07 Sep 2016

Food business operators are required to be knowledgeable of the specific requirements of food laws relevant to activities in the food supply chain and the procedures adopted by relevant government agencies that implement the law.
Speaking during a meeting with food business operators, the Minister of Health Ms Dorcas Makgato said the food business operators should adopt, apply and be well informed of the codes and principles for good practices.
Ms Makgato said food business operators had a critical role of ensuring that the food they produced or traded in satisfied the requirements of food laws relevant to their activities in the food supply chain and that control systems were in place to prevent, eliminate or reduce risks to consumers.
She said if a food business operator considered or had a reason to believe that a food which was produced, processed, distributed or imported was not safe or not in compliance with food requirements, they should immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market and inform the regulatory authorities.
Ms Makgato stated that there was a growing evidence of violation of the food regulations by some food businesses.
She said her ministry implemented  a set of legislative provisions in order to protect consumers by providing an effective food regulatory programme covering food produced and consumed in Botswana as well as imports and exports of food products.
She stated that by so doing, the overriding priority was always to protect the consumer, while at the same time providing an enabling environment for food trade.
Ms Makgato mentioned that the role of the government was to promote business growth  by delivering a superior and comprehensive legislation regime that had a clear purpose. Among them is the Food Control Act of 1993, whose mandate is to ensure the provision of clean, safe and wholesome food to consumers.
She also mentioned the labelling of Food Additives of 2003, which stipulates the requirement of labelling of food additives used in the manufacturing of food commodities, the marketing of foods for infant young children of 2005, which focuses on ensuring regulatory requirements of marketing of food foods for infants and young children.
Among them the minister mentioned the Iodation of food grade salt of 2011 which require that all food grade salt to be iodised.
Ms Makgato also raised a concern about the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children through aggressive marketing of high calorie foods, sugar sweetened drinks, confectioneries and sweet condiments.
“You have to be concerned if anything one eats leaves a colourant whether on their tongue or hands,” she stated, adding that for that reason it was a concern regarding continuous use and their impact on human health especially on the children.
She therefore implored the food industry captains to adopt stricter and more rigorous food safety control system because the impact of food contamination results in substantial human suffering, with significant economic consequences.
The minister also said she was concerned about the dietary risk factors, along with inadequate physical activity saying that accounted for many of the burden of the diseases and disability.
She requested the food business community to partner with government in promoting healthy choices and preventing risk factors food. ENDS