Training of Trainers) programs on GAqP and developed in Bangladesh a core trainer group expected to independently offer GAqP training to more trainees gradually covering all the shrimp farming areas. In fact, the 4th training was provided to a new batch of trainees entirely by a team of local trainers; a few JIFSAN/FDA experts attended as observers in this training and highlighted the salient features of the Food and Drug Administration: Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 2011.
Ministry of Commerce and MoFL of the Bangladesh Government have jointly agreed to set up the proposed AAFSC as an affiliate of Fishery Products Business Promotion Council (FP-BPC). The AAFSC Mission aims at supporting national efforts to (i) achieve protein food security, and (ii) ensure food safety, environmental sustainability and social acceptability along the entire value chain of the aquatic food based industry. The Center will operate as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) organization managed by a Committee consisting of public and private sector representatives and headed by the Secretary, MoFL. The day-to-day management will be provided by BSFF in consultation with JIFSAN, industry stakeholders associations, Directorate of Fisheries and other concerned organizations. A subsidiary AoC among JIFSAN, BSFF and Fisheries Product - Business Promotion Council was signed in this respect in January 2012.
Some Universities have incorporated a GAqP course in their fisheries syllabus. Training booklets on GAqP have been prepared, published and distributed to farmers. Awareness training programmes on GAqP at field level are being conducted with trained local trainers. Bangladesh has formulated specific Codes of Conduct of which food safety is the most important component, for nine different segments of aquaculture based industry. For fostering better coordination along the entire value chain, the aquaculture based industry associations have formed an all industry association, Bangladesh Aquaculture Alliance (BAA) to work under one umbrella. The country has strengthened analytical lab capacities and registered farms and other establishments to facilitate traceability through EU/UNIDO. The Government recently approved Fish Hatchery Act 2010 and Fish Hatchery Rules 2011 and Fish Feed and Animal Feed Act 2010 and Fish Feed and Animal Feed Rules 2011. Moreover, the on-going Fish and Fish Products (Inspection & Quality Control) Ordinance is being revised to suit the market demands. Currently, Bangladesh is formulating a National Food Safety Policy for all kinds of foods with FAO assistance.
Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), a non-profit private sector research organization and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), a multidisciplinary research, education and outreach program, jointly administered by U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland signed in March 2010 an Agreement of Cooperation, countersigned by Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock (MoFL). Under this agreement, JIFSAN-FDA experts conducted four ToT (Training of Trainers) programs on GAqP and developed in Bangladesh a core trainer group expected to independently offer GAqP training to more trainees gradually covering all the shrimp farming areas. In fact, the 4th training was provided to a new batch of trainees entirely by a team of local trainers; a few JIFSAN/FDA experts attended as observers in this training and highlighted the salient features of the Food and Drug Administration: Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 2011.
Ministry of Commerce and MoFL of the Bangladesh Government have jointly agreed to set up the proposed AAFSC as an affiliate of Fishery Products Business Promotion Council (FP-BPC). The AAFSC Mission aims at supporting national efforts to (i) achieve protein food security, and (ii) ensure food safety, environmental sustainability and social acceptability along the entire value chain of the aquatic food based industry. The Center will operate as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) organization managed by a Committee consisting of public and private sector representatives and headed by the Secretary, MoFL. The day-to-day management will be provided by BSFF in consultation with JIFSAN, industry stakeholders associations, Directorate of Fisheries and other concerned organizations. A subsidiary AoC among JIFSAN, BSFF and Fisheries Product - Business Promotion Council was signed in this respect in January 2012.
Some Universities have incorporated a GAqP course in their fisheries syllabus. Training booklets on GAqP have been prepared, published and distributed to farmers. Awareness training programmes on GAqP at field level are being conducted with trained local trainers. Bangladesh has formulated specific Codes of Conduct of which food safety is the most important component, for nine different segments of aquaculture based industry. For fostering better coordination along the entire value chain, the aquaculture based industry associations have formed an all industry association, Bangladesh Aquaculture Alliance (BAA) to work under one umbrella. The country has strengthened analytical lab capacities and registered farms and other establishments to facilitate traceability through EU/UNIDO. The Government recently approved Fish Hatchery Act 2010 and Fish Hatchery Rules 2011 and Fish Feed and Animal Feed Act 2010 and Fish Feed and Animal Feed Rules 2011. Moreover, the on-going Fish and Fish Products (Inspection & Quality Control) Ordinance is being revised to suit the market demands. Currently, Bangladesh is formulating a National Food Safety Policy for all kinds of foods with FAO assistance.