LEGAZPI CITY - One of the goals of food security is to provide access to safe food. It is the prime responsibility of the Food Business Operators and key government agencies which include the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the food and food products satisfy the required food law provisions. More importantly, they are to guarantee that control systems are established and strengthened in order to prevent or reduce the risks to consumers.

To internalize the provisions of Republic Act 10611 also known as the Food Safety Act of 2013, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Food Safety Regulatory Implementation of the Food Safety Regulatory Agencies.

Food Safety Officers of the ATI-Regional Training Centers and Food Safety Regulatory Officers of the Department of Agriculture were capacitated on the features and content of RA10611 including its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The law provides comprehensive food safety provisions and offers a mechanism to uphold the general welfare of the people through the promotion and protection of human life and health in the productions and consumption of food.

The trainees also learned some of the prohibited acts relative to food safety. This include among others the prohibition of producing, handling or manufacturing for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the Philippines any food or food product which is not in conformity with the applicable food quality or safety standard. The trainees also identified the scope of work and the tasks or responsibility of various agencies involved in food safety regulatory implementation. The trainees also observed the practices, modern equipment and facilities of Legazpi City Abattoir accredited by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

The TOT was attended by Engr. Joel Laure, Agriculturist II and Ms. Rejane Ata, Technical Staff of ATI-RTC 13 last March 25-29, 2019.