The 9th of June marks World Accreditation Day, a very important day in commemorating and promoting the value of accreditation. This year’s theme is focused on “Improving Food Safety”.
Foodborne diseases bear a great strain on global public health. In April 2019, a Joint Statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) stated that:
“Foodborne diseases have a significant impact on public health, food security, productivity and poverty. Nearly 600 million people fall sick and 420,000 die prematurely each year because of foodborne diseases, and 30% of foodborne deaths occur among children under five years of age.”
Consumers around the world require access to food that is safe and nutritious, which ultimately contributes to their physical and mental well-being. The term food safety describes all practices that are used to keep our food safe. Food safety relies on all players involved in the supply of food, from farmers and producers to retailers and caterers.
It is important that the market has assurance that conformity assessment bodies operate to acceptable standards, and this is the purpose of accreditation. The accreditation process determines, in the public interest, the technical competence and integrity of these organisations.
Conformity assessment is the demonstration that what is being supplied actually meets the requirements specified or claimed. Conformity assessment can be applied to a product, a service, a process, a system, a body or persons and includes activities such as testing, inspection and certification.
Accreditation thus has the role of providing confidence and assurance to the market that conformity assessment bodies operate to acceptable standards across the whole supply of the food chain, from farm to fork. The accreditation process is there to determine the technical competence and impartiality of these organisations and aims to help support the reduction of foodborne illnesses through the promotion of the performance of organisations in the food supply chain.
The NAB-MALTA is the national accreditation body in Malta responsible for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. Should you be interested to have further information you may send an email to info@nabmalta.org.mt.
World Accreditation Day 2020 Poster