The Policy & Regulation Sector at Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has organized a workshop on 'UAE standards and its implementation in food control  in collaboration with Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) and Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council.

During the opening speech, H.E. Mariam Hareb Al Yousuf, Executive Director of Policy & Regulation Sector stated:- "The workshop Shows effective coordination and cooperation network that has been established between various ADFCA sectors and  with local and federal government entities in order to put together a comprehensive food control system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.  The cooperation between different entities that are involved in food safety is a fundamental step in attaining food security and  one of the main priority objectives in the government's vision. Furthermore, this shall improve ADFCA's efforts to become an internationally acclaimed organization in the field of agriculture and food safety and to contribute to the prosperity of the community".

This workshop comes within the framework of comprehensive programs designed to disseminate and explain basic ideas and steps to be followed while implementing the Emirate's   standards and technical regulations and its provisions in performing food control. 

Dr. Mariam Hareb further said that the food control stakeholders have a strong communication and coordination network that enables them to maintain a consultative approach, and to provide the opportunity to constructively contribute to the enrichment of technical standards and regulations put in place. It also ensures and maintains the quality elements in these standards to and ensure enhancement of food safety". 

It is important to mention that ADFCA has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council on the quality of delivery of service and participates in many local, national and regional technical committees in order to  update /develop, and review provisions of technical regulations and standards 

ADFCA's Policy & Regulation Sector is keen to solicit and include the views of other concerned sectors and use these views as guidance during the stages of development of the standards and regulations. ADFCA is devoted to the enrichment of its employees' skills and introduce them to the latest control regulations systems in place in the state.

The workshop undertook a number of major topics that included: The importance of the Emirate's standard in food control ; How to determine the provisions of technical  standard relevant to food products to be inspected; How to use the master list of external documents; The internal process used for clarifying clauses of legislation; How to make views and observations on external documents and standard specifications  and an explanation of the cases that can be forwarded to the Risk Analysis section.

The workshop agenda included group activities for the audience to apply some practical exercises on realistic samples aimed to enhance participants' role, stimulating ideas and teamwork leading to train them on the optimal application of the standard, and enable the audience to find practical solutions and required corrective actions.

It  is noted that ADFCA is the competent authority designated to implement federal legislations and  standards, develop legislation and local regulations  as well as decisions pertaining to all categories of food served or sold in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. This is achieved through the development of infrastructure that fosters public policy and legislation aimed at protecting consumers' health, and following processes that depend on the transparency and integrity in   organizing institutional endeavors.