Ireland organises food safety alliance

In Ireland an alliance has been formed between Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, and the Food Safety Authority to promote and improve standards for food safety and hygiene at all stages of the food chain, according to a report in the Irish Times​.

The pact, which reinforces the close links which already exist between the two state agencies, will ensure maximum collaboration between the organisations.

Central to the agreement is the recognition that farmers play a major role in the food business and that Teagasc, as the body providing research advisory and training services for farmers, will make more of a commitment to keeping food safety at farms.

The agreement will also mean that the food safety authority will be working with Teagasc in focusing its research on critical safety issues, the report said. Both organisations have said that they will work together in ensuring that the results of this research are disseminated throughout the food chain.

According to a statement issued by Teagasc, the aim of the project is to give consumers confidence that expenditure on food safety is giving value and adding to the safety of food products.

The statement also said that both organisations were working on the development of a nationally accredited food safety training programme for large and small food companies with the objective of developing more of a food safety culture in food-processing and marketing.

Currently a number of Teagasc/FSAI initiatives are already well advanced. These include the implementation of programmes developed by scientists at the Teagasc National Food Centre on best safety practices in abattoirs.